The Destruction of Assertiveness through Addiction

What a Drug Rehab Should Have:
The Learning of Assertiveness

The destruction of an addict’s assertiveness is certain as addiction takes over his (or her) life. Assertiveness is the ability to express feelings, opinions, and attitudes freely, without hurting others. A person should still be able to express his true feelings even when under pressure from others. But when a person becomes addicted, he is far from his best. An addict ordinarily feels frustrated and depressed, sometimes even becoming violent.

Addiction can be overcome, however, and an addict given back the skill of positive assertiveness. It takes an effective drug rehabilitation program that teaches the life skills that are essential elements in a drug-free and happy life.

Why are Life Skills Important in Recovery?

There are constant challenges and stresses a person must face in day-to-day living. An addict has lost the skills to deal with obstacles. He is driven by his cravings and the need, first thing every morning, to acquire the day’s drugs.

To replace these disabilities, a person in recovery must learn how to live in an ever-changing world. He must be able to cope with stress, discover how to focus and maintain an analytical frame of mind.

According to the World Health Organization, life skills education is vital for anyone to be able to develop both personally and socially. Learning the ability to cope effectively with life can mean the prevention of many health and social problems. Assertiveness is just one life skill that helps empower an individual to live a rich and fulfilling life.

Narconon Rehab Focuses on Life Skills Training

Many drug rehab centers focus on life skills that do not reach deep enough to allow an addict to really contend with the more difficult parts of life. Life skills such as doing household chores or learning ways to have sober fun are just the lightest level of what must be learned. The person in recovery must learn to deal with much more significant life issues when he goes back home.

At Narconon rehab centers, life skills training reaches deeper and provides actual tools the recovering individual can use daily in remaining sober.

Jason attended the Narconon program and experienced a real change in his life thanks to the life skills training. He said, “My life as an addict was pretty isolated. I was a complete shut-in. I wouldn’t talk to anybody. Narconon was effective for me because they gave me tools to empower myself—to bring me out of the despair that I found myself in. These tools encourage and promote a successful life. The program has given me back to me! It is a wonderful feeling to walk around with my head held high and a clear conscience. You get a burst of energy about waking up every day and doing what you are doing and feeling good about it.”

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