It is when one is indulged in activities or trapped in the use of substances that hinder their ability to perform better or as required limiting their potential and purpose hence are referred to addicts. Addiction is a psychological condition that requires all models and techniques that narrow down to the mental aspect of complete healing and treatment. Some of the key psychological models that are used to enhance efficient handling of addicts include behavioral, biological, psychodynamic and cognitive models (Amaral, 2011) . As a counselor, we shall take a look at one of my patients who is an addict and some of the programs they have to undergo to enhance normality.
Case Study
Lexi, not her real name sought help from our Institute where she came in at a critical condition. Her eyes were red, puffed with small pupils; she was weak and struggling to make steady steps. Her lips and nails had turned bluish and very dry. With the support of her older brother Lexi was having trouble moving, she repeatedly vomited and struggled to breathe. Lexi was extremely intoxicated, but from what exactly? According to her brother, she had attempted suicide after years of heroin addiction and struggle to let go but in vain leading to the crumbling of her life. Her career as a flight attendant seized and her marriage of five years was destroyed. Her three-year-old daughter was taken from her, and her life was in total darkness. She was brought in because of heroin overdose purposely to take her own life. She was living a high life, and her earnings enabled her to indulge in the expensive drugs consistently. Unfortunately, her practices led to misuse of all her finances, which contributed to her moving out of her elegant home to the streets.
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Application of Psychological Models
In consideration of her critical condition, the most direct psychological model that was applicable in helping her stabilize was the biological model. Lexi had to be placed under a UV fluid to rehydrate her and additional oxygen to help in her breathing. The physicians in charge injected naloxone in her system to replace the heroin overdose. All this aided in the alteration of the chemical effects that heroin had done to her system (American Addiction Centers, 2017) . She had to be hospitalized to monitor her progress and ensure that her system was clean. As a counselor in the institute, I enrolled Lexi for counseling and therapy sessions to boost her ability to deal with addiction and help her quit the use of heroin. It is in during the sessions that the cognitive and psychodynamic models will be applied to engage her fully to recovery. According to her case study, life experiences and causes of drug indulges, Lexi was suffering from a psychological model of addiction.
Sociocultural Factors and the Psychological Models
The perception of people in the community on addicts has in many cases been negative. Hence Lexi has never had a chance to believe that her life could transform for the better. She was affected by quick events that took place, as the loss of her job, marriage, family, and friends. The drastic change from a mansion to the streets was a torture to her mind because it was a life that she did not know let alone used to. While her physical state was deteriorated due to lack of proper meals and excess intoxication, her cognitive state was a breakdown. To stay away from depression, Lexi opted for more and more heroin injection which was harmful. Counseling, therapy together with medical attention was the better option to help her stabilize.
Conclusion
Addiction is not an individual problem but a challenge that everyone in the society is involved. If one is not infected by it, then they are affected in one way or the other. For instance, Lexi’s employee lost an asset considering that she was an excellent employee hence her country’s revenues reduced with the loss of her taxes. Her husband and daughter had to face divorce and a broken home simply because she was not in a position to fulfill her responsibilities. The psychological models applied will help her get on her feet and start anew. From leaving a drug free life to rebuilding her life, career, and marriage, Lexi can re-establish her life since many have her optimism will be a significant element to get her through.
References
Amaral, D. R. (2011, January 17). Psychological Model for Understanding Addictions . Retrieved July 19, 2017, from Knowledge For Growth: https://knowledgeforgrowth.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/psychological-model-for-understanding-addicitons/
American Addiction Centers. (2017). Symptoms of Heroin Overdos . Retrieved July 19, 2017, from American Addiction Centers: http://americanaddictioncenters.org/heroin-treatment/overdose/
