HIGH FUNCTIONING ADDICTS

The Problematic Client: Advising the Trustee, Family Leader or Professional
We help you with the client who is overspending, self-destructive or seems to have a problem with alcohol, drugs, gambling or eating issues. We assume part of the burden of assessing and managing what is often an emotional, time consuming situation.

Motivation
Motivation is critical for recovery. Understanding motivation - how, when and where to use it - requires extensive knowledge of addiction and a sophisticated understanding of:

• trust vehicles
• the dynamics of extended families
• issues affecting family businesses
• the affluent or prominent alcoholic/addict and psychological and social influences

Leading A Double Life
Are the explanations for your beneficiary or family member's problematic behavior becoming less credible? Are you hearing heartfelt words and expressions of good intentions, yet seeing the same old behaviors? Does it seem that this person is leading a "double life?"
 
Often articulate, clever and disarming, the well-off alcoholic or addict is adept at hiding his or her dependency or, if discovered, diverting attention to other issues. Most addicts care about others, but at times, their need to drink or use is all-consuming. This need is the hallmark of addiction.

Excuses, Excuses
Addiction reveals itself in deviation from normal or expected behavior. And it is BEHAVIOR that counts - both in identifying the addiction and in the demonstrating recovery - not excuses or rationalizations. Those unfamiliar with addiction often don't see the identifying behavior until the family member is well along the path to self-destruction.