Shelly was identified at work as an extremely conservative person who had a superb attendance record. She in no way attended any of the happy hours right after work and it was recognized throughout the office that she was an extremely religious person who usually spoke about the potential issues of alcohol abuse and addiction to alcohol in our country.

Try to imagine the shock inside the company when one Monday morning Shelly did not show up for work and no one had heard from her. In truth, it wasn’t until about 9:30 in the morning that the human resources department received a phone call about Shelly from the the jail downtown.

Shelly Goes Out Partying With a Handful of Her College Classmates and Friends

Evidently, Shelly went out drinking with a handful of her university buddies Saturday night and sometime close to 2:45 Sunday morning, Shelly was arrested for “drunk driving”. Because her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was particularly high, she had to spend one day inside the county jail.

Shelly Has a Talk With Her Manager and The Human Resources Manager

When Shelly came to work on Tuesday morning, she promptly told her boss what had transpired and she asked if she might possibly go and talk with the Human Resources director about her “driving under the influence” arrest.

When she got to the Human Resources department and met with the manager, she discussed that she hadn’t been drunk since her university days and that she was rather humiliated about her “driving while intoxicated” arrest. She also stressed the point that she required some assistance locating a highly skilled and productive “driving while intoxicated” attorney who would represent her DUI case. Stated another way, Shelly really wanted the Human Resources director to agree that she needed to see a DUI attorney.

The Human Resources director told Shelly that she needs to schedule an appointment with someone in the company employee’s assistance program to discuss any possible drinking problem that she might have. The HR manager also articulated that she needs to explain her need to employ a “drunk driving” attorney to represent her with respect to her “drunk driving” case.

Furthermore, the Human Resources director told Shelly that it was encouraging that she hoped to employ a “driving under the influence” lawyer simply because of the complexities and harsh issues that happen to be affiliated with a “drunk driving” conviction.

The Human Resources director could tell that Shelly was clearly depressed and humiliated by this entire predicament. For this reason he told Shelly that while he doesn’t feel that conscientious men and women ought to ever get behind the wheel right after consuming alcohol, unfortunately these predicaments at times happen to very good persons.

The Human Resources manager then mentioned that since such a scenario cannot be undone, what is crucial is what the particular person does from this moment in time forward. As articulated by the Human Resources manager, “does the particular person learn from his or her errors or does she or he develop a pattern of alcohol related problems that cause the individual long-term suffering and pain”?

Fortunately, Shelly Did Not Have a History of Excessive and Heavy Drinking

Just before finishing their conversation, the Human Resources manager shared with Shelly that it was quite positive that she doesn’t have a record of hazardous drinking drinking. Furthermore, she hasn’t had an alcohol-related issue since her university days (which was around 12 years ago). Consequently, Shelly ought to be able to face her “driving while intoxicated” arrest with sorrow but also with some assurance knowing that she will face and process this condition and turn out to be a healthier person down the road.

Shelly thanked the Human Resources director for his helpful and stimulating words and then walked over towards the company employee’s assistance program go over her “drunk driving” arrest, her participation in abusive and careless drinking drinking over the weekend, and her wish to hire a DUI lawyer to represent her “driving under the influence” case.

After reflecting on Shelly’s “story,” the physician that was part of the company employee’s assistance program described Shelly’s immediate “game plan” that she needed to address and follow. First, she would be required to take a DUI class to learn more DUI facts and information. Second, she would also be required to take an alcohol abuse class to address her possible drinking problem. And finally, it would be an especially sensible thing to do if she were to talk to a DUI lawyer about her “drunk driving” arrest.

Shelly Feels a Sense of Relief Knowing That She Will Learn From Her Blunder and Become More Accountable

It was very clear that Shelly was particularly disrupted with the whole “driving under the influence” circumstance, but right after talking to the Human Resources director and to the healthcare professional in the company employee’s assistance program, she felt comfort knowing that she would in truth learn from her blunder and turn out to be even more healthy and balanced, even more dependable, and an even more thankful individual.

Russ got suspended from high school when he was fifteen years old and eventually got a job at a local chemical plant. For the past four years he has gained a reputation as a hard-working and diligent person who almost never calls off work because of illness.

Approximately eight months ago he started dating a young lady named Emma. They seemed to get along real well right away and gave people the impression that they had a lot of fun together.

The Irresponsible and Hazardous Drinking Begins

When Russ met Emma, he almost never drank. This circumstance totally changed when Emma and Russ started seeing one another on a fairly normal basis. In truth, everything was going great until Emma called Russ one night around 4:30 AM and said that she had to stop dating him and that she couldn’t explain the reason at that moment.

The next morning before he went to work, Russ drove to her apartment and found out right away that Emma had already moved out. Russ took this very hard. In point of fact, he was surprised because they seemed to be getting along so very well.

When Hazardous and Heavy Drinking Leads to Problems at Work

So what did Russ do about Emma’s leaving? Instead of working through his pain, he began getting intoxicated just about every night. It didn’t take long for his buddies at work or for his supervisor to notice that Russ was coming to work late at least once per week and that he time after time called off sick. Not only this but some of his co-workers made an appointment with staff in Human Resources Department and mentioned that Russ continually came to work with a strong odor of alcohol on his clothes or on his breath.

Russ’s boss heard about all of this from Human Resources and also from Russ’s fellow employees. So one Monday morning he called Russ into his office. He told Russ that he had recently noticed a clear-cut change in his behavior, attendance, sick time, and in his work performance.

When a Manager Can Motivate an Employee to Get Help For His or Her Hazardous and Irresponsible Drinking

Russ’s manager also articulated that a number of his fellow employees reported him to Human Resources because he had been coming to work with the strong odor of alcohol. His supervisor then stated the following: “Russ, your co-workers are not reporting you to the Human Resources Department to get you into any trouble or because they don’t like you but rather because they care about you. And I care too. I don’t want to butt into your personal life, but it is apparent that you are exhibiting some of the common signs and symptoms of problem drinking. As a consequence, I want you to go and see a counselor in the employee’s assistance program to discuss your drinking situation and your depression.”

“Russ, I’m no doctor or a psychologist, but I have seen quite a few of my relatives and friends experience some very negative alcohol side effects. Not only this but I have also witnessed the signs of alcoholism first-hand in my own family. When individuals have problems with drinking, these difficulties not only affect the drinker, but they also make an impact on his or her neighbors, co-workers, family, friends, and relatives.”

Russ respected his boss quite a lot and consequently followed through with his recommendation the next work day when he called and scheduled an appointment with a therapist in the employee’s assistance program.

Russ is Still Depressed But Feels Some Hope That He Will Get His Life Back on Track

Although Russ didn’t necessarily feel any better or less depressed about the sorrow he still feels for Emma, he felt comfort knowing that his boss and his fellow employees cared about him and wanted what’s best for him. This gave Russ some psychological relief for the first time in a number of weeks and he truthfully felt some hope that he would get his life back on track.

Approximately five months ago I had dinner with a thirty-five-year-old male named Alexander who suffers from acute depression, has relationship issues, and who is drug and alcohol dependent. As explained by Alexander, it is his alcoholism and drug addiction and his severe depression that had the most to do with his continual relationship issues.

I recall hearing that a history of mental health issues, chemical dependency, and unhealthy and abusive drinking routinely take place in the same family. What is more, I remember hearing that in such situations, a person needs to get treatment for both medical conditions and that addiction and mental health problems many times occur in the same person.

As affirmed by Alexander, he is so overwhelmed by his relationship difficulties and by both of his medical conditions that he basically has little or no drive to do much of anything. What is especially unfortunate about this is that earlier in his life, Alexander managed to finish four semesters of graduate school in criminology.

Alexander’s condition makes me question if he is an illustration of a person who can look in the mirror and see his drug abuse and alcohol drinking problems and do something healthy about these difficulties or if he is a person who has to hit life’s bottom before he gets drug and alcohol dependency counseling that results in long lasting sobriety.

The Need For a Counseling Protocol He Can Believe In and a Physician He Can Trust

If it would be beneficial I would assume that I could recommend more than a few blogs and websites that could possibly help him learn more about drug abuse symptoms, the stages of alcoholism, substance abuse information, and relationship problems. In my humble opinion, however, Alexander needs to find a treatment protocol he can believe in and follow over the long term and find a therapist he can trust.

I could be mistaken but it seems to me that Alexander more likely than not needs to look in the mirror regarding his drug addiction signs and alcoholic symptoms and understand the fact that he cannot abuse drugs or even drink responsibly if he wants to get sober, stay sober, and start on the path to long-term recovery.

It may be asked how therapy would help his drug and alcohol dependency. For starters, there are quite a few newly produced doctor-prescribed medications that can help Alexander through his withdrawal symptoms, through the alcohol and alcohol detoxification process, and help him avoid a drug or an alcohol relapse.

Second, Alexander would learn to acknowledge the fact that there is entirely nothing productive about substance abuse and excessive and careless drinking and that messing around with one or both conditions is the road to legal problems, shattered relationships, financial difficulties, a premature death, deteriorating health, and poor work and school performance.

Third, treatment for his relationship difficulties and his depression might help him manage these mental health problems more effectively and perhaps create less of a need for him to engage in addictive behavior.

The Relevance of Support Groups Like Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous

There are feasibly numerous friends, other individuals, and family members who would like to help Alexander with his drug abuse and his excessive and abusive drinking. He probably would experience greater sympathy from a recovery group such as Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous, however, instead of getting guidance from individuals who do not drink or who have never taken drugs.

When Individuals Accomplish Things They Like and About Which They Are Zealous

There’s a philosophical viewpoint that proclaims that individuals who do things they like and something about which they are dedicated arrive at an astonishing place in life. Stated more exactly, when people do what they enjoy, they hardly ever experience an uneventful life or boredom. If they get involved in something that is worthwhile, furthermore, they become more complete and experience more pleasure and joy in life and in their relationships.

When this is examined in more detail it becomes apparent that this positive perspective is the exact opposite of a life that is rooted in drug and alcohol addiction because such a lifestyle removes the satisfaction and joy that life has to offer.

Since Alexander lacks the determination to carry out much of anything in his life, it is apparent that he desperately needs some hope for a healthier existence. And the sad thing is that hope is all around Alexander if he could only get to the place in life to get the counseling he requires for his acute depression and alcoholism and drug addiction and remain in his treatment protocol.

More Positive Relationships, A Wonderful Life, Self Respect, and Productive Change Are Possibilities

Alexander is simply too young to be defeated in life. He doesn’t realize this right now but if he can learn how to abstain from drugs and alcohol through alcohol and drug rehabilitation and get the counseling he needs for his severe depression, he can turn his life around and start living with direction, self-respect, and passion.

More solid relationships, beneficial change, self respect, and a wonderful life are certainly possibilities for Alexander if only he could become inspired to get the professional rehab he requires, follow through with his therapy regimen, live his life in an addiction-free and healthy manner, and learn how to cultivate a more positive attitude about life.

Abraham Bruck is the developer of the Universal Healing Technique and the UHT Lifetime Trauma Resolution Protocol

This procedure will use the Four Basic Elements that we are composed of; Fire, Water, Air and Earth to heal, clear, cleanse and unblock (for lack of better word) the Subtle Energy System of the body on all Four Energy Levels.

You will note that I have associated each Element with an Energy Level. A brief explanation follows:

Fire – representing the Spiritual; a small part of the Spirit or Soul permeates the whole body. The greater part of the Soul transcends the body.

Water – representing the Mental, also permeates the whole body; every organ, every cell has intelligence.

Air – Emotional; we can feel with and have feeling in every part of our body.

Earth – Physical; there are minerals in and light shining from every cell of our body.

Sit in a comfortable relaxed position in a place where you will not be disturbed. Music is OK.

Fire – Spiritual

Put your attention on your root chakra and imagine that there is a fire burning there. See the red color of the fire, hear the sound of the fire, feel the heat; as you do so notice the fire spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the fire spreading from your root chakra up your spine: until your attention focuses on your sacral chakra.

Put your attention on the fire burning at your sacral chakra. See the orange color of the fire, hear the sound of the fire, feel the heat; as you do so notice the fire spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the fire spreading from your sacral chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your solar plexus chakra.

Put your attention on the fire burning at your solar plexus chakra. See the yellow color of the fire, hear the sound of the fire, feel the heat; as you do so notice the fire spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the fire spreading from your solar plexus chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your heart chakra.

Put your attention on the fire burning at your heart chakra. See the green color of the fire, hear the sound of the fire, feel the heat; as you do so notice the fire spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the fire spreading from your heart chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your throat chakra.

Put your attention on the fire burning at your throat chakra. See the blue color of the fire, hear the sound of the fire, feel the heat; as you do so notice the fire spreading down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes, and up to the top of your head. Next notice the fire spreading up from your throat chakra until your attention focuses on your brow chakra.

Put your attention on the fire burning at your brow chakra. See the indigo color of the fire, hear the sound of the fire, feel the heat; as you do so notice the fire spreading down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes, and up to the top of your head. Next notice the fire spreading from your brow charka until your attention focuses on your crown chakra.

Put your attention on the fire burning at your crown chakra. See the light violet color of the fire, hear the sound of the fire, feel the heat; as you do so notice the fire spreading down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes.

Now, notice that you have a fire burning at each of your charkas. See the colors of the fire, hear the sound of the fire, feel the heat; as these fires are getting increasingly larger, notice that there is a fire running all along your spine and all along all of your meridians and that the fire is spreading until it fills your whole body and beyond; see the colors of the fire, hear the sound of the fire, feel the heat…

Water – Mental

Put your attention on your root chakra and imagine that there is water surging there. See the red color of the water, hear the sound of the water, feel the cooling; as you do so notice the water spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the water spreading from your root chakra up your spine: until your attention focuses on your sacral chakra.

Put your attention on the water surging at your sacral chakra. See the orange color of the water, hear the sound of the water, feel the cooling; as you do so notice the water spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the water spreading from your sacral chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your solar plexus chakra.

Put your attention on the water surging at your solar plexus chakra. See the yellow color of the water, hear the sound of the water, feel the cooling; as you do so notice the water spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the water spreading from your solar plexus chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your heart chakra.

Put your attention on the water surging at your heart chakra. See the green color of the water, hear the sound of the water, feel the cooling; as you do so notice the water spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the water spreading from your heart chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your throat chakra.

Put your attention on the water surging at your throat chakra. See the blue color of the water, hear the sound of the water, feel the cooling; as you do so notice the water spreading down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes, and up to the top of your head. Next notice the water spreading up from your throat chakra until your attention focuses on your brow chakra.

Put your attention on the water surging at your brow chakra. See the indigo color of the water, hear the sound of the water, feel the cooling; as you do so notice the water spreading down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes, and up to the top of your head. Next notice the water spreading from your brow charka until your attention focuses on your crown chakra.

Put your attention on the water surging at your crown chakra. See the light violet color of the water, hear the sound of the water, feel the cooling; as you do so notice the water spreading down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes.

Now, notice that you have water surging at each of your charkas. See the colors of the water, hear the sound of the water, feel the cooling; as these waters are getting increasingly larger, notice that there is water running all along your spine and all along all of your meridians and that the water is spreading until it fills your whole body and beyond; see the colors of the water, hear the sound of the water, feel the cooling…

Air – Emotional

Put your attention on your root chakra and imagine that there is air blowing there. See the air blowing red, hear the sound of the air, feel the breeze; as you do so notice the air blowing along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the air blowing from your root chakra up your spine: until your attention focuses on your sacral chakra.

Put your attention on the air blowing at your sacral chakra. See the air blowing orange, hear the sound of the air, feel the breeze; as you do so notice the air blowing along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the air blowing from your sacral chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your solar plexus chakra.

Put your attention on the air blowing at your solar plexus chakra. See the air blowing yellow, hear the sound of the air, feel the breeze; as you do so notice the air blowing along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the air blowing from your solar plexus chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your heart chakra.

Put your attention on the air blowing at your heart chakra. See the air blowing green, hear the sound of the air, feel the breeze; as you do so notice the air blowing along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the air blowing from your heart chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your throat chakra.

Put your attention on the air blowing at your throat chakra. See the air blowing blue, hear the sound of the air, feel the breeze; as you do so notice the air blowing down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes, and up to the top of your head. Next notice the air blowing up from your throat chakra until your attention focuses on your brow chakra.

Put your attention on the air blowing at your brow chakra. See the air blowing indigo, hear the sound of the air, feel the breeze; as you do so notice the air blowing down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes, and up to the top of your head. Next notice the air blowing from your brow charka until your attention focuses on your crown chakra.

Put your attention on the air blowing at your crown chakra. See the air blowing light violet, hear the sound of the air, feel the breeze; as you do so notice the air blowing down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes.

Now, notice that you have air blowing at each of your charkas. See the air blowing, hear the sound of the air, feel the breeze; as these winds are getting increasingly larger, notice that there is air running all along your spine and all along all of your meridians and that the air is spreading until it fills your whole body and beyond; see the air blowing, hear the sound of the air, feel the breeze…

Earth – Physical

Put your attention on your root chakra and imagine that there is a red crystal shining there. See the colors of the crystal, hear the sound of the light, feel the vibration; as you do so notice the light spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the light spreading from your root chakra up your spine: until your attention focuses on your sacral chakra.

Put your attention on the orange crystal shining at your sacral chakra. See the colors of the crystal, hear the sound of the light, feel the vibration; as you do so notice the light spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the light spreading from your sacral chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your solar plexus chakra.

Put your attention on the yellow crystal shining at your solar plexus chakra. See the colors of the crystal, hear the sound of the light, feel the vibration; as you do so notice the light spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the light spreading from your solar plexus chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your heart chakra.

Put your attention on the green crystal shining at your heart chakra. See the colors of the crystal, hear the sound of the light, feel the vibration; as you do so notice the light spreading along the meridians down your legs to your toes, up your body and along your arms to your fingers, up your body to the top of your head. Next notice the light spreading from your heart chakra up along your spine: until your attention focuses on your throat chakra.

Put your attention on the blue crystal shining at your throat chakra. See the colors of the crystal, hear the sound of the light, feel the vibration; as you do so notice the light spreading down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes, and up to the top of your head. Next notice the light spreading up from your throat chakra until your attention focuses on your brow chakra.

Put your attention on the indigo crystal shining at your brow chakra. See the colors of the crystal, hear the sound of the light, feel the vibration; as you do so notice the light spreading down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes, and up to the top of your head. Next notice the light spreading from your brow charka until your attention focuses on your crown chakra.

Put your attention on the violet crystal shining at your crown chakra. See the colors of the crystal, hear the sound of the light, feel the vibration; as you do so notice the light spreading down along the meridians and along your arms to your fingers, down and along your legs to your toes.

Abraham Bruck is the developer of the Universal Healing Technique and the UHT Lifetime Trauma Resolution Protocol