Lately, I have been pondering why patients with substance use disorder tend to leave treatment 'against medical advice' (AMA). Although I am not an authority on the matter, I would like to share my observation.
If a particular patient consistently decides to leave medical treatment, could there be underlying psychological, physical, or emotional issues at play? It is common to categorize the patient as "resistant to treatment" or "not ready," without acknowledging the possibility of deeper, unresolved issues. It is important to consider that there may be underlying factors that are being overlooked.
Is it possible that the person is scared or even terrified of the thought of being sober and facing the childhood trauma that led to their addiction in the first place? Instead of faulting the patient for consistently leaving before completing or starting treatment, let's investigate the underlying reasons for their actions. Instead of blaming them, let's try to understand their perspective and identify the underlying reasons behind their actions.
By listening to their thoughts and feelings, we can promote healing and develop a deeper understanding of the situation, rather than relying on our assumptions and assigning sole responsibility to them.
No comments:
Post a Comment