went I went to intake counseling for alcohol they asked me a ton of ?’s..one was have I ever had a gay experience..which was no and the other have I ever been in a gay relationship?…I ‘m sorry but it sleighed me and I answered”not yet”…I am curious to know why they would ask such things..I happen to have a pretty cool aunt who is gay and she doesn’t drink..so are they trying to say if you are a homesexual you have drug issues..I was and still am offeneded..not because I have somethingg against gays..but because I don’t.
Entries (RSS)
January 15th, 2010 at 9:52 am
i think what they try to do is ask questions taht help them figure out what the root causes are for alcohol dependency. there are people who use alcohol or other drugs as a means of “dealing” with the stress of being closeted. Of course, there’s always an underlying cause for substance abuse. Stress at work, from kids, low self-esteem…and if someone is gay or lesbian or bisexual, and isn’t out or getting proper social support, he or she might turn to chemical dependency.
That’s not saying homosexuality and strife go hand in hand. but living in some areas of the world, the stress that comes with being gay could cause someone to “numb” their pain with drugs.
so i doubt the intake counselors were making any anti-gay statement or being nosey, they just want to “cover their bases” as to why someone might have a problem.
best of luck in your recovery.
January 15th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
I would find that line of questioning odd as well. But I might have asked them why they wanted to know. I would have asked if that qualified me for a “different kind” of counseling, or if they would refuse to treat me because of it or if they would attempt to treat that issue as well.
If they suggested that they would attempt to treat homosexuality, I would have SEVERE RESERVATIONS about the legitimacy of this supposed counseling.
Homosexuality is not something that requires treatment. The APA (American Psychological Association) removed homosexuality from their lexicon of disorders because it poses no threat of harm to the patient or anyone else.
So, I’d be very leery of any counseling that even asked about my sexual orientation.
January 15th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
I understand what you are saying, what does being gay have to do with a alchohol dependency issue – nothing. It was an irrelevant question that they had asked you
January 15th, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Maybe the reason for that line of questioning has to do with the “10 step” programs’ typical relation to God & Christianity.
Alcoholic homosexuals & catholics are the very best of friends…
January 16th, 2010 at 2:53 am
no sweetie they are not tryin to be nosey. i have worked in rehab for alcoholics and drug addicts the only reason they ask all of those questions is because they are tryin to find out about your past, they just want to know where you are coming from and how your life has been so they can determine the best possible way to help you