Process Addictions

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A process addiction is an addiction to an activity or behaviour. A process addiction is extremely complex and influenced by a variety of factors including a person’s mental state, genetics, and social situation.

Recovery from a process addiction involves identifying the addictive behaviour and committing to abstinence from it. Process addictions can be as debilitating as substance addictions and require an extensive period of specialised treatment such as that provided by our multi-disciplinary team at Montrose Place.

Love and Sex Addiction

Sex and love addicts find themselves compulsively seeking out sexual gratification and/or interpersonal relationships regardless of the adverse consequences arising in the domestic, social or occupational arenas of their lives.

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More About Love and Sex Addiction

Paradoxically, love and sex addicts have difficulty forming intimate bonds with their partners and others and tend to gain decreasing satisfaction from every encounter. Sex and love addicts will often risk financial security, status, self-respect and personal safety for the “fix” of a sexual encounter or relationship.

These compulsive behaviours are sometimes the cause of relapse in individuals who have formerly completed a treatment programme for an addiction, chemical dependence, affective disorder or a different compulsive behaviour. Sex and love addiction is an often misunderstood but grave condition.

Our treatment programme for sex and love addiction at Montrose Place is designed to increase the individual’s sense of self-esteem and self-worth.

We approach sex and love addiction as a medical condition or disease and our treatment programmes focus on remission through abstinence. Our extended care treatment programme is designed as a continuation of a primary treatment programme.

At Montrose Place, we will assist the client in identifying and addressing the underlying neurological, psychological and spiritual factors that cause and maintain sex or love addiction. Our overarching objective at Montrose Place is to enable our clients to embark on a journey of self-sustainable recovery in order to minimize or prevent the occurrence of relapse. Our extended care treatment programme for sex and love addiction is an integrative programme that consists of the following elements:

  • Assessment
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychotherapy
  • Life skills and recreation programme
  • Wellness programme
  • Family programme
  • Relapse prevention programme
  • Resuming education initiative
  • Continued care programme

Co-Dependency

Co-dependency is a term used to describe a pattern of detrimental behavioural interactions within a dysfunctional relationship. It is most commonly found in a relationship in which one person is chemically dependent or compulsive.

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More About Co-Dependency

The co-dependent is the person who enables, and therefore perpetuates, the addiction or pathological condition of someone close to them in a way that hampers that person’s recovery and their own wellbeing.

Sometimes, a chemically dependent person discovers, through the course of their treatment programme, that they are also co-dependent.

The overarching objective of the treatment programme for co-dependency at Montrose Place is to help the co-dependent individual understand their behaviour and consider different ways of relating to others.

Our extended care treatment programme for co-dependency is an integrative programme that consists of the following elements:

  • Assessment
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychotherapy
  • Life skills and recreation programme
  • Wellness programme
  • Family programme
  • Relapse prevention programme
  • Resuming education initiative
  • Continued care programme

Gambling

Addiction to gambling is defined as an impulse control disorder and is characterized by some of the symptoms and behaviours associated with substance addiction.

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More About Gambling

Persistence and preoccupation with the activity, increasing tolerance to and decreasing reward to the effects of winning, emotional withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, denial and jeopardizing one’s financial and personal security.

The gambler who ‘chases loses’ is akin to the addict who continues to use to offset withdrawal.

The stakes and risks inherent in game playing and gambling for money create a surge of chemicals in the brain and these chemicals, like those released during substance abuse, sex or high danger activities; produce a feeling of reward that can become addictive.

Gambling initially involves a temporary escape from the reality of everyday life. However, as the addiction progresses, reality becomes more and more difficult to face and the gambling addict faces mounting anxiety and depression that accompanies their high levels of guilt, shame and remorse. This can result in the individual taking even greater gambling risks. The consequences of compulsive gambling can be catastrophic.

In most cases, denial prevents the gambling addict from seeing the reality of what is happening.

At Montrose Place, we approach gambling addiction as a medical condition or disease and our treatment programmes focuses on remission through abstinence.We will assist the client in identifying and addressing the underlying neurological, psychological and spiritual factors that cause and maintain an addiction to gambling. Our overarching objective at Montrose Place is to enable our clients to embark on a journey of self-sustainable recovery in order to minimize or prevent the occurrence of relapse.

Our extended care treatment programme for gambling addiction is an integrative programme that consists of the following elements:

  • Assessment
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychotherapy
  • Life skills and recreation programme
  • Wellness programme
  • Family programme
  • Relapse prevention programme
  • Resuming education initiative
  • Continued care programme

Eating Disorders

Clients presenting with an Eating Disorder (including Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Compulsive Overeating Disorder and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) are treated at our dedicated sister facility Montrose Manor.

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More About Eating Disorders

An Eating Disorder may also occur alongside, or underlie, other conditions treated at Montrose Place such as addiction, chemical dependence, compulsive behaviour or a mood disorder. In such cases, following an assessment at Montrose Place, the client may be transferred to Montrose Manor, or, where another condition is understood to be the primary diagnosis, elements of our internationally renowned Eating Disorders Programme will be incorporated into their treatment programme at Montrose Place.

For further information about our unique specialist extended care Eating Disorders Programme please visit www.montrosemanor.co.za.

Co-Morbid Disorders

Co-morbid, co-occurring or concurrent disorders are terms used to describe the incidence of one or more independent diagnoses as well as addiction or compulsivity present in an individual.

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More About Co-Morbid Disorders

For example, a person who suffers from both alcohol dependency and an eating disorder is classified as having a co-morbid disorder. At Montrose Place, the multi-disciplinary extended care treatment programme is designed to comprehensively address co-morbid disorders. Many co-morbid disorders only surface in the second or third month of treatment for a primary diagnosis of chemical dependence. This highlights the importance of an extended care treatment programme, such as that which we offer at Montrose Place or Montrose Manor.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Clients with a borderline personality disorder will have a lifelong history of unstable interpersonal relationships, self-image and affect regulation present in a variety of contexts.

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More About Borderline Personality Disorder

The individual with borderline personality disorder may be potentially self-damaging and is extremely vulnerable to addiction, chemical dependence, compulsive behaviours and eating disorders. Medication may relieve some of the debilitating physical and psychological symptoms and destructive behaviours and stabilise mood. This will facilitate the psychotherapeutic process during which the client will have the opportunity to make intimate but boundaried connections to others and make fundamental and meaningful changes in thinking, behaviour and emotions.

When the client arrives at Montrose Place, they are thoroughly assessed and provided with a treatment plan that will enable them to learn to understand the underlying causes of borderline personality disorder, to transform their coping responses and recognize how to avoid subsequent addictions or dependencies.

Our extended care treatment programme for borderline personality disorder, as a co-morbid disorder, is an integrative programme.

It consists of the following elements:

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Many of the clients treated at Montrose Place will be individuals suffering from the effects of abuse and trauma and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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More About Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Symptoms of PTSD or unresolved trauma issues can be a primary cause of relapse and it is therefore of great importance that trauma is addressed by our team of clinicians during the treatment process. The team at Montrose Place are experienced in sensitively meeting the needs of this vulnerable population.When the client arrives at Montrose Place, they are thoroughly assessed and provided with a treatment plan that will enable them to learn to understand the underlying causes of their depression, to transform their coping responses and recognize how to avoid subsequent addictions or dependencies.

Our extended care treatment programme for post traumatic stress disorder, as a co-morbid disorder, is an integrative programme that consists of the following elements:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

The presence of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is marked by compulsive, irrational behaviours or thoughts that are inconsistent with the individual’s values, but cause a great deal of stress when resisted.

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More About Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Similarly to other conditions treated at Montrose Place obsessive compulsive disorder is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and as such the most effective treatment for OCD involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy and self help. Medication and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is particularly crucial in the management of OCD, complicated by substance abuse. Our comprehensive extended care treatment programme incorporates all these elements.

When the client arrives at Montrose Place they are thoroughly assessed and provided with a treatment plan that will enable them to learn to understand the underlying causes of OCD, to transform their coping responses and recognize how to avoid subsequent addictions or dependencies.

Our extended care treatment programme for obsessive compulsive disorder, as a co-morbid disorder, is an integrative programme.

It consists of the following elements:

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are brain-based dysfunction. They are recognised through the presence of persistent patterns of feelings, thinking and behaviour that result with problems in relationships, impulse control and functioning in personal, social or occupational setting which cause distress to the client and/or their loved ones.

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More About Mood Disorders

The onset of these patterns can usually be traced back to adolescence or childhood. At Montrose Place, the multi-disciplinary extended care treatment programme is designed to comprehensively address mood disorders as co-morbid diagnoses. Mood disorders can be a cause, catalyst, or perpetuator of an addiction, chemical dependence or compulsive behaviour. In such cases, it is vital to take expert advice as such diagnoses can have a considerable impact on the client’s recovery. With accurate diagnosis and treatment undertaken with a long term perspective the outcomes for these individuals are significantly improved. Many mood disorders will only surface in the second or third month of treatment for chemical dependence, which highlights the importance of an extended care treatment programme, such as those that are available at Montrose Place.

Depression

Depression is a common mental health disorder from which almost one in six of us will suffer during our lifetime, although only 12.5% of that figure will be formally diagnosed or receive proper treatment. Similarly to other illnesses treated at Montrose Place, depression may be triggered by a psychological, chemical, or social disturbance such as a physical illness, a loss, a disappointment or a frustration.

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More About Depression

Depression affects different people in different ways. A low mood, an intense state of sadness, loss of interest in daily activities, anxiety, insomnia or hypersomnia, low self-esteem, poor concentration, lowered libido and suicidal thoughts are all hallmarks of depression. Physical symptoms such as exhaustion and unexplained aches and pains may also be present.Depression is a serious illness. It is very different from the common experience of feeling miserable or fed up for a short period of time. With appropriate intervention depression is a treatable illness, but many sufferers are reluctant to seek help. Some people still think that depression is not a real illness and that it demonstrates weakness or failure. This is a common misconception.

Depression often coexists with other diagnoses such as addiction, chemical dependence, an eating disorder, trauma, sexual compulsivity or chronic pain. Depression can also complicate anxiety disorders (see right). At Montrose Place, we are able to treat both the depression and any coexisting disorders simultaneously.

Research shows that the most effective treatment for depression involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy and self help. Our comprehensive extended care treatment programme incorporates all these elements.

When the client arrives at Montrose Place, they are thoroughly assessed and provided with a treatment plan that will enable them to learn to understand the underlying causes of depression, to transform their coping responses and recognize how to avoid subsequent addictions or dependencies.

Our extended care treatment programme for depression, as a co-morbid disorder, is an integrative programme that consists of the following elements:

  • Assessment
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychotherapy
  • Life skills and recreation programme
  • Wellness programme
  • Family programme
  • Relapse prevention programme
  • Resuming education initiative
  • Continued care programme

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression) causes severe mood swings that may last for weeks, or even months. Mood fluctuations, including episodes of low mood characterized by intense depression and despair, high or manic mood swings characterized by euphoria, over-activity and loss of inhibitions or a mixed mood state, such as a depressed mood with the restlessness and over-activity of a manic episode.

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More About Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and as such the most effective treatment involves a combination of medication, psychotherapy and self help.

At Montrose Place, our comprehensive extended care treatment programme incorporates all these elements.

When the client arrives at Montrose Place, they are thoroughly assessed and provided with a treatment plan that will enable them to learn to understand the underlying causes of bipolar disorder, to transform their coping responses and recognize how to avoid subsequent addictions or dependencies.

Our extended care treatment programme for bipolar disorder, as a co-morbid disorder, is an integrative programme that consists of the following elements:

  • Assessment
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychotherapy
  • Life skills and recreation programme
  • Wellness programme
  • Family programme
  • Relapse prevention programme
  • Resuming education initiative
  • Continued care programme

Anxiety Disorder

There are five principal manifestations of anxiety disorder; generalized anxiety disorder (in which a person feels deeply anxious or worried for no obvious reason and presents with a variety of physical and emotional symptoms including headaches and exhaustion), panic disorder (in which the person experiences sudden surges of unexpected anxiety accompanied by physical sensations such as chest pain and breathing difficulties) and phobia (in which the person experiences a strong irrational fear of a specific object or situation).

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More About Anxiety Disorder

By far the most common phobia that is associated with addiction is Social Phobia. Finally, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is associated with alcohol abuse and dependence in about one quarter of cases.The cause of anxiety disorders is genetic, as well as environmental and so treatment requires a combination of medication, psychotherapy and self help. At Montrose Place, our comprehensive extended care treatment programme incorporates all these elements.

When the client arrives at Montrose Place, they are thoroughly assessed and provided with a treatment plan that will enable them to learn to understand the underlying causes of anxiety disorders, to transform their coping responses and recognize how to avoid subsequent addictions or dependencies.

Our extended care treatment programme for an anxiety disorder, as a co-morbid disorder, is an integrative programme.

It consists of the following elements:

  • Assessment
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychotherapy
  • Life skills and recreation programme
  • Wellness programme
  • Family programme
  • Relapse prevention programme
  • Resuming education initiative
  • Continued care programme

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