The South Coast Weekly Gazette sat On the Couch with Miranda Deonarain, a clinical psychologist that was able to overcome addiction through her belief of second chances in life. The former UKZN masters student and advocate of women’s rights is a pillar of strength for the community of Scottburgh as she assists residents suffering from various forms of addictions. She shared more about her journey….
South Coast Weekly Gazette(SCWG): Tell us a bit about yourself?
Miranda Deonarain(MD): I’m a clinical psychologist. My greatest gift is my son, Yasheen who is 28 years old. I’m a proud mother and a strong advocate of women’s rights. I believe in love and random acts of kindness. I live my life with integrity and compassion to human kind. I want more than anything to know that I have lived my life serving the community and knowing that in any small way I have made a positive difference in the lives of others.This is the legacy I would like to leave to my son.
SCWG: Tell us about your education background and work experience?
MD: I have a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology, as well as a Teaching Degree and a qualification in Law. I’m registered with the Health Professional Council of South Africa. I’ve worked in provincial hospitals such as King Edward V111, Addington Hospital and King George V which has given me lots of experience in multiple areas working with both adults and children. I have lectured at the University of UKZN, lecturing from first year to Masters level in Psychology. I worked in Johannesburg for ten years as the head of Psychological at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. I specialise in addiction therapy.
SCWG:What keeps you motivated?
MD: My biggest motivator is my son and my second motivator is my passion and purpose for helping the still suffering addict get into recovery. That is what gets me up and out of bed everyday.
SCWG: How do you handle the emotional pressure of working with people who have different addiction problems?
MD: The only way that I can deal with this is by continuously acquiring as much knowledge and experience in the field as possible, and consistently up-skilling myself. In order to deal with the emotional pressure, balance and self-care is extremely important.
Working with people who have different addiction problems is difficult.I have come to understand that the recovery rate is poor. This just signifies how deadly the disease of addiction is. Personally I think it takes a special person with commitment, passion and drive to work in this field, which I would like to believe I’m that person. When you enter into this field as a specialisation, one needs to be very familiar with the components of this disease and the frustrations of a poor recovery rate or prognosis.
SCWG: What inspired you to become a Clinical Psychologist?
MD: I wanted a career path which would allow me to have a professional qualification in order to help people struggling with trauma, personal issues and the complexities of life.
SCWG: What is your greatest achievement?
MD: My addiction recovery has to be my greatest achievement. It takes courage and humility to face the burden of addiction squarely in the face and recover against many odds. It takes courage and humility to share my story of my battle and recovery to help other recovery as well.
SCWG: Describe your relationship with people who have drug addiction?
MD: My role is both intensive and extensive. It is simply to get any addict out of the delusion of denial to be able to face their problem, own their problem and find a solution which is a great start.The rest of my therapeutic intervention is to facilitate the process of change so that sustained and maintained change produces a better quality of life for the addict and their family.
SCWG: Who is your role model?
MD: My father has been someone who has unconditionally loved and supported me throughout the ups and downs of my life. During the years of apartheid he was a political activist who stood for anti-racism, equality and a better life for all. He is a man of integrity who lives a very principled life. He is a man of wisdom and integrity and I aspire to be at least half of the person that he is.
SCWG: What makes you stand out in your community?
MD: My ability to get involved, giving back and taking a stand whenever it’s necessary.
SCWG: What advice would you give to someone struggling with any form of addiction?
MD: I believe reaching out is critical in the recovery process. The disease of addiction is cunning, baffling and powerful therefore you don’t have to go through it alone.
SCWG: What form of addiction did you have and how did you overcome it?
MD: My addiction took on many forms, from narcotics to psychiatric medication and alcohol. However I’d like to emphasise that It doesn’t matter what your addiction is. No one is better and no one is worse. Addiction is a leveller; it doesn’t care who you are or what you do. The process of addiction is the same, regardless. What starts out as fun often ends in pain and isolation and what starts as experimentation often ends in a rock bottom. My rock bottom was in 2015. By the grace of God, I have been in recovery since. My passion and purpose around working in the field of addiction has been fuelled by my personal struggle with addiction. I know the struggle and I know the darkness, and I definitely know the denial and destruction of the people we love the most. I have been there and I have lived it. My testimony is that although I have lived it, I have also survived it and became out stronger and have a life beyond my wildest imagination. I have found that I need to recover out loud so that other drug addicts don’t die in silence. I need to tell my story so that people know there is hope.
