HEALING LOVE: RESTORING MEANING AND BALANCE IN CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY

Abstract

This report presents the experiences, reflections, and lessons learned during the Supervised Observation Internship, focusing on mental disorders and the monitoring of individuals recovering from substance abuse. The study articulates theoretical foundations of the DSM-5, understandings of the dopaminergic system, aspects of existential emptiness and the search for meaning based on Viktor Frankl, as well as the role of acceptance and love in the therapeutic process. The observations carried out at the Bethânia Community allow us to understand, in practice, how structured routines, work, spirituality, and affective bonds significantly contribute to the reorganization of the life of the individual suffering from psychological distress and chemical dependency. From the residents' accounts, it is possible to perceive the impact of human connection, qualified listening, and the restoration of dignity as central elements in the process of subjective reconstruction. In this sense, this report seeks to integrate theory and practice, highlighting how substance use disorders involve biological, social, emotional, and existential factors, thus requiring interventions that go beyond medical treatment and reach deeper dimensions of the human being.