understanding addiction
DESCRIPTION
Understanding something about the nature of addiction - one of the most baffling and treatment resistant conditions.TRANSCRIPT
ADDICTIONBy Alistair Rhind
Consultant Addiction Therapist and Life Coach
http://www.addiction-recovery.co.uk
Addiction
If you are reading this because you or your partner has a problem the most important thing you need to know is that recovery is possible.
Addiction
Addiction is
characterised by
ambivalence and deluded
thinking
Like Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde
The addict experiences
two types of thinking
Rational Thinking
Irrational deluded
Addiction thinking
Addiction
We talk of the baffling nature of Addiction because it is a mystery to those affected by it. Addiction baffles people on the sidelinesThe Addict continues to use or drink despite the damage being causedThey seem oblivious to what seems obvious to the rest of us
Addiction
Family & friends ask questions like:
What causes it it? Is it a weakness? Why can’t they just stop? Are they just being willful and wicked? Is it my fault?
Addiction
Are they bad people? Can they get better? Will they ever quit? Why can’t they just control it like other people? If they really loved me wouldn’t they just stop? Are they really angry because I’ve done something wrong?
Addiction
A child asks; what have I done to upset Daddy? What is wrong with me? Is it my fault that things feel so bad at home?Everybody suffers when addiction is present
Addiction
This list of questions is virtually endless but always around the same theme; the baffling nature of addiction. And it is for most people a baffling condition – even many health professional are in the dark about the nature of this problem
Addiction
This confusion manifests in the form of ambivalence - two opposing feelings and beliefs about the addictive behaviour. “I want to drink/gamble/use/overeat etc - I want to stop hurting and the problem to go away”“I want my best friend - I don't want it to control me”“I want to quit – I want to not quit”
Addiction
The addicted person will typically find themselves saying “That’s it, I quit, I can’t stand this anymore.” then later in the day or that week or perhaps next week their thinking has changed completely: “Maybe I could have just one, I’m in control, its my life, who cares anyway, I’m my own boss.”
Addiction
The net result is a return to the addictive behaviour - the drinking, gambling, starving, drug taking and so on.
Addiction
Why Me?
Addiction
Relatives and friends feel confused, angry, let down and hurt and the addict feels temporarily justified in his behaviour, swiftly followed by more remorse and then confusion – he or she asks of themselves - who am I and what do I really want?
The Addict is confused and lost and feels terribly alone
Addiction
Lost & Alone
Addiction
Addiction Counselling or rehabilitation seeks to end this confusion for the addict enabling them to feel more certain about what they want to do about their addictive behaviour. The goal is to help them find their will again and to understand the nature of the lies and delusions built into all addictions.
Addiction
Without intensive professional and expert help, the addict continues to suffer from delusions and is locked into his/her destructive behaviour.
Addiction
With help they can learn to permanently change their destructiveness and to feel good again.
Addiction
Help is the most important thing that the addict and his family need.Get Help Now - it will make a difference
Addiction
Producedby
The Rhind Practice Addiction & Life Coaching Consultants
http://www.addiction-recovery.co.uk