ADDICTION
I found it useful to make a list of all of my past and present addictions. For each one, I ask myself...
What need/s did this addiction meet in the beginning?
Did it keep meeting that need / those needs?
What need/s am I currently trying to meet by using this addiction?
Is is working? How effective is it?
What harm/damage is it causing?
How will my life play out if I continue indulging in this addiction?
What might the final outcome look like in the end?
Do I know anyone else who has this addiction and who is further along the path with it than me?
(Perhaps someone older?)
If so, what does their life look like?
Additionally, I take a few days to reflect on each addiction's bottom (if I have hit it).
This can reveal a Lifelong Pattern and illuminate if and how both the addiction and its bottom were inevitable consequences of unresolved trauma.
Anatomy of Addiction
1. Anchor (Past Event)
2. Activation (caused by a current Activating Event)
3. Craving
4. Compulsion
5. Consequences
The above are the 5 Stages of Anger, according to William Fleeman in the
Pathways To Peace Anger Management Workbook.
(Fleeman calls Stage 2 "Trigger", but quite a few people find that word triggering,
so I have replaced it with the word "Activation".)
I have found these to also be the 5 Stages of any Strong Negative Emotion as well as
the Anatomy of Addiction and the Trauma Loop or Trauma Cycle.
The first two stages are the main focus of this website.
Here, I will discuss the last three stages:
The 3 C's
Craving, Compulsion, Consequences.
Cravings are a sign that we are activated.
A craving can be nipped in the bud by learning how to de-escalate our reaction
and neutralize the underlying anchor (usually past trauma).
The craving might go away on its own if we simply wait it out.
Focusing on our breathing - taking slow, deep breaths - can help.
It also might go away on its own if we distract ourselves
by doing something that changes our feeling state.
Getting absorbed in a creative pursuit is a powerful distraction that can
change our feeling state.
Going to a meeting with others, who have dealt with similar cravings, can help.
I have found that the best thing to do is to uncover and neutralize the anchor (past trauma),
because once I have done that, the craving vanishes.
If we do nothing about the craving, then we will end up going to the next stage,
which is Compulsion. We will do something compulsive or impulsive to relieve our discomfort.
(Eat, drink, shop, gamble, rage, try to force someone to understand us, etc.)
And then, there will be Consequences to deal with
(such as a rocky bottom, an emotional hangover,
exhaustion due to being over-adrenalized, or
damage to a relationship or a job).
Sometimes, if the trigger is very deep or intense,
we might not experience a craving at all,
but instead go straight into the compulsion without any warning.
A lightning fast reflex takes place below the level of consciousness,
and we have no mental defense against the compulsion.
Even if we do not catch ourselves in time to avoid the Compulsion and Consequences stages,
we can still discover and neutralize the anchor after the fact.
With time and practice, our awareness grows and we get faster at identifying when we are activated
and more adept at interrupting the cycle by neutralizing anchors.
Quitting
For my thoughts on safely quitting an active addiction, click
HERE.
Disclaimers
The content on this website is for informational purposes only.
All information, videos, and resources provided on this website are not a substitute for professional mental health care or medical services and are not intended for clinical diagnosis or treatment.
This website does not contain medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Nothing on this website is meant to replace consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.
References do not imply endorsement of any of the referenced person or entity's other material, ideas, beliefs, actions, or behaviors.
