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Unbroken Brain
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Understanding Addiction
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Feb 25, 2018 11:37PM
We will begin reading this book today! Join me!
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Very heartening to read that addiction is the psychiatric disorder with the highest odds of recovery. (pg.6) I always find in interesting when people discuss "rock bottom", but is there one?
Learning a behavior even when motivated takes time (pg. 15) . Personally I am very motivated to communicate with others (without or with an addiction), but I still find myself falling back into back habits!
"recurring fear that I would l never have lasting comfort or joy again" page 34. Wow! What a sad statement. If this is how a person feels when withdrawing from drugs we must have empathy and hope throughout the process.
I had the chance to be electronic free this weekend! A joy for me and everyone else. I On page 52 the author writes about coping styles and later in chapter 5 about self-regulation--to me these are similar tracks. Self-regulation being a key to our overall sense of well-being.
I always find the chapters on addictive personalities difficult. Like the author we have not had any signifiant trauma. It is always in the back of my mind--what caused it? How did I miss it? What is the distress (page 71) that causes us to look for escapes?
Chapter 6 is very powerful--reminding us that words matter. How children frame themselves comes from what they learn about themselves. Addiction starts early well before a child takes his first drug and then takes it again and again to form an addiction. Again this chapter left me with questions. Is there a way to reframe the mindset?
In chapter 7 I am introduced to a new term "status stress". I almost wish I had never heard of it! The aspect of bullying and addiction is not something I have concerned in a large scale. Layer upon Layer and many markers/factors lead to problems with addiction.
Chapter 8 is a must read for parents of teens and pre-teens! I spent most of my life studying and with/for young children that I missed teenage brain development. I makes sense now that all of my 4 children are in 20-30s. RIsk taking is needed, brains are developing rapidly, boredom is normal!
Chapter 8 as the background for Chapter 9 is an explanation of why the way adolescents and young adults with addiction are often given improper help. Cognitive development and emotional development are not finished. If we think of addiction as a learning disorder than redirecting this desire---this unsatisfactory wanting is a sensible approach.
I have been traveling for two weeks and am just now picking the book back up! Although I know from experience that the 12 step program works for many I do not believe in "tough love". Perhaps for spouses or parents, but not for children. I actually think it goes the opposite way for most people. The author sums it up very well on page 148.
I took a very long break from reading the book! I am not sure what go in the way, but now I am back to it! The author makes several good points regarding treatment (1) patients (like all of us) should set their own goals (2) kindness and empathy are an important quality for counselors (3) family therapy can be very effective (4) social groups are an important aspect of recovery.
