Heart of Addiction Class Outline
Why Do Some People seem To Prefer Their Bad Habits?
This one question gets to the heart of what is known as alcoholism or alcohol use disorder. The reason that treatment for heavy alcohol use (aka alcoholism and alcohol use disorder) fails as much as 90% of the time is because this question is never addressed.
People are motivated by perceived benefits of use not by fear of consequences. Treatment uses fear of consequences to motivate people to change their behaviors and it doesn’t work. They never discuss what this person likes about alcohol use and intoxication or whatever their corrupt behavior is. Once you identify what benefits people see in using their substance of choice at the level they are using it, only then can you challenge those benefits and help them to evaluate whether or not it’s actually providing what they value and what they really want. And this is how you effect a change in preference.
In this class you will learn that in fact you are not powerless. That addiction is not a disease over which you have no control. You will learn about yourself. What make you think and feel and act the way you do.
The main navigational tools in life are values and purpose. People overcome hurts, hangups and habits, out of purpose-based motivation (based on values). People better themselves when they recognize how their habits, violate who they were, what they want to be and where they want to go in life.
Emotions are the primary drivers of human behavior. Addictions are nothing more than displaced behaviors. All addictions are caused by one underlying emotion: intolerable, overwhelming, helplessness. All addictions serve an emotional purpose. That purpose is to reverse feelings of helplessness. Reasons for compulsive substance abuse or any hurt, hangup or habit, are driven by emotional factors, usually feelings of intolerable, overwhelming helplessness about whatever in life makes one feel overwhelmingly trapped, powerless and out of control. It’s the rage at feeling helplessness that drives the addictive behavior, the need for the quick fix or mood changer of drugs or other behaviors.
Addictions are continued use of behaviors despite adverse consequences. Addictions are not just substance abuses (drugs, alcohol), but also behaviors (excess shopping, facebook, gambling, porn, controlling others, anger, etc). In humans, the common denominator behind any compulsive behavior is the desire for a “quick fix or mood changer” to reverse how we feel or escape the trap of helplessness. Addictive behavior is never random, addictive behavior is learned. There is always a reason and a reward. Whatever is rewarded gets repeated. (Trigger-Behavior-Reward-Repeat). You can’t get addicted to a substance or behavior that doesn’t do something for you.
The purpose of any addiction is reverse feelings of overwhelming helplessness, an emotional state. This helplessness is always rooted in something deeply important to the individual and is overwhelming and intolerable to the individual.
We always have a binary choice. We can regain control of helpless feelings with displaced substitute behaviors (quick fixes or mood changers of drugs or other behaviors), or direct healthy behaviors that empower us. What humans really seek is a sense of control. We are biologically wired to seek control! What we really seek is not a drink, a drug, porn or a bet, but a sense of empowerment and control, in the face of feeling helpless. Addicts have learned to regain control of their emotions with a quick fix or mood changer of alcohol, drugs and other compulsive displaced behaviors. Non addicts, empower themselves and regain control of their emotions by facing them directly or replacing them with some other high value behavior.
The best antidote for any hurt, hangup or habit: Is when we choose a high value (Dopaminergic/reward), personal relationship with Jesus Christ, when we replace the rewards of displaced behaviors (addictions) with the rewards of direct Christ Driven Behavior (CDB). Christ Driven Behavior (CDB), is a direct empowering behavior that honors God; a direct way to regain control over helpless, trapped, powerless feelings! When we delegate control to God, He empowers us with a seminal mentor that imparts motivation, conviction, purpose and the fruit of the Holy Spirit called values. Self-control is but one of those fruits or values! When we act with direct healthy behavior and not with displaced-indirect behaviors, we exercise self-control. When we empower ourselves with direct healthy behavior, Christ Driven Behavior, that honors God, there is no displaced behavior, there is no addiction. There is a “New Creation.”
When our values and purpose are Christ Driven Behaviors (CDB) that honors God, there is no addiction, there is a new creation with transformed thinking.
Why Do Some People seem To Prefer Their Bad Habits?
This one question gets to the heart of what is known as alcoholism or alcohol use disorder. The reason that treatment for heavy alcohol use (aka alcoholism and alcohol use disorder) fails as much as 90% of the time is because this question is never addressed.
People are motivated by perceived benefits of use not by fear of consequences. Treatment uses fear of consequences to motivate people to change their behaviors and it doesn’t work. They never discuss what this person likes about alcohol use and intoxication or whatever their corrupt behavior is. Once you identify what benefits people see in using their substance of choice at the level they are using it, only then can you challenge those benefits and help them to evaluate whether or not it’s actually providing what they value and what they really want. And this is how you effect a change in preference.
In this class you will learn that in fact you are not powerless. That addiction is not a disease over which you have no control. You will learn about yourself. What make you think and feel and act the way you do.
The main navigational tools in life are values and purpose. People overcome hurts, hangups and habits, out of purpose-based motivation (based on values). People better themselves when they recognize how their habits, violate who they were, what they want to be and where they want to go in life.
Emotions are the primary drivers of human behavior. Addictions are nothing more than displaced behaviors. All addictions are caused by one underlying emotion: intolerable, overwhelming, helplessness. All addictions serve an emotional purpose. That purpose is to reverse feelings of helplessness. Reasons for compulsive substance abuse or any hurt, hangup or habit, are driven by emotional factors, usually feelings of intolerable, overwhelming helplessness about whatever in life makes one feel overwhelmingly trapped, powerless and out of control. It’s the rage at feeling helplessness that drives the addictive behavior, the need for the quick fix or mood changer of drugs or other behaviors.
Addictions are continued use of behaviors despite adverse consequences. Addictions are not just substance abuses (drugs, alcohol), but also behaviors (excess shopping, facebook, gambling, porn, controlling others, anger, etc). In humans, the common denominator behind any compulsive behavior is the desire for a “quick fix or mood changer” to reverse how we feel or escape the trap of helplessness. Addictive behavior is never random, addictive behavior is learned. There is always a reason and a reward. Whatever is rewarded gets repeated. (Trigger-Behavior-Reward-Repeat). You can’t get addicted to a substance or behavior that doesn’t do something for you.
The purpose of any addiction is reverse feelings of overwhelming helplessness, an emotional state. This helplessness is always rooted in something deeply important to the individual and is overwhelming and intolerable to the individual.
We always have a binary choice. We can regain control of helpless feelings with displaced substitute behaviors (quick fixes or mood changers of drugs or other behaviors), or direct healthy behaviors that empower us. What humans really seek is a sense of control. We are biologically wired to seek control! What we really seek is not a drink, a drug, porn or a bet, but a sense of empowerment and control, in the face of feeling helpless. Addicts have learned to regain control of their emotions with a quick fix or mood changer of alcohol, drugs and other compulsive displaced behaviors. Non addicts, empower themselves and regain control of their emotions by facing them directly or replacing them with some other high value behavior.
The best antidote for any hurt, hangup or habit: Is when we choose a high value (Dopaminergic/reward), personal relationship with Jesus Christ, when we replace the rewards of displaced behaviors (addictions) with the rewards of direct Christ Driven Behavior (CDB). Christ Driven Behavior (CDB), is a direct empowering behavior that honors God; a direct way to regain control over helpless, trapped, powerless feelings! When we delegate control to God, He empowers us with a seminal mentor that imparts motivation, conviction, purpose and the fruit of the Holy Spirit called values. Self-control is but one of those fruits or values! When we act with direct healthy behavior and not with displaced-indirect behaviors, we exercise self-control. When we empower ourselves with direct healthy behavior, Christ Driven Behavior, that honors God, there is no displaced behavior, there is no addiction. There is a “New Creation.”
When our values and purpose are Christ Driven Behaviors (CDB) that honors God, there is no addiction, there is a new creation with transformed thinking.
| Who am I and why this class.pdf |
CORE SCRIPTURES PERTINENT TO ADDICTION SCIENCE
The seven core scriptures take us from, understanding our emotions, asking God for help, changing our thinking, delegating control to Christ, God reciprocates with a Helper that facilitates with fruit or values, such as self control and our replacing our old selves and becoming New Creations.
The 7 Core Scriptures can be found here
The 7 Core Scriptures can be found here
Proverbs 29:11 "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them in control."
All emotions are derivations of five core feelings: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and shame. Everything you see, smell, hear, taste and touch travels through your body in the form of electric signals. These signals pass from cell to cell until they reach their ultimate destination, your brain. Humans are wired so that all our actions and reactions begin in the old primitive Limbic System with feelings or emotions. How we react with our rational thinking and decision making new Prefrontal Neocortex, determines in large part, whether we demonstrate Direct healthy behavior or Displaced-substitute behavior. The addictive belief system is emotion driven. In this system, we feel that life should be fair, easy and painless and we should always get what we want. When life does not happen this way, we often react emotionally. Emotions are not all bad but venting them ALL without control is not good. When we lose control of our emotions, we lose perspective, we catastrophize events (make them worse than they are) and often we act with regretful behavior to attempt to regain control of those events or circumstances. Consider this: An infant lives a primitive emotional world where they expect life to meet their demands, adults on the other hand need to learn to meet the demands of life. This is a learning process that is lacking in compulsive behaviors.
All emotions are derivations of five core feelings: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and shame. Everything you see, smell, hear, taste and touch travels through your body in the form of electric signals. These signals pass from cell to cell until they reach their ultimate destination, your brain. Humans are wired so that all our actions and reactions begin in the old primitive Limbic System with feelings or emotions. How we react with our rational thinking and decision making new Prefrontal Neocortex, determines in large part, whether we demonstrate Direct healthy behavior or Displaced-substitute behavior. The addictive belief system is emotion driven. In this system, we feel that life should be fair, easy and painless and we should always get what we want. When life does not happen this way, we often react emotionally. Emotions are not all bad but venting them ALL without control is not good. When we lose control of our emotions, we lose perspective, we catastrophize events (make them worse than they are) and often we act with regretful behavior to attempt to regain control of those events or circumstances. Consider this: An infant lives a primitive emotional world where they expect life to meet their demands, adults on the other hand need to learn to meet the demands of life. This is a learning process that is lacking in compulsive behaviors.
Outline for First Night:
What do you like about your issue that makes you repeat it? What does it do for you? (Ask for hands. Everyone needs to answer this question at some point. The reality is there are very specific and important reasons to be discovered. This concept is essential for a cost-benefit analysis.
Operationally define addiction? The simplest definition is proposed by Dr. Jud Brewer and is, continuous use of a substance or behavior despite adverse consequences. In my opinion, the best definition is when we understand the psychology of addiction as proposed by Dr. Dodes. Dodes states that all addictions are caused by one intolerable and overwhelming emotion, helplessness. When one feels helpless, they feel trapped, powerless and out of control. Addictions are displaced behaviors used to, "reverse," feelings of helplessness. This definition goes to the heart of addiction and what this class will clarify and explore.
Listen to Podcasts below by Dodes, pausing for understanding and clarification.
There are multiple audio and video elements to listen to on your own that will help understand emotions.
All emotions are derivations of five core feelings: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and shame. Everything you see, smell, hear, taste and touch travels through your body in the form of electric signals. These signals pass from cell to cell until they reach their ultimate destination, your brain. Humans are wired so that all our actions and reactions begin in the old primitive Limbic System with feelings or emotions. How we react with our rational thinking and decision making new Prefrontal Neocortex, determines in large part, whether we demonstrate Direct healthy behavior or Displaced-substitute behavior.
Dr. Dodes explaining "The Nature of Addiction.
| 2-25-2020 Written Summary of Podcast on Conventional Wisdom.docx |
Urges are Emotion Driven
195 SelfWork: The Suck It Up Episode: Why You Struggle to Feel C:\Users\Chiro\Music\iTunes\iTunes Media\Podcasts\The SelfWork Podcast
Coping with emotions start in childhood or at least it should.......
Seven core scriptures take us from, understanding our emotions, asking God for help, changing our thinking, delegating control to Christ, God reciprocates with a Helper that facilitates with fruit or values, such as self control and our replacing our old selves and becoming New Creations.
Feelings need to be recognized:3 Reasons You Must Accept Your Feelings No Matter What They Are
- Since your emotions are a deeply personal, biological expression of who you are, rejecting your feelings is a way of rejecting yourself. It’s harmful.
- Your feelings are messages from your body. They are a crucial, valuable resource for you to use in your life.
- Unaccepted, denied, or walled-off feelings don’t actually go away. In fact, they only become stronger.
- Once you have processed any uncomfortable feelings in this way, an incredible thing happens. The feelings naturally diminish. This is what feelings do once you have purposely sat with them and allowed yourself to feel and think about them. It works. Jonice Webb PhD
Dr. Marmar: Taking control. Taking responsibility. Containing your emotions. Having perspective. Achieving deep understanding—these are five characteristics of maturity. Together they can lead you to a deeper and happier life. Click here
https://www.prageru.com/video/its-time-to-grow-up/
https://www.prageru.com/video/its-time-to-grow-up/
For next week: Please read the first three chapters, only about 10 pages each.
We will be discussing these chapters and how they relate to our own specific issues with respect to:
What emotion do I "feel," right before I have that urge and decide to take that drink, do a drug or engage in any compulsive behavior? Recognizing or being aware of this feeling is the first step toward understanding why we act in certain ways. RECOGNITION is Critical to understanding our Emotional IQ, which is the ability to make our emotions work for us instead of against us.
Give examples in your life of how you felt, helpless, trapped, powerless and out of control with respect to certain circumstances.
What is the purpose of addictive behavior?
A: To regain control over feeling, "Helpless."
What is the drive behind addictive behavior?
A: Anger or Rage at feeling, "Helpless."
What is a displaced or substitute behavior?
A: Addictions are all substitute (or displaced) actions. They take the place of a more direct response to feelings of helplessness in a particular situation.
What is a direct behavior?
A: The solutions to the helplessness traps that lead to addiction are just the direct actions that would have automatically come to mind if there were not some emotional factor preventing you from acting directly.
When seeking alternatives to addictive behavior, you don’t need to come up with the best possible alternative. You only need to come up with an action that addresses your predicament more directly than the addictive act.
What is the, "Key Moment," in addictive behavior?
A:The key moment in addiction is when the thought of it first comes to mind. This may be hours or even days before the addictive act occurs. The key moment in the chain of thoughts, feelings, and acts leading to an addictive behavior may be a decision to take an action that brings you closer to the addictive behavior, rather than a conscious thought about the addictive act itself.
The feeling at the key moment along the path to addictive behavior is helplessness or powerlessness. It feels like you are in a trap that you can do nothing about. Because it is so valuable to recognize the key moment—the earliest point at which you begin to think about performing your addictive act—you can help yourself by imagining this moment yourself. You can do this by anticipating the circumstances in which it would occur.
Recognize: We learn to recognize the emotions or feelings behind the circumstances that cause us to feel overwhelmingly helpless.
Reframe: We learn to re-frame our thinking with respect to our displaced behaviors.
Replace: We learn to replace our corrupted displaced behaviors with direct healthy Christ Driven Behaviors that honor God.
When we understand the psychology behind our thinking and our emotions we can learn to reverse our sense of helplessness and regain control of our lives. When people feel utterly trapped they have to do something, and if they feel they can't act directly to get out of that trap, then they have to do something else. The "something else" is, therefore, a substitute action (technically called a "displacement"). When people repetitively perform a displaced action to try to manage overwhelming helplessness, we call this driven, compulsive behavior an addiction. But there's always something people can do at these overwhelming moments that is more direct! ( even if not perfect). People find that when they take direct healthy action, the addictive urge almost always vanishes! This sounds like magic but it makes sense because having acted more directly, they no longer need a substitute behavior.
The bottom line here is to escape the feelings of helplessness and regain control by empowering ourselves with a direct healthy behavior that is of high value to us. (chapter #8 Treatment )
We will be discussing these chapters and how they relate to our own specific issues with respect to:
What emotion do I "feel," right before I have that urge and decide to take that drink, do a drug or engage in any compulsive behavior? Recognizing or being aware of this feeling is the first step toward understanding why we act in certain ways. RECOGNITION is Critical to understanding our Emotional IQ, which is the ability to make our emotions work for us instead of against us.
Give examples in your life of how you felt, helpless, trapped, powerless and out of control with respect to certain circumstances.
What is the purpose of addictive behavior?
A: To regain control over feeling, "Helpless."
What is the drive behind addictive behavior?
A: Anger or Rage at feeling, "Helpless."
What is a displaced or substitute behavior?
A: Addictions are all substitute (or displaced) actions. They take the place of a more direct response to feelings of helplessness in a particular situation.
What is a direct behavior?
A: The solutions to the helplessness traps that lead to addiction are just the direct actions that would have automatically come to mind if there were not some emotional factor preventing you from acting directly.
When seeking alternatives to addictive behavior, you don’t need to come up with the best possible alternative. You only need to come up with an action that addresses your predicament more directly than the addictive act.
What is the, "Key Moment," in addictive behavior?
A:The key moment in addiction is when the thought of it first comes to mind. This may be hours or even days before the addictive act occurs. The key moment in the chain of thoughts, feelings, and acts leading to an addictive behavior may be a decision to take an action that brings you closer to the addictive behavior, rather than a conscious thought about the addictive act itself.
The feeling at the key moment along the path to addictive behavior is helplessness or powerlessness. It feels like you are in a trap that you can do nothing about. Because it is so valuable to recognize the key moment—the earliest point at which you begin to think about performing your addictive act—you can help yourself by imagining this moment yourself. You can do this by anticipating the circumstances in which it would occur.
Recognize: We learn to recognize the emotions or feelings behind the circumstances that cause us to feel overwhelmingly helpless.
Reframe: We learn to re-frame our thinking with respect to our displaced behaviors.
Replace: We learn to replace our corrupted displaced behaviors with direct healthy Christ Driven Behaviors that honor God.
When we understand the psychology behind our thinking and our emotions we can learn to reverse our sense of helplessness and regain control of our lives. When people feel utterly trapped they have to do something, and if they feel they can't act directly to get out of that trap, then they have to do something else. The "something else" is, therefore, a substitute action (technically called a "displacement"). When people repetitively perform a displaced action to try to manage overwhelming helplessness, we call this driven, compulsive behavior an addiction. But there's always something people can do at these overwhelming moments that is more direct! ( even if not perfect). People find that when they take direct healthy action, the addictive urge almost always vanishes! This sounds like magic but it makes sense because having acted more directly, they no longer need a substitute behavior.
The bottom line here is to escape the feelings of helplessness and regain control by empowering ourselves with a direct healthy behavior that is of high value to us. (chapter #8 Treatment )
Grow Close to God and He will grow close to you. James 4:8
Perhaps you have heard the expression, "neurons that fire together, wire together." This expression is designed to verbalize how we learn (with synaptic connections in the brain). We can extrapolate this expression to prayer in that where attention goes, neuro-firing flows and neuro-connection grows. If you want to build a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (neuro-connection) it starts with learning good habits.
One of the best ways to be mindful of scripture is to memorize and meditate on the scripture. If you setup specific scripture as a re-occurring appointment in your Calendar, that occurs once a week, the scripture will pop up at your designated time allowing you to view it and read it. Faith in you face! :-)
Perhaps you have heard the expression, "neurons that fire together, wire together." This expression is designed to verbalize how we learn (with synaptic connections in the brain). We can extrapolate this expression to prayer in that where attention goes, neuro-firing flows and neuro-connection grows. If you want to build a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (neuro-connection) it starts with learning good habits.
One of the best ways to be mindful of scripture is to memorize and meditate on the scripture. If you setup specific scripture as a re-occurring appointment in your Calendar, that occurs once a week, the scripture will pop up at your designated time allowing you to view it and read it. Faith in you face! :-)
Suggestions for improving self:
How To Create a Google Calendar
One of the best ways to grow close to God is to read his word every morning in your email. The links below will help you setup such emails, so that you can start each day with custom messages you can read in just a few minutes!
Devotionals to inbox:
http://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/
http://www.oneplace.com/devotionals/
http://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions
http://utmost.org/
http://profile.purposedriven.com/managesubscriptionssimple.aspx
One of the best ways to grow close to God is to read his word every morning in your email. The links below will help you setup such emails, so that you can start each day with custom messages you can read in just a few minutes!
Devotionals to inbox:
http://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/
http://www.oneplace.com/devotionals/
http://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions
http://utmost.org/
http://profile.purposedriven.com/managesubscriptionssimple.aspx
