The number one issue people face when attempting to overcome their addiction is the reason why it's there.
- Why is this a pattern in my life?
- Why do I keep coming back to substance X?
- What purpose or function does it serve in my life?
Whether we like it or not, addiction serves a positive purpose in our lives. Beyond the physical and chemical side of the addiction, the substance fulfils a need, an emotional need, that we are not getting filled elsewhere.
It could be self-esteem related. It could be a previous trauma that has robbed us of the ability to feel just ok about ourselves at a base level.
But the substance is *compensating* for something. It's what we turn to, to feel:
- important
- worthy
- good enough
- accepted
- loved
- like what I say matters
- like what I *feel* matters
- etc
A long time ago, we've used the substance, once or twice, and a deep part of the unconscious mind has learned, "this is the way to feel good enough".
Maybe that learning has been reinforced by observational learning, growing up, in the family environment. Maybe what we've witnessed, has led us to conclude "the way to feel worthy, is to drink".
But that's only one conclusion of many. We can unlearn these beliefs, and break the addiction.
If I learn better coping strategies, if I tackle the underlying issues in therapy. If I address "I'm not good enough", in a safe, supported, therapeutic setting, and resolve it, then my need to use a substance....dissolves.
I no longer believe I'm not ok, and so I feel less triggered in those old situations I use to feel anxious or angry in.
I have a greater awareness of the trigger situations themselves, and therefore I have a much greater level of control, over my choices, about how I react when I realise, consciously, that I do feel triggered, and for the first time, I understand the reasons why.
My friends, *this* is working on the addiction. *This* is helping us resolve it at the root.
If I no longer believe "I'm not ok/I'm not good enough/I'm not worthy", etc, then my reason for using the substance... is gone.
Will it solve everything? Nope.
But will it make it substantially easier to *understand* ourselves, the relationship and work issues we face, the family problems, etc, etc, etc and help us react to them better, with more mindfulness, and in sobriety?
Absolutely.
Come join us on the recovery train. We work with multiple clinics with multiple budgets for treatment, and I'm certain we can help you.
Advice is free. Call us on 01733 530 417.
- Why is this a pattern in my life?
- Why do I keep coming back to substance X?
- What purpose or function does it serve in my life?
Whether we like it or not, addiction serves a positive purpose in our lives. Beyond the physical and chemical side of the addiction, the substance fulfils a need, an emotional need, that we are not getting filled elsewhere.
It could be self-esteem related. It could be a previous trauma that has robbed us of the ability to feel just ok about ourselves at a base level.
But the substance is *compensating* for something. It's what we turn to, to feel:
- important
- worthy
- good enough
- accepted
- loved
- like what I say matters
- like what I *feel* matters
- etc
A long time ago, we've used the substance, once or twice, and a deep part of the unconscious mind has learned, "this is the way to feel good enough".
Maybe that learning has been reinforced by observational learning, growing up, in the family environment. Maybe what we've witnessed, has led us to conclude "the way to feel worthy, is to drink".
But that's only one conclusion of many. We can unlearn these beliefs, and break the addiction.
If I learn better coping strategies, if I tackle the underlying issues in therapy. If I address "I'm not good enough", in a safe, supported, therapeutic setting, and resolve it, then my need to use a substance....dissolves.
I no longer believe I'm not ok, and so I feel less triggered in those old situations I use to feel anxious or angry in.
I have a greater awareness of the trigger situations themselves, and therefore I have a much greater level of control, over my choices, about how I react when I realise, consciously, that I do feel triggered, and for the first time, I understand the reasons why.
My friends, *this* is working on the addiction. *This* is helping us resolve it at the root.
If I no longer believe "I'm not ok/I'm not good enough/I'm not worthy", etc, then my reason for using the substance... is gone.
Will it solve everything? Nope.
But will it make it substantially easier to *understand* ourselves, the relationship and work issues we face, the family problems, etc, etc, etc and help us react to them better, with more mindfulness, and in sobriety?
Absolutely.
Come join us on the recovery train. We work with multiple clinics with multiple budgets for treatment, and I'm certain we can help you.
Advice is free. Call us on 01733 530 417.
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