Tuesday, February 02, 2010
The process of medicating our feelings starts early in life for many of us. The more wounds we are engulfed by as children the greater the need to medicate those wounds. We develop rigid defenses which also cause more pain. Trauma and addiction are many times fused together in individuals who grow up in more extreme dysfunction. Some prime examples of this can be the adult child of an alcoholic or addict, the adult child of a family where divorce happened, where many multiple moves occurred, where a single parent had to also work and raise you. There are many other examples of enmeshment, abandonment, neglect or abuses which are a breeding ground for addiction to food, sex, gambling, rage/ power, drugs and alcohol. The development of codependent behavior is also born out of these situations and can take on many forms. We deny more of our authentic self and develop a defended, adapted self which addiction can be a big part of.
Addiction can stand on its own without trauma at its core. As in the case of the stay at home mom or dad who starts using heavy pain medications or tranquilizers, the sex addict who starts on the internet and experiences etching and an increasing rapid loss of control. The child who is allowed to eat junk food repeatedly with little or no exercise, buried in the cell phone, computer or video gaming. There are of course many other examples relating to addiction and I think the most important thing to know is that recovery is not only possible but very probable given certain factors.
The factors that make for a successful recovery from an addiction are contingent upon a level of willingness that is internalized as self motivation. Other than self motivated individuals are afraid of a consequence i.e.; losing a relationship, going to jail, losing a job or losing anything important. A healthy treatment focuses on helping the person find facts about their addiction and raise bottom to a point of surrender. This process gives internal motivation a chance to take hold. It is important that the helping entity, a counselor, treatment team or workshop facilitator be well trained in the particular area of focus. Some individuals go to treatment for a chemical addiction and have a sex addiction also that never gets looked at. This is a relapse waiting to happen. I don’t think individuals fail treatment as often as treatment fails individuals. The treatment process is developmental and ongoing. We see clients go through 30 day rehabilitation and not go into intensive ongoing recovery work durring transition. This happens at a very vulnerable time when recovery needs stepped up. The most reliable and researched developmental treatment models cover close to a 5 year plan. With early tasks focusing on breaking down denial and owning all addiction interactions, building a support group, damage control and relapse prevention. The middle stage work is shame reduction, resolving delayed grief, healing family of origin and deepening issues of recovery. The later tasks are about deepening relational matters with self, god and others. At Enchantment Workshops we will help you face your Addiction, Codependency or Trauma and Heal. Recovery is ongoing and well worth the effort we put into it. Savor your journey and we hope to see you on the path. Ben Gallaway LISAC, CSAT |
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