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Addiction Treatment

[!Why suppression doesn't work long term?]- the urge is strengthened when you give in and when you forcibly suppress let it be

it needs attention, you need to give it attention and love

[[Sobriety vs abstinence]]

RAIN

Recognize

[!Recognize] Hello old brain circuits

circuits learned in childhood that no longer serve its purpose

no more significant than temporary ringing in ears

Allow

Investigate

Nurture

Four steps (plus one)

In the realm of hungry ghosts: Gabor Mate

  • relabel
    • I don't need to read manga now
    • only having an obsessive thought
    • a false belief
    • nothing urgent going on
  • re-attribute
    • Hello old brain circuits
    • circuits learned in childhood that no longer serve its purpose
    • no more significant than temporary ringing in ears
  • re-focus
    • buy yourself 15 mins
    • addictive urges aren't forever
    • "it's not how you feel that counts, it's what you do"
    • go for a walk
  • re-value (devalue)
    • acknowledge the disaster, suffering caused by addiction
    • remind yourself of the meaning of why you're going through this difficult process of addressing your addictions
      • [[Suffering, meaning and purpose#Suffering & meaning]]
    • what has this addiction done for me?
      • thank it for its service in childhood
      • it really needs retraining
    • 2 As
      • anticipate
        • the compulsive, addictive drive will return
      • accept
        • addiction exists in spite of yourself
        • you didn't choose to be like this
  • re-create
    • choosing a different life
    • expression

Positive commitment devices

  • Dr Mate addressing his chronic lateness
    • sent $100 undated cheques to health coordinator
    • if he was late: the health coordinator would date the cheque to the health clinic
  • trap: oh If I'm late, I'll be donating to charity!
    • reframe: the value that I bring when I'm on time is greater than $100
    • ⭐ go through the process of defining the monetary value of engaging the behaviour
    • if you were to buy the addictive behaviour at the behaviour restaurant, how much would it cost your soul, body and mind?

Making amends

AA: Step 9

[[Karma and Dharma#Karmic debt]] - planting seeds for truth-telling

Daily moral inventory

AA: Step 10

  • note emotional cues that can trigger addiction

Stages of change

![[image-20230326190143817.png]]

Last update: 2023-04-24