knowing when you're addicted
DESCRIPTION
The term "rock bottom" is often used to describe the point at which a person with an addiction is forced to acknowledge that he or she has a problem - which can lead to their seeking help. But where is rock bottom? And how do people get there?Wende Wood points out that "rock bottom" is a subjective term. For one person, losing everything may mean losing a marriage or their home, while for another becoming homeless is not yet the end. And what rock bottom looks like will naturally depend on what someone had as a starting point. Additionally, Wood explains that it is a common misconception that one needs to arrive at the so-called bottom before reaching for help - often various opportunities occur along the way where the person is open to receiving or asking for help.Sam Waldner explains that often the person with the addiction needs to start feeling the pain from the consequences of their actions before he or she can start making changes. The process of feeling the pain is a lengthy one, as the pain often serves as a stimulus to start one's self-defense mechanisms. These protect and maintain one's self-esteem (through the denial that one is an addict), allowing one to rationalize and continue with the behavior. In many cases, the loss of, or prospect of losing, a relationship or something of similar value can often help the person to recognize that there is a problem. Legal charges or an arrest (e.g., for possession of illegal drugs or driving under the influence) can also contribute to this awareness.Waldner emphasizes that typically the person needs to hear a repeated message (with specific observations) from family and friends that they are seeing a problem. While this information will likely not serve as an immediate stimulus to seek help, the repetition of the overall message can help to counter the "powerful and long-maintained" element of denial.TRANSCRIPT
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Knowing when you're addicted
1
Overview
The term "rock bottom" is often used to describe the point at which a person with an addiction is forced to acknowledge that he or she has a problem - which can lead to their seeking help. But where is rock bottom? And how do people get there?
2
Overview
Wende Wood points out that "rock bottom" is a subjective term. For one person, losing everything may mean losing a marriage or their home, while for another becoming homeless is not yet the end. And what rock bottom looks like will naturally depend on what someone had as a starting point. Additionally, Wood explains that it is a common misconception that one needs to arrive at the so-called bottom before reaching for help - often various opportunities occur along the way where the person is open
3
Overview
Sam Waldner explains that often the person with the addiction needs to start feeling the pain from the consequences of their actions before he or she can start making changes. The process of feeling the pain is a lengthy one, as the pain often serves as a stimulus to start one's self-defense mechanisms. These protect and maintain one's self-esteem (through the denial that one is an addict), allowing one to rationalize and continue with the behavior. In many cases, the loss of, or prospect of lo
4
Overview
Waldner emphasizes that typically the person needs to hear a repeated message (with specific observations) from family and friends that they are seeing a problem. While this information will likely not serve as an immediate stimulus to seek help, the repetition of the overall message can help to counter the "powerful and long-maintained" element of denial.
5
Crossing the addiction line
Many of us take part in activities that are often associated with addictive or compulsive behaviors - activities such as drinking or gambling. But not all of us are addicted to them. What constitutes addictive behavior? When do we cross the line?
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Crossing the addiction line
Addictions come in many forms. Street drugs, prescription medications, alcohol, and inhalants are all common substances of abuse. Gambling, sex, and shopping are often associated with compulsive or problem behavior.
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Crossing the addiction line
To get a clearer idea of what addictions look like and how they can be treated, we spoke to two experts on the subject: Wende Wood of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), a key addiction and mental health teaching hospital in Canada, and Sam Waldner of Samuel Waldner Counselling and Addiction Services, who is a private practitioner and a proponent of 12-step programs (of which Alcoholics Anonymous is a famous example).
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Crossing the addiction line
Wood says that the hallmark of addictive behavior is that it interferes with a person's life - to the point where all of their energy and attention is given to that pursuit. This, she explains, is because certain activities (such as drinking or gambling) stimulate a "reward pathway" in the brain. As a result, the brain wants to continue with this activity, even in the face of negative consequences for the person involved. The desire for the "reward" becomes stronger than the impact of the
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Crossing the addiction line
Waldner describes an addiction as a continuous involvement in a repeated behavior that creates some kind of negative consequence. This also applies to a person who continues to pursue an activity despite harmful results - for example, a smoker who does not quit despite knowing the health risks they face.
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Crossing the addiction line
Waldner says the key characteristics of addiction are two-fold: a loss of control (one's behaviour becomes unpredictable, for example continuing to drink despite having vowed to stop) and a strong sense of denial. Denial about having an addiction is a powerful factor in leading the person to continue with his or her habit, as the belief is strong that there is no real problem and that next time the outcome from the same behaviour will be different. "It's almost as if the person experiences a
