Solutions for chemical addictions (body, mind, & spirit)
1) For the BODY:
Problem: It takes about 90 days for old neural pathways to be extinguished and new ones to be created. Old “using” neural pathways
connect thoughts of using with old memory traces of the “high” which can create a dopamine release which results in rekindling
the “obsession” for the old drug.
Solution: Wear a rubber band on your wrist . . . every time you think about using or engaging in your old addictive behavior, pull that
rubber band back and let it “pop” you on the wrist/arm. This will create a new association in which the thought of using will
become associated with the unpleasant pain of the rubber band snapping your wrist producing pain. This simple technique really
works in replacing the old association of thoughts of “getting high” with memory recall of the euphoric feeling of getting high.
Problem: Chemicals used during your active addiction days will be stored in various fatty tissues of your body. Overtime as your body breaks
these tissues down for fuel or thru internal cleansing process, these chemicals will "leach" back out into your blood stream
producing "physical cravings" for the true addict who has the genetic disposition for addiction. This creates situations in which
months or possibly even a year or two after recovery has begun, a person will "want" to use again! These cravings last only a
few minutes and then are gone!
Solution: Create a "safety plan" as part of your recovery in which you address how to overcome these temporary "cravings". This might
include:
- calling your sponsor to assist you in "talking thru" these physical cravings.
- creating a "grateful list" that will temporarily distract you from the physical cravings.
- possible prescriptions of anti-craving medications.
- daily exercise which allows your body to naturally detox from your drug of choice on an ongoing basis as well as
stimulate more availability of natural neurotransmitters producing a“better” since of well-being.
- quick doses of humor such as the following:
1) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152642257355300
2) For the MIND:
Problem: Due to less availability of neurotransmitters as a result of using, when one quits, it is very likely that you will feel irritable, restless,
discontent, and bored until full availability to access one's neurotransmitters is restored (3 months to 12 months +). Also your
memory is very one-sided and tends to remember only the benefits of using while conveniently forgetting the liabilities of using.
You also have many memories in which moments of "relief" / "comfort" / "pleasure" / "fun" are associated with "using".
Solutions: Working the 12-steps of recovery which will renew your mind as well as change your perspective on yourself and on life in general
for the better, this includes getting a sponsor for accountability.
Creating a grateful/thankful list in which one makes a list of things they can be grateful and thankful for, and then reading
it out loud will change a negative perspective quickly.
Ex: I am grateful I have . . . eyes that see, ears that hear; I am grateful that I have legs that work and I can run and jump;
I am grateful/thankful I have a face that is not burned; I am grateful/thankful that I have loving pets . . . etc.
Creating a “fun” list in which you make a list of 10 fun things one can do daily with little planning and no money such as going
to the park and flying a kite, volunteering for an organization that is involved in something you care about (Big Brothers/Big sisters);
also make a list of 5 things one can do with a little planning and a little money on a weekly basis like going to a movie, taking a
friend out to lunch, visiting a museum or going to the zoo; additionally make a list of things you can do once per month that
will take more planning and more money such as doing a “ropes course”, or taking a weekend trip to some city to participate
in some athletic race, walk, or fundraiser. Making this list and DOING it will put a “zing” back in your life as well as increase
your “zest for life”as you now have some fun things to look forward to, as well as create new memories of having "fun" w/o
using drugs/alcohol.
Of course a “no brainer” is sponsoring someone “in the program” which allows you to remember WHY you quit your drug of choice
in the first place as you watch your sponsoree struggle with all of the consequences of their using which use to be present in
your life when you were using - such as legal problems, job loss, relationships lost, etc.
3) For the SPIRIT:
Problem: Unintentionally, a person’s addiction has become like a “god”/idol in their life as they have sacrificed their relationships, their
finances, their time, even their own values/moral codes in order to be “in relationship” with their drug of choice. Their drug of
choice has become "their COMFORTER" which "fixes" their insides when they are happy, sad, mad, or glad. They have
become spiritually bankrupt. They have become "disconnected" from their own selves, from others, and from the Creator of
the Universe if that was even in place before the addiction began.
Solutions: Working the 12 Steps of Recovery provides the action steps that (1) connects or creates a relationship between the person
and the true Creator of the Universe as the person willfully chooses to work the steps; (2) reconnects a person back to his
true self; and (3) reconnects a person back to relationships with others in a healthy manner. This moves a person towards
a true "spiritual awakening" which is necessary for a "true addict" to truly recover from his addiction.
Use of prayer-meditation in which one finds a quiet spot at the beginning and end of the day in which one “welcomes” a loving
touch from the God of the Universe in one's life, then one “gives thanks” to the God of the Universe for His mercy and grace
and love poured out on one's life, and then one “gives praises to” the God of the Universe for His plan for life and life in abundance
coming to pass in one's life as well as for his protection and provision. Based on the "promises of God" in the Bible, this will
develop an“experiential” relationship with the God of the Universe that will change one's life for the better!
For more ideas that are part of the SOLUTION of overcoming your addictions, get my book . . . “The Little Book – Alcoholism, Drug Addiction & Recovery Made Simple!” Everything you need to recover and thrive in life is in it. Available at the http://www.3rdstepcounseling.com/store.html!
Take care and God bless you on your journey!
Christopher J. Daniel, LPC
Problem: It takes about 90 days for old neural pathways to be extinguished and new ones to be created. Old “using” neural pathways
connect thoughts of using with old memory traces of the “high” which can create a dopamine release which results in rekindling
the “obsession” for the old drug.
Solution: Wear a rubber band on your wrist . . . every time you think about using or engaging in your old addictive behavior, pull that
rubber band back and let it “pop” you on the wrist/arm. This will create a new association in which the thought of using will
become associated with the unpleasant pain of the rubber band snapping your wrist producing pain. This simple technique really
works in replacing the old association of thoughts of “getting high” with memory recall of the euphoric feeling of getting high.
Problem: Chemicals used during your active addiction days will be stored in various fatty tissues of your body. Overtime as your body breaks
these tissues down for fuel or thru internal cleansing process, these chemicals will "leach" back out into your blood stream
producing "physical cravings" for the true addict who has the genetic disposition for addiction. This creates situations in which
months or possibly even a year or two after recovery has begun, a person will "want" to use again! These cravings last only a
few minutes and then are gone!
Solution: Create a "safety plan" as part of your recovery in which you address how to overcome these temporary "cravings". This might
include:
- calling your sponsor to assist you in "talking thru" these physical cravings.
- creating a "grateful list" that will temporarily distract you from the physical cravings.
- possible prescriptions of anti-craving medications.
- daily exercise which allows your body to naturally detox from your drug of choice on an ongoing basis as well as
stimulate more availability of natural neurotransmitters producing a“better” since of well-being.
- quick doses of humor such as the following:
1) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152642257355300
2) For the MIND:
Problem: Due to less availability of neurotransmitters as a result of using, when one quits, it is very likely that you will feel irritable, restless,
discontent, and bored until full availability to access one's neurotransmitters is restored (3 months to 12 months +). Also your
memory is very one-sided and tends to remember only the benefits of using while conveniently forgetting the liabilities of using.
You also have many memories in which moments of "relief" / "comfort" / "pleasure" / "fun" are associated with "using".
Solutions: Working the 12-steps of recovery which will renew your mind as well as change your perspective on yourself and on life in general
for the better, this includes getting a sponsor for accountability.
Creating a grateful/thankful list in which one makes a list of things they can be grateful and thankful for, and then reading
it out loud will change a negative perspective quickly.
Ex: I am grateful I have . . . eyes that see, ears that hear; I am grateful that I have legs that work and I can run and jump;
I am grateful/thankful I have a face that is not burned; I am grateful/thankful that I have loving pets . . . etc.
Creating a “fun” list in which you make a list of 10 fun things one can do daily with little planning and no money such as going
to the park and flying a kite, volunteering for an organization that is involved in something you care about (Big Brothers/Big sisters);
also make a list of 5 things one can do with a little planning and a little money on a weekly basis like going to a movie, taking a
friend out to lunch, visiting a museum or going to the zoo; additionally make a list of things you can do once per month that
will take more planning and more money such as doing a “ropes course”, or taking a weekend trip to some city to participate
in some athletic race, walk, or fundraiser. Making this list and DOING it will put a “zing” back in your life as well as increase
your “zest for life”as you now have some fun things to look forward to, as well as create new memories of having "fun" w/o
using drugs/alcohol.
Of course a “no brainer” is sponsoring someone “in the program” which allows you to remember WHY you quit your drug of choice
in the first place as you watch your sponsoree struggle with all of the consequences of their using which use to be present in
your life when you were using - such as legal problems, job loss, relationships lost, etc.
3) For the SPIRIT:
Problem: Unintentionally, a person’s addiction has become like a “god”/idol in their life as they have sacrificed their relationships, their
finances, their time, even their own values/moral codes in order to be “in relationship” with their drug of choice. Their drug of
choice has become "their COMFORTER" which "fixes" their insides when they are happy, sad, mad, or glad. They have
become spiritually bankrupt. They have become "disconnected" from their own selves, from others, and from the Creator of
the Universe if that was even in place before the addiction began.
Solutions: Working the 12 Steps of Recovery provides the action steps that (1) connects or creates a relationship between the person
and the true Creator of the Universe as the person willfully chooses to work the steps; (2) reconnects a person back to his
true self; and (3) reconnects a person back to relationships with others in a healthy manner. This moves a person towards
a true "spiritual awakening" which is necessary for a "true addict" to truly recover from his addiction.
Use of prayer-meditation in which one finds a quiet spot at the beginning and end of the day in which one “welcomes” a loving
touch from the God of the Universe in one's life, then one “gives thanks” to the God of the Universe for His mercy and grace
and love poured out on one's life, and then one “gives praises to” the God of the Universe for His plan for life and life in abundance
coming to pass in one's life as well as for his protection and provision. Based on the "promises of God" in the Bible, this will
develop an“experiential” relationship with the God of the Universe that will change one's life for the better!
For more ideas that are part of the SOLUTION of overcoming your addictions, get my book . . . “The Little Book – Alcoholism, Drug Addiction & Recovery Made Simple!” Everything you need to recover and thrive in life is in it. Available at the http://www.3rdstepcounseling.com/store.html!
Take care and God bless you on your journey!
Christopher J. Daniel, LPC
