Need for Nurture
on Dec 31, 1969Many addicts have feelings of loneliness and abandonment. They long for love, affirmation, nurture, and touch. In many cases the substance or behavior is a substitute for true love and fellowship. This may take many forms. Alcoholics may find a frien...

Behavioral Change (Part 2)
on Dec 31, 1969Addicts have developed strong, highly programmed, even automatic behavior patterns in order to maintain their addiction. They will go to extraordinary lengths to deny, minimize, or rationalize this addictive behavior. 1. Focus honesty and behavior ch...

Do You Want To Be Free?
on Dec 31, 1969It hasn’t always been this way I remember brighter days Before the dark ones came Stole my mind Wrapped my soul in chains Now I live among the dead Fighting voices in my head Hoping someone hears me crying in the night And carries me away Set m...

Are You Willing To Give Up Control?
on Dec 31, 1969Neuro-chemical tolerance is the reason addicts crave a substance or some repetitive behavior. These cravings are what can seem to the addict to be out of control. They intend to stop but find themselves “drawn” back in. Smokers quit smoking many...

Physical Stabilization and Self-care (Part 1)
on Dec 31, 1969Addicts may have caused physical damage to their bodies. Alcoholics will have possible neurological, gastro-intestinal, or liver complications. Food addicts may starve themselves to death or suffer the effects of chronic obesity. Sex addicts run the...

Emotional and Cognitive Restructuring (Part 3)
on Dec 31, 1969Addicts come from families that might have wounded them emotionally, physically, sexually, and/or spiritually (Carnes, 1997). They have deep sadness, feelings of shame, and loneliness. A. Protect against emotional triggers. It is vitally important f...

Relationship Repair (Part 4)
on Dec 31, 1969People who live with addicts know how painfully difficult it can be. Sometimes the spouses of addicts are referred to as “co-addicts” or “co-dependents” (Beattie, 1987). The assumption of terms like these is that they somehow ignore, tolerate...

The reasons for addiction are multi-faceted
on Dec 31, 1969The treatment of addiction requires a variety of approaches. Treatment must maintain a careful balance between confronting the addict’s denial and minimization and supporting them when they do the painful and difficult work of honest disclosure. At...

Has Your Tolerance Increased?
on Dec 31, 1969God has made us “fearfully and wonderfully” (Psalm 139: 14). One of the amazing qualities of the body is its ability to adapt. Whatever happens to the body it will always seek to return to the state of normal. Scientists and systems therapists ca...

Carrying Multiple Addictions?
on Dec 31, 1969Many addicts suffer from more than one addiction. It is not uncommon for them to use a variety of substances and behaviors to alter their mood. Carnes (1991), in a research project with sex addicts, found, for example that half of all sex addicts suf...