“The reason we drink or drug is because we cannot tolerate or process uncomfortable, intense or overwhelming feelings.”
That is a way of thinking about drug and alcohol use that a number of people have put forward. I’m not sure I agree with it entirely. It is really hard to support blanket statements like that, but there are seeds of truth there.
Life should be easy. I should get everything I want, now. I’m right you’re wrong, end of story. Any of that sound familiar? These are common threads of addictive thinking. Addicts usually have very poor impulse control and that can stimulate frustration if solutions cannot be found immediately.
Neuroscience has identified the part of the brain that involves impulse control, and guess what? In addicts, this part of the brain is often underdeveloped. Also, drugs and alcohol further degenerate this part of the brain. What is an addicts number one problem solver for frustration or stress? Duhhh….Get high.
Stress is often identified as a commonality among people in active addiction or early recovery. Laboratory studies have shown that stress can cause reinstatement of drug taking in animals, and researchers believe that for some people, stress may play a role in the initiation of drug use or relapse to use after a period of abstinence. One of the most often heard pieces of advice in sobriety is to slow down and simplify, reduce stress.
Without a doubt one of the necessary skills that needs to be developed in addiction recovery is the ability to identify, own and properly process emotions and feelings. People in active drug addiction or alcoholism often have a poor sense of proportion and reaction to emotions. Hot or cold, all or nothing, love or hate. It is almost as if our ‘moderators’ are broken.
In order to achieve emotional regulation or emotional sobriety it is necessary to learn how to accept feelings, even uncomfortable ones as part of life and living. It takes some time, effort and willingness to learn emotional recovery skills.
One strategy to investigate is RET or Rational Emotive Therapy.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I had a female therapist in long term treatment who pounded on the whole feelings and emotions thing for many, many months. I can’t say that it was not useful though. Much as I hated to admit it, she was usually right in that I just needed to step back and process what I was really feeling…..she would make us look underneath our anger or our fear to see if we were hurt, scared, or whatever. They she urged us to communicate these underlying feelings with others. It really sucked and we hated to do it but it helped all of us a lot.
Of course I agree with Bill too in that it is not the only answer in recovery. But for many people (especially males maybe?) it is a huge potential for growth. I resisted it, I hated it, but in the end, I can look back and see that it was very, very helpful for me to learn how to process my emotions (and then communicate them plainly, without spouting opinions, etc.).
.-= Patrick´s last blog ..AA and the Treatment Center Industry =-.
I agree that emotions do have something to do with addiction, more specifically alcoholism. I experimented with a number of drugs in my youth but I can honestly say that they didn’t help me to overcome emotions. Alcohol on the other hand does help me overcome emotions, but I also accept that it’s not the answer. For me it isn’t about not getting the things I want in life, but on times I find life very emotional and sad and those are the times when I tend to reach for alcohol. I guess that over a length of time if someone is relying on alcohol to overcome emotions then they lose the ability to deal with it naturally, and as a result the alcohol becomes more of a necessity in those situations.
yes i agree with aj and patrick. drugs and alcohol not good solution. it make the problem worst. all problem have solution.
.-= xamiv´s last blog ..Vimax vs. ProSolution Pills =-.
Yeah its true if we do drinks and take drugs we can’t handle emotions. Its is not the solution to our problems instead it will be worst and a biggest mistake of our life.It is not good to our body and to our future. Thanks for sharing your article to us. More power to your site! and wakens the mind and heart of many people. God bless
I believe that emotions have EVERYTHING to do with addiction. When I get into something intense, good or bad, I want that other mindset. I want to celebrate or console myself – I deserve it! Or so I think. When bored, I want a different mood too but mostly it is in order to escape or deal with tough emotions, and I’ve had a lot of them. I really liked your article.
I definitely believe that emotions have a lot to do addiction. In my experience with the ex addicts I have met they are extremely sensitive.
Yes, I agree that emotions and how a person copes has everything to do with addiction. I became introduced to and addicted to crack during a very emotional time in my life. I did not have skills to cope with what was going on and the crack numbed my emotions…. good and bad ones. I have been clean over 2 years now and trying to rebuild my life after so many bad choices. Any good advice/ suggestions?
Hi everyone,
I am still at an early stage of recovery from a variety of addictions (Unhealthy habbits), but I have found something which has been very helpfull for me. http://www.addictionalternatives.com/
I hope someone can use it too.
Best Regards
Michael