Insights, suggestions, misconceptions, and FEAR

The disease of addiction is insidious in nature and disguises itself in many forms be it drugs, alcohol, sexual, gambling, eating, shopping, debting, gaming—the list is endless.  The specific symptom or form of the disease is important but what is paramount is how the addiction is manifesting itself in our lives.  What consequences of the addiction have we accepted into our lives as norms that have now proved too costly to manage.  The maintaining of these consequences is the cause of the chaos in our lives and this brings us to seek change.  

​

The most common misconception I hear is "he can't get this until he wants it".  Working with addicts since 2000 I've never met anyone who woke up one day saying "today I will change".  Generally something interrupts our world and brings us to the point of thinking "hey what's wrong with this picture".  Whatever form that interruption takes be it spouse, family, work, legal, or that "close call" let it serve as the initial impetus behind you taking action.  The fear is the needed motivation but it will not last long for as addicts we have short memories.  An experience is needed that will take place in the course of our working together, you will come to identify your motivation as coming from within and the growth begins.