Flourish Counseling
  • Home
  • Services
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Psychosis
    • Addiction
    • Grief
    • Trauma
    • Individual Counseling
    • Group Counseling
    • Couples Counseling
    • Yoga and Counseling
  • Contact
    • Schedule Your Session
    • Our Location
    • Our Counselors >
      • Kambria Kennedy-Dominguez
      • Megan Kennedy-Kotalik
      • Rosanna L. Santiago
      • Dr. Yu-Fen Lin
      • Nancy Sperry
      • Danielle Adams
      • Stacy Marshall
      • Melissa Fowler
      • Ariella Rodriguez
      • Malarie Kennedy
      • Jasmine Herrera-Martinez
  • FAQs
    • Fees and Insurance
    • Privacy Policy
    • LPC Supervision
    • Careers
  • Blog

Beliefs play important role in addiction process

1/28/2015

 

Have you ever wondered why people with addictions can't just stop what they're doing? Have you ever been addicted to something that was hurting you but kept doing it anyway?

A recent study shows that a drug's effect is equally determined by our expectation of it as the actual biochemical changes in the body and brain. See the full article here:

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-01-belief-important-biochemistry-addiction.html

This study focused on the effects of nicotine, but similar results have been found with alcohol and cocaine. Likely, the same is true for many drugs. The beliefs of the person using substances is not always emphasized as an important component of the addiction process, but this evidence suggests we should pay close attention to it. Using this evidence, counselors can intervene in the thinking and belief process as a primary part of treatment, and provide better outcomes for clients earlier in the process of recovery.

For instance, if a person uses cocaine a time or two and experiences the exaggerated sense of confidence and increasd energy the drug is known for, it's likely they will come to expect those effects the next time they take it. They will start to associate using cocaine with the state of being confident and having energy. That association may lead to a belief that confidence comes from using cocaine, even when the drugs' effect begins to change with repeated use into sleeplessness, agression, and irritability.

Beliefs are different than thoughts or feelings. Beliefs are global assessments of the world, ourselves, and others, and are not easily changed once established. Beliefs are established from thoughts that are repetitive and seem to be grounded in reality. Hence, the thought "it's important to be confident and energetic" combined with the feeling "I feel confident and energetic when I do cocaine" turns into the belief that "cocaine can help me with my fundamental problem of lacking confidence and energy." And the individual keeps using because they believe this is true, even when the negative consequences of the drug start to outweigh the perceived positive ones.

Likewise, in recovery, new beliefs are formed and, with reinforcement and social support, can replace old ones to encourage abstinence. For instance:

Thought: "My boss just threatened to fire me, and without my job I'll lose my home."

Feeling: "I'm afraid of losing job and home."

Belief: "Using cocaine can cause me to lose what's most important to me."

These findings are important, not just in the context of how addiction develops, but also in how it's treated and overcome.

What beliefs of yours might feed a negative habit? It can be a helpful question to ponder.


Comments are closed.

    Authors

    Kambria Kennedy-Dominguez, Counselor and yoga teacher specializing in mental health, substance abuse and wellness.

    Megan Kennedy, Counselor specializing in adolescents and families.

    Archives

    January 2019
    October 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    Categories

    All
    Addiction
    Anxiety
    Art Therapy
    Bipolar
    Busy
    Depression
    Grief
    Health
    Healthcare
    Hospice
    Illness
    Marriage
    Meditation
    Positive Change
    Psychosis
    PTSD
    Relationships
    Relaxation
    Schizophrenia
    Self Compassion
    Self-Compassion
    Stages Of Change
    Substance Use
    Trauma
    Work Life
    Yoga

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Schedule Your Session
Phone: 972.755.9120 | Fax: 214.723.5345
office@wecanflourish.com
​533 W. 12th Street​
Dallas, TX 75208
​
Photos used under Creative Commons from mat_walker, Kool Cats Photography over 5 Million Views, Maria Eklind, ForbesOste, professor.jruiz, thedailyenglishshow, justbeaphotographycompany, ToGa Wanderings, andropic257, bochalla, Dean Hochman, Kitty Terwolbeck, Alyssa L. Miller, MarcieLew, anokarina, Giorgio Galeotti, Randy Heinitz, quinn.anya, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet, Hoshi_sae, TheGufotography, WeGotKidz, stallio, Julien.Belli, gagilas, astrologyphotographywesildssharon, atomicShed, Marlton Trainer, Pai Shih
  • Home
  • Services
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Psychosis
    • Addiction
    • Grief
    • Trauma
    • Individual Counseling
    • Group Counseling
    • Couples Counseling
    • Yoga and Counseling
  • Contact
    • Schedule Your Session
    • Our Location
    • Our Counselors >
      • Kambria Kennedy-Dominguez
      • Megan Kennedy-Kotalik
      • Rosanna L. Santiago
      • Dr. Yu-Fen Lin
      • Nancy Sperry
      • Danielle Adams
      • Stacy Marshall
      • Melissa Fowler
      • Ariella Rodriguez
      • Malarie Kennedy
      • Jasmine Herrera-Martinez
  • FAQs
    • Fees and Insurance
    • Privacy Policy
    • LPC Supervision
    • Careers
  • Blog