Grace for the Wounded

A Working Definition of Addiction: A Biological-Psychological-Social, and Spiritual Disease The definition of addiction is not as easy as many think to define. This is because of its complexity and the many areas it affects in a person’s life. Never the less, I have employed the disease concept of addiction to explain and define addiction. This concept lends itself from the medical model because addiction is truly a disease and it can be defined as a “bio-psycho-social-spiritual disease. Below is a brief summary of each component: The Biological Component: (A Brain Disease) Based upon my many years of experience providing counseling services to a multitude of individual’s struggling with addictions, I can honestly say addiction is a brain disease marked by impairment in one’s neurobiological system, thought patterns, emotionality, relational styles and a serious void in one’s spiritual interior . In other words, addiction entails an imbalance and impairment in the “a Bio-Psycho-Social and Spiritual aspect of a person’s very being. Addiction is usually “kick started” by trauma or chronic stress. More often then not, it is trauma that jump starts the addiction and chronic stress becomes the “trainer” of the brain’s amygdala to be routinely in flight or fight mode which subsequently keeps the addiction in process. With all substance abuse the brain become increasingly stress sensitive. Both factors tend to create an imbalance in the dopaminergic system which in turn, produces a serious state of discomfort (dis euphoria) throughout one’s entire body. It is this state of discomfort that makes one very vulnerable to addiction because drug use and or behavioral addiction brings temporary relief at the expense of changing brain functioning. The quandary of this “relief” is that it does in fact bring a temporary relief but at a huge price- addiction changes the “configuration of the brain” (making it stress sensitive, often times indefinitely, and changing neurotransmission). Addiction often creates neurochemical imbalances that will eventually perpetuate the addiction in spite of the most painful consequences imaginable. After drug use (alcohol included) and the effects of the drug wears of a state of dis euphoria (the anadonia factor) usually kicks in. It is during this time the brain is depleted from feel-good chemicals and a hedonic drive is sparked, which drives the addiction to a very dangerous stage that many in the field refer to as the “high jacked brain”. Oddly, the brain’s, pleasure center remembers the experience and effects of the drug. It leaves a distinct monogram- the release of a flood of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, (a cluster of nerve cells lying underneath the cerebral cortex). This process is well documented and is almost universally accepted by neuroscientist in the field of addiction. When the pleasure center of the brain is taken over, the addict’s life becomes most dire because nothing else will matter in the addict’s life except finding relief through drug use or a process addiction. The Psychological Component of addiction: The psychological aspect of addiction is primarily simple. The drug use will be perpetuated by the pleasures principle and justified by what experts refer to as denial mechanism. This merely means that the affected substance abuser will think in ways that are extremely irrational (i.e., often justify the substance abuse, rationalizing the abuse, minimizing abuse or harmful behaviors, constantly comparing, blaming situations and others, and feeling victimized). It is these denial mechanisms I referred to as the “fortress of denial” that allows the user to continue to use and avoid the painful consequences and feelings of their continued addiction. Therefore, one of the first aspects of substance abuse counseling is addressing some of these denial mechanisms and irrational beliefs that perpetuate continued use. In some case it takes a long time of emotional pain to abandon the reservations that avoid a commitment to abstinence. The most common reservations is the irrational belief “I can use differently, or control my use one more time”. Oddly, the outcome is the same: more hardship and deeper negative consequences. The Social Component of addiction: Addiction eventually erodes trust, intimacy, and respect from all relationships. The damage to relationships can literally rip a family system apart. The family and relational damage is nothing short of heart breaking, often the damage is so severe that reconciliation and repair can take a life time. Observationally, I have noticed that the younger a person starts using drugs the more injured they are in the area of attachment. In fact, many long time users will find it utterly painful to merely “be” and “relate” with others. The reason is simple- while most children and teens are learning how to engage and maintain relations; users were preoccupied with using and or recovering from using, so they stopped growing in this vital aspect of life; Hence, when many substance abusers “hit bottom”: many users have virtually no relational resources because of the tendency to withdraw and isolate. The damage in this area seems to be driven by shame, social anxiety and a painful awkwardness that can last a life- time. Relational counseling is vital in early recovery as well as a 12 step program or a faith community which facilitates inter-personal relationships. The disease of addiction is unfortunately marked by deception, manipulation, and a selfishness that will destroy even the most loving relationships. As one pursues getting high nothing really matters so many relationships are destroyed or damaged long before a substance abuser “hits bottom” or finds treatment and early stabilization. The Spiritual Component of addiction: Contrary to many, this author truly feels there is a strong spiritual component to addiction. The premise is derived from the text of AA and years of antidotal experiences that seem to confirm this aspect of addiction. “The Big Book of AA” maintains “resentment is the number one offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else: From it stems all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick