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- The addiction paradigm is broken
Addiction means “enslaved by” in Latin, reflecting how many approach it today.
Last night, I delivered a training called "The Freedom Solution for Addiction." and it made me nervous.
Why? It challenges what we think we know about addiction head on...
When I first became an addiction therapist, I saw addiction as something to:
- Control
- Destroy
- Eliminate
This view is largely due to the language we use about mental health struggles. Think about it:
"My battle with addiction"
"I've been fighting depression"
"Struggling to conquer anxiety"
It's crazy when you think about it.
We’re literally at war with our mind and feelings...
Over time, my perspective on addiction shifted. I started forming my own ideas about where we, as a society, have gone wrong.
Here’s where I'm at:
𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲.
The arguments for addiction being a brain disease use emotional appeal and complex terms.
These terms sound convincing... but explain little.
Most importantly, addiction rates have increased since we adopted this model.
𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗲... 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴.
Calling addiction a chronic brain disease takes away individuals' power and gives it to the Recovery Religion (rehab, support groups, 12-steps), making people feel helpless and dependent on 'treatment.'
𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗺.
𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲:
- You have control over your thoughts and decisions
- Your thoughts, beliefs, and actions are yours
- Your response to addiction is personal
- You are the master of your own mind
This control allows you to change your behaviour regarding addiction.
While the environment and others can influence you, they cannot control your thoughts, actions or intrinsic drivers.
My 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗢𝗠 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 method is built on these Core Principles:
1. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲
- We strive for happiness in everything we do
- Find a preference for a life without addiction
- If you're unable to find that preference, you won't stop
2. 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 & 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆
- You own your choices
- Addiction doesn’t define you... your choices do
- You have the power to influence your life’s direction
3. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹
- Unlike animals driven by instinct...
- Humans think about the future and weigh options
- Reject the idea that addiction controls your destiny
The foundation is built on EMPOWERMENT.
You are not helpless.
You are not a victim of a "disease."
You are a person with the power to:
- Think differently
- Make informed choices
- Behave in ways that lead to freedom
So, Freedom or Disempowerment?
Your choice.
Big love,
Dan