19 August 2020
This week’s blog continues looking at Hashmet’s (2017) list of reasons for addictive behaviours (genetic predisposition, low entry cost, cultural, incremental, personality, loneliness & self-medication). Herein, self-medication, as a causal factor, is examined.
Citing Khantzian (2012), Hashmet stated that, “…individuals with deficits in skills relevant for modifying emotional reactions and tolerance for negative emotions use drugs in an attempt to manage negative or distressing states.” He focused on alcohol as a specific (unhealthy) antidote to stress and/or anxiety. For example, the high school dancer, in last week’s blog, is contemplating going to her school dance. She’s nervous, edgy, and feeling unattractive so she thinks, “There’s no way I’m going there. No one will talk to me. No will ask me to dance and I’ll just feel more depressed than I am now. No way.”
Enter an adolescent buddy in his own negative world. This guy offers the dancer a pill or a drink and wham o, the negative emotional reactions to the prospect of the school dance are expunged. Temporarily. The next day, when the dancer’s mother finds clothing reeking of smoke, alcohol, and vomit, the dancer’s anxiety is back. This is a fork in the road for that dancer. One teen will say, “…to hell with this, nothing but bad news…” and abandon substance abuse while another teen will say, “These negative emotions are going to kill me (catastrophizing); I can’t take anymore (exaggeration); I have no choice (absolute thinking), I’m getting more pills, booze, sex…” to kill these feelings.
The Canadian physician, Dr. Gabor Maté (2010), is also cited by Hashmet. Maté has studied the effects of trauma on addictive careers. His take on the dancer, “…suggests that addictive behaviors [are] ultimately driven by our unwillingness to allow ourselves to really feel and experience pain, frustration, fear, and all the negative emotions that are part of being human. Instead, we choose the chemical shortcut to avoid those emotions—and end up becoming trapped there.”
Guess what? In the same way that incremental uses boiled down to personality issues (Why Did I Use II), so does using as self-medication. It’s the idea that one should never waste a good emotional train wreck: with sufficient psychic strength, we can face and deal with our emotions, at the source, while in periods of psychic weakness we choose to depress, medicate, or party the feelings away until they finally rise up and demand the attention they deserve.
Dan Chalykoff facilitates two weekly voluntary group meetings, as well as private appointments, for SMART-based counselling services at danchalykoff@hotmail.com
I see this as my rational self-medication. Coping with the emotions I do not feel as apossed to the pain I avoid.
Life has been a series of these some repeat others do not. This is the worst of them for sure because of it unacceptability in society and it making me completely nonfunctional in society at large.
I have been in capable of deep meaningful relationships because of this my DOC is just another compensating behaviour… work, exercise, alcohol, drugs have all filled that role. Yes, people always wanted to party with me I was fun. I am confident I will transition to a more socially acceptable outlet soon I always do.
Small but persistent steps, Allan. Medical help, therapy, meetings, new habits. Thanks for your honesty.
Please add my email address to your weekly mailings
Done. You’ve been added to the Monday night meeting list. If it’s just the blog you’re after, please let me know and I’ll amend accordingly. I appreciate your interest, Bob.
What really stands out to me, here, is the fact that one should be encouraged to deal with and embrace the not-so-desirable emotions of life (sadness, grief, embarrassment, loneliness) in order to develop the necessary brain capacity to cope. It is probably easier to suppress a difficult emotion, to begin with; however, the long term effects of this avoidance is definitely harder to deal with for all involved. The greater issue then becomes one of identifying the negative emotion and the reason for it.
I agree, Trish. Perhaps more than brain capacity is a healthy elasticity of spirit that fosters and rolls with acceptance of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Interestingly, at least to me, this also tests our adherence to the truth: if an emotion is an honestly felt response, we honour ourselves and honesty by facing it, understanding it, and growing from that response-ability. Thanks for commenting.
I spoke this week to my counsellor about this exact subject regarding emotion regulation. Absolutely my addiction is related to my emotional response. A good book to read and complete worksheets is called Mind over Mood by Christine Padesky. It helps you to deal with your emotions in a positive and healthy way. It’s hard to break behaviour habits (like turning to your addiction to regulate your moods). I used this book when I was a Social Worker and found it helpful. I’m going through for myself now. I have recently been struggling but with my Counsellor have come up with a good plan which currently has me in good space right now!
Thanks again for this great blogs Dan!!!
Sue
Thanks for the comment, Sue. The other question I try to emphasize in meetings is “Are you being lead by your emotions or your values?” If values, then you try to ride out your emotions using tools to manage urges until you’re back at an emotionally even keel. The whole time, you’ve been adhering to your values giving them greater priority (Hierarchy of Values) than your feelings. Thanks, also, for the Padesky reference. You’re most welcome for the blogs, Sue. If they provoke questions or comments, they’re useful.