This is the explanation I NEEDED!!!
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This is the explanation I NEEDED!!!
Not sure why, but I have always been a person that needs to know WHY. WHY is this a disease? WHY can't I stop? WHY can't I drink normally? Etc.
Bimiblue posted this article yesterday about why we get addicted and honestly it's the first thing that has really EVER made sense to me about WHY we get addicted and HOW the disease progresses. (I'm sure there are other reasons and components too.)
I actually read it twice and have given a lot of thought to it. I wanted to re-post it because it really helped me. I had a LIGHTBULB moment!!! Thank Bimi!!!
Day 6 for me. I hope all are doing well.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ml#post5443860
Bimiblue posted this article yesterday about why we get addicted and honestly it's the first thing that has really EVER made sense to me about WHY we get addicted and HOW the disease progresses. (I'm sure there are other reasons and components too.)
I actually read it twice and have given a lot of thought to it. I wanted to re-post it because it really helped me. I had a LIGHTBULB moment!!! Thank Bimi!!!
Day 6 for me. I hope all are doing well.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...ml#post5443860
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I wanted to know "why" and "what" and everything else. So when I first quit I read all kinds of stuff about addiction thinking knowledge would help. And maybe it did. But in hindsight, I see recovery like a recipe...where knowledge is just one ingredient. Just one. And probably not even the main one. Don't forget the other ingredients to your recovery.
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Pleasure Unwoven is a terrific, clear explanation of addiction by an MD who is also an addict. They showed us this video at my intensive outpatient program. It available for purchase at a big on-line store but it costs about $30.
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Originally Posted by doggonecarl 
I wanted to know "why" and "what" and everything else. So when I first quit I read all kinds of stuff about addiction thinking knowledge would help. And maybe it did. But in hindsight, I see recovery like a recipe...where knowledge is just one ingredient. Just one. And probably not even the main one. Don't forget the other ingredients to your recovery.
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Originally Posted by Nonsensical
Find and watch the documentary Pleasure Unwoven. It used to be available on youtube, but I don't think it is anymore. Fantastic explanation of addiction. I found it very helpful.
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Originally Posted by ScottFromWI
Glad you've found some clarity Serenidad. I hope you can take the next step and accept your addiction for what it is and move on, congrats on Day 6 too.
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Serenidad, it was really important for me to understand the physical part of addiction and the psychological part. I believe nature and nurture are both in play in the beginning - why we picked up in the first place, and a genetic predisposition. I think they are both in play when we quit, too. On top of that, we've doubled down and added a substance that changes our ability to do any kind of inner work while under the influence.
I am really happy that this physical piece of the puzzle resonated with you. I know that I would still have a difficult time without addressing my underlying psychological issues, coping skills, and my past.
Keep searching! Use all the tools in the box, like Carl said.
I am really happy that this physical piece of the puzzle resonated with you. I know that I would still have a difficult time without addressing my underlying psychological issues, coping skills, and my past.
Keep searching! Use all the tools in the box, like Carl said.
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Yes. Now I have a "visual" of what is going on in my brain. It's pretty scary to visualize "gates" opening, closing, multiplying, "waking up" etc.
When they talked about all the anxiety, depression etc we get during the first year of sobriety, that helped too!
Thanks Bimi!
When they talked about all the anxiety, depression etc we get during the first year of sobriety, that helped too!
Thanks Bimi!
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Join Date: Jul 2014
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I too thought the article was helpful, if only as an analogy - I'm not a scientist or physician so don't know it's accuracy.
I am glad something clicked with you!
For me I had to get past the empirical data point. I had to recognize that alcohol had driven me to a point of near insanity. Certainly much of my behavior daily was crazy.
The thing that finally clicked for me was listening to ya'll> I heard this loud and clear in the rooms and on SR - Take the action on faith and then we will see the results.
It took awhile for this to register. I wanted to know what exactly would occur when I did xyz. I had to know everything! That was always part of my problem - the world isn't always wired into my expected outcomes.
Once I started taking sober action I started getting unexpected results. I was on my way........
Congrats on 6 days!!!
I am glad something clicked with you!
For me I had to get past the empirical data point. I had to recognize that alcohol had driven me to a point of near insanity. Certainly much of my behavior daily was crazy.
The thing that finally clicked for me was listening to ya'll> I heard this loud and clear in the rooms and on SR - Take the action on faith and then we will see the results.
It took awhile for this to register. I wanted to know what exactly would occur when I did xyz. I had to know everything! That was always part of my problem - the world isn't always wired into my expected outcomes.
Once I started taking sober action I started getting unexpected results. I was on my way........
Congrats on 6 days!!!
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I haven't actually watched it yet but someone else recommended "Pleasure Unwoven" in another thread the other day. I found it on YouTube with just a simple search. I believe it is broken up into 5 or 6 parts but it's there. From the snippet I watched, it looked good.
Also enjoyed the posted article link. Thanks for sharing it again.
Also enjoyed the posted article link. Thanks for sharing it again.
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Serenidad, if it helps you understand yourself better that is ALL that matters. I have a degree is Human Biology with minor in Psychology and I can tell you that her analogy is really darn close to what is actually happening. The nomenclature is a little different with the science snobs, but IMO pretty spot on.
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Originally Posted by thomas11
Serenidad, if it helps you understand yourself better that is ALL that matters. I have a degree is Human Biology with minor in Psychology and I can tell you that her analogy is really darn close to what is actually happening. The nomenclature is a little different with the science snobs, but IMO pretty spot on.
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