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addiction
February 2009 
Addiction Treatment
Posted on Feb 3rd, 2007
by 
Billy
Billy
I like to refer to addiction as a "bio-psycho-social-spiritual disease." I see recovery addressing all of these aspects in the form of 1) physical health through diet and exercise, 2) mental clarity through questioning the "stinking thinking" that rules the addicts life, 3) social well-being through healing relationships (usually fostered by group therapy and AA fellowship), and 4) heightened awareness of the already present, but unrecognized, spiritual connection.
It seems to me that the 12-Step program contains all of the above (except perhaps diet and exercise). It is a wonderful program. Then if you add to it such things as "The Work of Byron Katie," interpersonal process group psychotherapy, mindfulness meditation or other spiritual disciplines, yoga, tai chi and/or nature walking and a balanced, organic diet, then you would have a great recovery program. Of course, this is my "dream" recovery center.
Personally, I am growing tired of the approach to recovery that says that all addicts have "post traumatic stress disorder" (PTSD) and need only deal with the trauma and shame. Often the implication is once they do that they have no reason to use substances. This approach might de-value AA and the whole process of incorporating a structured, spiritual program into the person's daily life. It does not see addiction as a disease in and of itself, but as a coping mechanism to help the person deal with the underlying trauma.
Of course, there are some individuals who do have PTSD and need trauma counseling. Yes, they need to allow themselves to face the "trauma" and work through it. However, that does not "heal" them of the addiction. Trauma work is much like addressing only the psychological aspects of addiction. We also need to address the physical, social and spiritual. And, the addict will need to continue to address all four aspects of addiction for the rest of their life, or they will use again.
It seems to me that the 12-Step program contains all of the above (except perhaps diet and exercise). It is a wonderful program. Then if you add to it such things as "The Work of Byron Katie," interpersonal process group psychotherapy, mindfulness meditation or other spiritual disciplines, yoga, tai chi and/or nature walking and a balanced, organic diet, then you would have a great recovery program. Of course, this is my "dream" recovery center.
Personally, I am growing tired of the approach to recovery that says that all addicts have "post traumatic stress disorder" (PTSD) and need only deal with the trauma and shame. Often the implication is once they do that they have no reason to use substances. This approach might de-value AA and the whole process of incorporating a structured, spiritual program into the person's daily life. It does not see addiction as a disease in and of itself, but as a coping mechanism to help the person deal with the underlying trauma.
Of course, there are some individuals who do have PTSD and need trauma counseling. Yes, they need to allow themselves to face the "trauma" and work through it. However, that does not "heal" them of the addiction. Trauma work is much like addressing only the psychological aspects of addiction. We also need to address the physical, social and spiritual. And, the addict will need to continue to address all four aspects of addiction for the rest of their life, or they will use again.
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