Defense Mechanisms
“So I smoke a little crack once in a while? I don’t smoke more than once a day. That’s not a problem – that’s control and fun.”
What is minimizing?
Saying what is true
What is affirming?
A combination of damage to the nervous system caused by substances and psychosocial stress of coping with life without substances.
What is Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome?
The Lifestyle models
Irresponsibility/Pseudo-Responsibility, Social Rule Bending/Rule Breaking, Interpersonal Triviality, Stress/Coping Imbalance
BLAMES OTHERS (FAMILY, PAST, SOCIAL CONDITIONS, ETC.) FOR CAUSING BEHAVIOR
SEES RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROBLEMS AS BEING CAUSED BY OTHERS AND CIRCUMSTANCES
What is Victimstance?
“Of course I was driving. I’m too drunk to walk.”
What is humor?
Skill steps to affirming
Personalize it, create it, repeat it, believe it
The symptoms typically grow to peak intensity this long after abstinence begins
What is 3-6 months?
The addict/offender overreacts to stressful situations and acts out for relief through drinking, drugging, sexual promiscuity, or criminality
What is Stress/Coping Imbalance?
UNREASONABLE NEED TO BE IN CONTROL
WHEN FEELING “PUT DOWN” OR OUT OF CONTROL, IMPULSIVELY SEEKS TO REGAIN CONTROL WITH NO THOUGHT OF CONSEQUENCES
USES MANIPULATION, DECEIT, ANGER AND THREATS AS WAYS OF FEELING POWERFUL
“F__ IT! I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES. NOBODY TELLS ME WHAT TO DO/MESSES WITH ME, ETC. ”
What is Power Thrust?
“You better be careful about what you say to me or you’ll be sorry!”
What is threatening?
Coming up with many possibilities and choices
What is brainstorming?
These are symptoms of PAWS - name 3
Inability to think clearly, memory problems, emotional overreactions/numbness, sleep disturbances, physical coordination problems, stress sensitivity
Depending on where the behavior falls on the Continuum of Irresponsibility, the infraction is either
What is social rule-bending or rule-breaking?
EXPERIENCE THAT DOESN’T MATCH WITH IMAGE OF SELF AS “HIP, SLICK, AND COOL”, PROVES ONE TO BE A NOBODY OR A NOTHING, A COMPLETE FAILURE
What is Zero State?
“The secret to doing easy time is to just tell them what they want to hear. If they want me to say I’m an addict, I’ll say I’m an addict. If they want me to say I’ll quit drinking and smoking crack, I agree to quit drinking and smoking crack
What is overcompliance?
Communicating your wants/needs in a clear constructive manner
What is asserting?
Inability to experience pleasure
What is anhedonia?
Fails to perform responsibly though may feign responsible behavior, or justifies irresponsible behavior by claiming it is necessary to meet responsibilities
What is Irresponsibility/Pseudo-Responsibility?
SPECIAL” – BETTER THAN OTHERS (SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT)
GRANDIOSE – THINKS OF SELF AS SUPERIOR IN SPITE OF LACK OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
BELIEVES THE RULES DO NOT APPLY, OR SHOULD NOT APPLY
What is Uniqueness?
“I’m willing to quit smoking pot for a week if you’ll buy me a new outfit. After all, one week without pot is progress and you can just about cover the cost of the outfit with the money I won’t spend on pot.”
What is manipulation?
Recognizing a situation that could trigger you to use
What is danger-spotting?
Recovery from the damage caused by addiction requires abstinence, but the damage interferes with the ability to remain abstinent
What is the Paradox of Recovery?
Pro-social people value people and use things. Addicts and offenders value things and use people.
What is Interpersonal triviality?
NOT RECEPTIVE TO VIEWPOINTS OF OTHERS
NEITHER SELF-CRITICAL NOR ACCEPTING OF CRITICISM BY OTHERS
NO DISCLOSURE
LIES BY OMISSION AND COMMISSION
What is Closed Channel?