In my work with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), I have found addictions to be the most challenging. Yet, I refuse to shrink from the challenge and instead provide a battle plan for healing.
Four things leading to recovery (NOTE):
- Notice
- Open up
- Trust
- Emerge again
Addictions require more than just individual therapy, they often respond better to multiple attacks – joining a group such as AA is proven to help many. Medically assisted programs give chemical help that can attack the brain’s demand and give a person a chance at a foothold on the way to recovery. Family counsel and support, relationship and couple therapy and if needed rehab and detox – explore all the avenues, find your niche and stay on the attack with helpers that are on your side even when they feel like the enemy.
EMDR has a protocol for treating addictions that starts with the first experience with the addictive substance or activity. Addictions are resistant but there is hope for recovery and desensitizing, reprocessing and healing with EMDR helps.
NOTE – How do those 4 lead to recovery?
Notice: when we notice what we are doing daily – keep track, write it down, use an app – we begin to gather the will to attack
Open up: in small ways or big steps, we reach out for help, go to a meeting, call a therapist or program
Trust: minute to minute take trusting steps working the programs, following the battle plan and cracking open our hearts for help
Emerge again: faltering steps, big crashes, broken bridges may happen and the next step is one to emerge out of the despair and get back on the attack.
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