The pain of adult addiction

adult addiction

Adult addiction and learning 

Drug Addiction rehab
info@pathwaysplettrehab.co.za

Learning is the act of acquiring new, or modifying and reinforcing, existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. Adult addiction has been likened to a learning disorder. You can read about that here. Nevertheless, there is a lot to learn about addiction for both users and carers alike. There is a lot we don’t know. Then even more we think we know, that perhaps needs to change. So, how do we actually learn about things. About life? About recovery? About growth and empowerment? It is a remarkably interesting subject. Whether we are speaking about wellness in general or addiction, depression; or both. Knowing how we learn, grow and heal through adult addiction can be empowering in its own right.

The process of changing thinking patterns of living requires conscious or mindful and conscientious awareness, along with extraordinary patience and persistent practice. This applies to moving from a life in active addiction and chronic pain to one in recovery from both. It also ties in to one’s evolution from the need to be right to remaining mindful of and practicing the value of being content and at peace.

The most effective way to acquire new skills in any area, be it sports, reading, cooking, auto repair, using a computer, gardening, plumbing, meditating, or recovery through adult addiction, is to learn what works and practice what works with consistency and persistence. It works if you work it.

The stages of learning in adult addiction

Erickson’s four stages of learning—unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence, and unconscious competence—characterize virtually any skill development process. For instance, people who learn how to read well and who develop mastery in reading, progress through each of these stages.

adult addiction

Progress in life and recovery is rarely shaped in a straight line. It can be slow and almost halting. Typically it’s two steps forward and one step back; sometimes it feels like one step forward and two steps back. But, if I stay this course, gradually and progressively, my performance in any area improves.

Unconscious incompetence is a state of obliviousness—not knowing something, but also not knowing that we don’t know it and therefore, not caring about it one way or another.

Unconscious competence is also known as mastery. When athletes are described as being “in the zone,” they are in a state of unconscious competence. They are performing at such a high level that they seem unstoppable. Yet, every aspect of their performance may appear effortless, almost as if they were operating on autopilot. It is as if they are in sync with the universe and have tapped into its cadence. This is a shift we see develop through he 12 steps and a recovery programme that really sets things apart when it comes to adult addiction.

Learning and denial

One of the first things we do in addiction is realize we are in denial. We become aware that we haven’t been entirely honest with ourselves. Never mind other people! Oftentimes this is an oh S&!t moment. How is it that a person doesn’t even know exactly what they have been doing, thinking and feeling? At first many people feel that they may be even more messed up than they think. However this is not the case. The truth is actually what sets them free. The owning up to self, God and others about what has been going on is a first giant step that we need to take in our adult addiction recovery programme at Pathways.

After we become aware of denial we become aware of the unconscious defense mechanisms we used to keep our addictions going. As step one of the twelve steps states, we admitted we were powerless over the drugs or booze. We will go to any lengths to not change. We blame, criticize, catastrophize and demonize everyone else around us while we allow our behaviours and the addiction to go along unchecked.

Realizing. Becoming aware and mindful of our unconscious incompetence, and deciding we want to do things differently is the start of the journey to mindful competence and peace. If you need help with addictions, obsessions, depression or any other life issues, get in touch with us at Pathways Plett Rehab. +0824424779 or info@pathwaysplettrehab.co.za