AA Meeting

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Alcoholics Anonymous

Recently, I attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Elizabethtown. Initially, I was pretty nervous to attend this meeting, because I did not really know what to expect from it. I went with a friend from the class, so that gave me a bit of confidence.

This AA group was actually somewhat small, with only nine members. The majority of the group members were male, with only three females. Mostly, the group members were middle-aged, however there was one or two younger individuals.

Before the meeting began, group members were milling around the room, sipping coffee. Once the meeting began, the members went around the room and introduced themselves to us. The regular members obviously noticed that we were new to the group, and asked us to give our name and reason for coming.

This interaction made me feel pretty uncomfortable. While the group members were welcoming for the most part, I almost felt as if I was intruding on their meeting because I am not an alcoholic. However, I simply stated my name, and that I am a student from Elizabethtown College participating in the meeting for a class on addictions. A couple of the members seemed to resent my presence because of this. Therefore, I limited my participation for the rest of the meeting, and simply tried to blend in.

After the introductions, an older gentleman led the group; beginning with the serenity prayer. This seemed to be an action that was repeated at every meeting. They then read passages from a book, and stated whether they were able to relate to the passages or not. Afterwards, some of the members shared their stories with each other, obviously gaining support from one another.

It is for this reason that I believe these meetings, and this meeting specifically, are extremely helpful to the participants. Alcoholics Anonymous offers a strong support system to these participants, and gives them people to answer to. Some of the members even voiced that this support system is what got them through to becoming sober, and staying sober.

This experience truly relates to information I have learned in class. For example, we discussed how alcohol withdrawal and addiction may almost be worse than any other drug. Throughout this meeting, I was able to see this first hand. In addition, we had learned in class about 12-step programs, and about the fact that these programs are usually very spiritual. This was also evident during the AA meeting I attended.

Strength-Based Approaches

Narrative Therapy

Founders

Narrative Therapy was first developed by Michael White and David Epston (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). White and Epston were inspired by Gregory Bateson, an anthropologist and psychologist (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).

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Overview

Narrative therapy attempts to separate the individual from their problem (Goodtherapy.org, 2012). This process can be referred to as “externalization (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).” Externalization involves verbally separating the issue from the client, and ensuring that the issue is separated from the client’s personal identity (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). This process allows the client to address the problem on its own. Externalization serves as a very productive form of therapy (Goodtherapy.org, 2012).

Narrative therapy mainly focuses on attempting to separate the individual from their problem (Goodtherapy.org, 2012). Throughout these therapy sessions, therapists attempt to transform how the problem effects the client’s life (Goodtherapy.org, 2012). By doing this, the individual is liberated from stigmatizing labels, and learns how to deal with this problem in a healthy and productive way (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).

This approach requires intense listening on the part of the therapist (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). A large focus of this therapy is the client’s life stories and history (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). Therefore, the therapist seeks to find evidence of past competence within the individual, through their life history (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). This therefore gives the clients hope that change is possible, and that they are capable of being competent (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).

Addiction Cycle

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The cycle of addiction involves use, misuse, abuse, and dependence. In addition, this cycle comes along with frustration about the symptoms, fantasizing about using the drug, obsessing about the drug, actually doing the activity, and then feeling guilt and shame surrounding the drug/activity (Recoveryconnection.org, 2013).

The Narrative Therapy approach may work well to alleviate the cycle of addiction. The effectiveness of this therapy would ultimately stem from the fact that the client could become separated from the activity/substance that they are addicted to. By doing this, the client could see that the addiction is not who they are, or a steadfast part of them. In separating the client from the addiction, the client is able to think clearly about ways to overcome it.

My Thoughts

The Narrative Therapy approach would be extremely helpful to me during the course of my career. I hope to one day become a clinical psychologist, and therefore provide therapy to individuals in need. The Narrative approach seems to be a very effective method of therapy. It gives clients confidence in themselves, and provides them with skills to help themselves in the future, even when they are done therapy.

In addition, this approach seems to be very effective for people struggling with addiction. By separating themselves from their addiction, they are able to see themselves without it, and how well they are able to function. It allows them to see a future without their addiction, and that will help them to overcome it.

References

Goodtherapy.org. (2012, January 03). Narrative therapy. Retrieved from http://www.goodtherapy.org/Narrative_Therapy.html

Recoverconnection.org. (2013). Cycle of addiction. Retrieved from http://www.recoveryconnection.org/cycle-of-addiction/

Van Wormer, K. & Davis, D. R. (2008). Addiction treatment: A strengths perspective. California: Brooks/Cole

Behavioral Addiction

Shopping Addiction

What is a shopping addiction?

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While it may sound slightly silly to some, a shopping addiction can become a serious problem. According to Van Wormer and Davis, shopping addiction comes from the urge to spend money, and to find extremely good sales (2008). Those who suffer from a shopping addiction seek to obtain material items for close to no money (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). Those who suffer from a shopping addiction suffer from a lack of impulse control (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). The individual may not need any of the material items they buy, but simply cannot help themselves. The problem lies in the lack of control over the buying of the items, rather than the actual items themselves (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).


Criteria
At what point does a person who likes to shop a lot turn into someone with an actual shopping addiction? According to Van Wormer & Davis, an individual suffering from a shopping addiction experiences a temporary high from the process of shopping and snagging good deals (2008). This euphoria is what separates regular shoppers from compulsive shoppers. Mental health professionals state that the euphoria experienced by compulsive shoppers is actually similar to a drug-like high (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). When an individual begins to experience this type of euphoria when shopping, and therefore craves that feeling, a shopping addiction is born (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). However, the DSM-IV-TR does not currently contain criteria concerning shopping addiction (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).


Statistics

• Between 2% and 8% of people in the United States suffer from a shopping addiction (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).
• The typical compulsive shopper is a 31 year-old female, who has multiple credit cards, usually bounces checks, and has spent multiple years overspending (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).

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Treatment Options

Dr. Donald Black at the University of Iowa has been conducting studies to determine possible successful drugs in reducing and even eliminating shopping addictions (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). He found that the drug Luvox was actually successful (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). After taking Luvox, individuals who were compulsive shoppers were actually able to enter a store and not buy anything (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). Behavioral therapy has also shown positive effects, as has the use of support groups such as Debtor's Anonymous (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008). This group helps individuals to create budgets they can stick to, and to work out a payment plan in order to eliminate their debt (Van Wormer & Davis, 2008).

References

Van Wormer, K. & Davis, D. R. (2008). Addiction treatment: A strengths perspective. California: Brooks/Cole

Sleep Medication

Sleep medication is often used by individuals suffering from insomnia, or sleep deprivation. It is available over-the-counter, or by prescription for a stronger version. The main focus of this research will focus on prescription sleep aids, also known as hypnotics.

            The most popular prescription sleep aids include Ambien (zolpidem), Lunesta (eszopiclone), Rozerem (ramelteon), and Sonata (zaleplon) (Katz, 2012). These sleep medications are often used to help one get to sleep (Katz, 2012). Ambien is the most commonly used sleep medication (Katz, 2012). Each urges the user to take the medication only if able to get seven to eight hours of sleep (Katz, 2012).

            These drugs, such as Ambien, work by targeting the activity of GABA receptors in the brain (Peters, 2011). These receptors inhibit the activity in the brain that keeps you awake at night, therefore allowing you to fall asleep quickly (Peters, 2011).

            However, these sleep medications have been known to come with many side effects. For example, Ambien has been associated with driving, eating, and even making phone calls which one later has no memory of (“Ambien,” 2012). In addition, Ambien has been associated with daytime drowsiness, headache, muscle pain, and impairment of thinking and reactions (“Ambien,” 2012). Other drugs such as Lunesta have shown similar side effects.

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            While these side effects are severe, those who have insomnia and other sleep-related issues often believe the benefits outweigh the side effects. These drugs help individuals who suffer from insomnia greatly, allowing them to finally get rest.

            Unfortunately, prescription sleeping pills come with a large risk of dependency. Sleeping pills are one of the most commonly used prescription medications (Alcohol Rehab, 2011). If used correctly, the risk for addiction is low, but if used incorrectly, it is easy for addiction to begin (Alcohol Rehab, 2011). Individuals can become dependent on sleep medication, and therefore begin taking it even when it is not bedtime (Alcohol Rehab, 2011).

            It seems as though it would be relatively easy to become addicted to sleep medication. For those who are prescribed it in the first place, it is because they need help falling asleep. Therefore, it is easy for them to continue to use their prescription, simply because it is the easy solution.

            However, I recently read a study where relaxation techniques were used to attempt to wean individuals from prescription sleep medication use (Lichstein et al., 1999). It was found that these relaxation techniques were effective, reducing sleep medication use by up to 80% (Lichstein, 1999). Relaxation techniques are a relatively simple way to combat sleep medication addiction. While there are withdrawal symptoms, these relaxation techniques prove to be a simple, yet effective way to fight this type of addiction.

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Alcohol Rehab. (2011). Sleeping pill addiction. Retrieved from http://alcoholrehab.com/alcohol-rehab/sleeping-pill-addiction/

Ambien. (2012, January 7). Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/ambien.html

Katz, M. (2012, August 02). Drugs to treat insomnia. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/insomnia-medications

Lichstein, K. L., Peterson, B. A., Riedel, B. W., Means, M. K., Epperson, M. T., & Aguillard, R. N. (1999). Relaxation to assist sleep medication withdrawal.Behavior modification, 23(3), 379-402. doi: 10.1177/0145445599233003

Peters, B. (2011, March 28). Insomnia treatment option. Retrieved from http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/sleepdisorderstreatment/a/Ambien.htm