C.C. Nuckols [email protected]. Information on Alcoholics Anonymous. A.A. World Services, Inc. Available at:

DISCOVERY TO RECOVERY:DISCOVERY TO RECOVERY:SCIENCE, SPIRITUALITY & 12-STEP SCIENCE, SPIRITUALITY & 12-STEP

FACILITATED RECOVERYFACILITATED RECOVERY

C.C. [email protected]

Information on Alcoholics Anonymous. A.A. World Services, Inc. Available at: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_information_aa.cfm?PageID=11. Accessed Sept 20, 2007.

Information on Alcoholics Anonymous. A.A. World Services, Inc. Available at: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_information_aa.cfm?PageID=11. Accessed Sept 20, 2007.

Evidence-Based Psychosocial Interventions Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

• Self-help group

• Promotes abstinence

• Requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking

• Members share their experience with anyone seeking help with a drinking problem

• They give person-to-person service or "sponsorship" to the person with alcohol dependence coming to AA from any source

* p < .05

Timko C, et al. J Stud Alcohol 2000;61:529-540.

* p < .05

Timko C, et al. J Stud Alcohol 2000;61:529-540.

*

*

1- and 3-year abstinence rates among those attending formal treatment alone and those attending formal treatment plus AA (N = 466)

Evidence-Based Psychosocial Interventions Efficacy of AA

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1-Year Follow-Up 3-Year Follow-Up

% A

bst

inen

t

Formal Treatment Formal Treatment + AA

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION• How privileged we are to understand so well How privileged we are to understand so well

the divine paradox that strength rises from the divine paradox that strength rises from weakness, that humiliation goes before weakness, that humiliation goes before resurrection; that pain is not only the price but resurrection; that pain is not only the price but the very touchstone of spiritual rebirth. the very touchstone of spiritual rebirth. Knowing it's full worth and purpose, we can no Knowing it's full worth and purpose, we can no longer fear adversity, we have found prosperity longer fear adversity, we have found prosperity where there was poverty, peace and joy have where there was poverty, peace and joy have sprung out of the very midst of chaos. Great sprung out of the very midst of chaos. Great indeed, our blessings! indeed, our blessings! Bill Wilson Bill Wilson

Letter to Bill From Carl JungLetter to Bill From Carl Jung• Dear Mr. Wilson

Your letter has been very welcome indeed.

I had no news from Roland H. anymore and often wondered what has been his fate. Our conversation which he has adequately reported to you had an aspect of which he did not know. The reason that I could not tell him everything was that those days I had to be exceedingly careful of what I said. I had found out that I was misunderstood in every possible way. Thus I was very careful when I talked to Roland H. But what I really thought about was the result of many experiences with men of his kind.

His craving for alcohol was the equivalent, on a low level, of the spiritual His craving for alcohol was the equivalent, on a low level, of the spiritual thirst of our being for wholeness, expressed in medieval language: the thirst of our being for wholeness, expressed in medieval language: the union with God.*union with God.*

Letter to Bill From Carl JungLetter to Bill From Carl Jung• How could one formulate such an insight in a language that is not misunderstood in

our days?

The only right and legitimate way to such an experience is that it happens to you in reality and it can only happen to you when you walk on a path which leads you to you walk on a path which leads you to higher understandinghigher understanding. You might be led to that goal by an act of grace or through a personal and honest contact with friends, or through a higher education of the mind beyond the confines of mere rationalism. I see from your letter that Roland H. has chosen the second way, which was, under the circumstances, obviously the best one.

I am strongly convinced that the evil principle prevailing in this world leads the unrecognized spiritual need into perdition, if it is not counteracted either by real religious insight or by the protective wall of human community. An ordinary man, not protected by an action from above and isolated in society, cannot resist the power of evil, which is called very aptly the Devil. But the use of such words arouses so many mistakes that one can only keep aloof from them as much as possible.

Letter to Bill From Carl JungLetter to Bill From Carl Jung• These are the reasons why I could not give a full and sufficient

explanation to Roland H., but I am risking it with you because I conclude from your very decent and honest letter that you have acquired a point of view above the misleading platitudes one usually hears about alcoholism.

You see, "alcohol" in Latin is "spiritus" and you use the same word You see, "alcohol" in Latin is "spiritus" and you use the same word for the highest religious experience as well as for the most for the highest religious experience as well as for the most depraving poison. The helpful formula therefore is: spiritus contra depraving poison. The helpful formula therefore is: spiritus contra spiritum.spiritum.

Thanking you again for your kind letter

I remain

Yours sincerely

C. G. Jung

Psychological And Spiritual

• Two different domains of human existence– Psychological Domain

• Relative Truth– Relative to a particular individual in a particular

circumstance

• Personal Meaning• Interpersonal Relationships• Domain-Form

–Content

CONTENT

• THOUGHTS• BELIEFS• FEELINGS• MEMORIES

– Leads to:• Motives• Opinions • Positionalities

Psychological And Spiritual

Two different domains of human existence (continued) Spiritual

Absolute Truth What is eternally true now and forever Beyond any particular viewpoint Direct realization of the ultimate Timeless Unconditional Love Domain-Emptiness Context

CONTEXT• LOVE• HUMILITY• GRATITUDE

THE ZERO POINT FIELDTHE ZERO POINT FIELD

• “HUMAN BEINGS AND ALL LIVING THINGS HUMAN BEINGS AND ALL LIVING THINGS ARE A COALESCENCE OF ENERGY IN A FIELD ARE A COALESCENCE OF ENERGY IN A FIELD OF ENERGY CONNECTED TO EVERY OTHER OF ENERGY CONNECTED TO EVERY OTHER THING IN THE WORLD. THIS PULSATING THING IN THE WORLD. THIS PULSATING ENERGY FIELD IS THE CENTRAL ENGINE OF ENERGY FIELD IS THE CENTRAL ENGINE OF OUR BEING AND OUR CONSCIOUSNESS, THE OUR BEING AND OUR CONSCIOUSNESS, THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA OF OUR ALPHA AND THE OMEGA OF OUR EXISTENCE.”EXISTENCE.”

McTAGGART, “THE FIELD”, PROLOGUEMcTAGGART, “THE FIELD”, PROLOGUE


• THE FIELD IS OUR HEART, OUR BRAIN, OUR THE FIELD IS OUR HEART, OUR BRAIN, OUR MEMORY AND MUST BE TAPPED INTO TO MEMORY AND MUST BE TAPPED INTO TO HEALHEAL

• ““IT IS THE ONLY REALITY.” EINSTEINIT IS THE ONLY REALITY.” EINSTEIN• NEWTON, DESCARTES AND SCIENCE CANNOT NEWTON, DESCARTES AND SCIENCE CANNOT

EXPLAIN SUBJECTIVITY-THE REALM OF EXPLAIN SUBJECTIVITY-THE REALM OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND SPIRITULITYCONSCIOUSNESS AND SPIRITULITY– WRONG PARADIGMWRONG PARADIGM


• PIONEERS OF QUANTUM PHYSICS TURNED PIONEERS OF QUANTUM PHYSICS TURNED TO PHILOSOPHY AND SPIRITUALITY TO TO PHILOSOPHY AND SPIRITUALITY TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY HAD FOUNDEXPLAIN WHAT THEY HAD FOUND– PAULI- ARCHTYPES AND THE QABBALAHPAULI- ARCHTYPES AND THE QABBALAH– BOHR- TAO AND CHINESE PHILOSOPHYBOHR- TAO AND CHINESE PHILOSOPHY– SCHRODINGER- HINDU PHILOSOPHYSCHRODINGER- HINDU PHILOSOPHY– HEISENBERG- PLATONIC THEORY OF ANCIENT HEISENBERG- PLATONIC THEORY OF ANCIENT

GREECEGREECE

THE ZERO POINT FIELDTHE ZERO POINT FIELD• THEY HAD DISCOVERED THAT OUR THEY HAD DISCOVERED THAT OUR

INVOLVEMENT WITH MATTER WAS CRITICALINVOLVEMENT WITH MATTER WAS CRITICAL• SUBATOMIC PARTICILES EXISTED IN ALL SUBATOMIC PARTICILES EXISTED IN ALL

POSSIBLE STATES UNTIL OBSERVED BY USPOSSIBLE STATES UNTIL OBSERVED BY US• LIVING THINGS ARE PACKAGES OF QUANTUM LIVING THINGS ARE PACKAGES OF QUANTUM

ENERGY CONSTANTLY EXCHANGING ENERGY CONSTANTLY EXCHANGING INFORMATION WITH THE FIELDINFORMATION WITH THE FIELD– COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESSCOLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS– HOLY SPIRITHOLY SPIRIT– LIFE FORCELIFE FORCE

Heisenberg Uncertainty PrincipleHeisenberg Uncertainty Principle

• You can either know a particles position or momentum, but not both

• Any attempt to observe (measure) the electron alters it

• There is no such ting as an independent observer (objectivity)

• Intention influences outcome

Heisenberg Uncertainty PrincipleHeisenberg Uncertainty Principle

“This is the primary significance of the uncertainty principle. At the subatomic level, we cannot observe anything without changing it. There is no such thing as an independent observer who can stand on the sidelines watching nature run its course without influencing it.”

Gary Zukav

Left/Right BrainLeft/Right BrainJILL BOLTE TAYLORJILL BOLTE TAYLOR

• Right Hemisphere-Parallel Processor• Left Hemisphere-Serial Processor• Communicate through the Corpus Collosum

– 300 million axonal fibers

• Each hemisphere thinks differently and care about different things

Right HemisphereRight Hemisphere• The Present Moment-Right here and now• Thinks in pictures and symbols• Receives sensory information that allows us to

understand what the moment feels like, smells like and tastes like– Sensory collage

• Connects to the energy all around us• We are energy beings connected to We are energy beings connected to

everything through the consciousness of our everything through the consciousness of our right hemisphereright hemisphere

Left HemisphereLeft Hemisphere

• Linear and methodical• All about the past and the future• Takes the collage of the present moment and

categorizes and organizes the informational details

• It then associates this information with what we have learned from the past and projects it into the future

Left HemisphereLeft Hemisphere

• Thinks in language• It is the ongoing chatter in the brain• It is calculating intelligence (survival and gain)• It says, “I am”

– This separates us from everything else

• The “Experiencer”– Ego– Animal brain heritage

Left/Right BrainLeft/Right Brain

• If disconnected from the brain chatter that connects us to the outer world the mind is silent

• Lose the complications of the past and future and become overwhelmed by the peacefulness of the moment

• The more time we spend in the inner The more time we spend in the inner circuitry of our right hemisphere the more circuitry of our right hemisphere the more peace we project into the worldpeace we project into the world

ORIGINS OF ADDICTIONS AND EMOTIONAL ORIGINS OF ADDICTIONS AND EMOTIONAL SICKNESS (SUFFERING)SICKNESS (SUFFERING)

• BELIEF THAT OUR PERSONALITY IS THE BELIEF THAT OUR PERSONALITY IS THE ESSENCE OF WHO WE AREESSENCE OF WHO WE ARE

• BELIEF THAT HAPPINESS IS OUTSIDE THE SELFBELIEF THAT HAPPINESS IS OUTSIDE THE SELF• INABILITY TO STAY CONSCIOUSLY IN THE INABILITY TO STAY CONSCIOUSLY IN THE

MOMENTMOMENT• PERSONAL AND MATERIAL ATTACHMENTSPERSONAL AND MATERIAL ATTACHMENTS

ORIGINS OF ADDICTIONS AND EMOTIONAL ORIGINS OF ADDICTIONS AND EMOTIONAL SICKNESS (SUFFERING)SICKNESS (SUFFERING)

• Think of the physical , biological brain as a large computer (hardware)

• Throughout life (especially early life) this computer is programmed with software

• Software (mind or Ego) consists of all of opinions, motives and positionalities that one possesses

• Each time you remove a software program you get closer to TRUTH (SELF)

BELIEFBELIEF THAT OUR PERSONALITY IS THAT OUR PERSONALITY IS THE ESSENCE OF WHO WE ARETHE ESSENCE OF WHO WE ARE

• Notion of Original Sin creates idea that some original mistake causes later suffering– Sense of guilt or of being wounded

• Victim/Perpetrator• Victim/Survivor

– Have done something wrong in the past and now must suffer/be punished for it

– Guilt is one of the chief teaching techniques• Try not to make mistakes to prove not bad

– Buddhism-problems are impermanent and seen as opportunities

BELIEF THAT OUR PERSONALITY IS THE ESSENCE OF BELIEF THAT OUR PERSONALITY IS THE ESSENCE OF WHO WE AREWHO WE ARE

• HINDUISM (ADVAITA VEDANTA)– ONLY ONE REAL THING IN THE UNIVERSE – ALL ELSE IS ILLUSION (“MAYA”)– ATMAN=SOUL=SELF– BRAHMAN=GOD

• ATMAN=BRAHMAN

• THE ESSENCE OF SELF IS GOD (IMMANENT)• ESSENCE IS THE GIFT OF LIFE ENERGY

SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND HEALINGSPIRITUAL GROWTH AND HEALING

• The more one is in touch with SELF• The more SELF can constellate SELF in others

– THIS RECONTEXUALIZES PATIENT’S REALITY SO THIS RECONTEXUALIZES PATIENT’S REALITY SO THEY EXPERIENCE HEALING ON A LEVEL THAT THEY EXPERIENCE HEALING ON A LEVEL THAT TRANSCENDS THE EGO TRANSCENDS THE EGO (Source of all Suffering)

• THE COMPASSION OF THE PRESENCE (SELF) THE COMPASSION OF THE PRESENCE (SELF) ALLOWS FOR THE FEELING OF LOVE ALLOWS FOR THE FEELING OF LOVE PRODUCING PEACE WITHIN AND REMOVING PRODUCING PEACE WITHIN AND REMOVING INNER AGONYINNER AGONY

BELIEF THAT HAPPINESS IS OUTSIDE BELIEF THAT HAPPINESS IS OUTSIDE THE SELF THE SELF

• TWO PROMISES OF THE EGOTWO PROMISES OF THE EGO– “Ego’s products are valuable because they have

meaning”– “Content is necessary for survival and IT WILL

BRING HAPPINESS”

• SEEKS HAPPINESS OUTSIDE OF SELFSEEKS HAPPINESS OUTSIDE OF SELF• HAPPINESS IS A PART OF ONE’S ESSENCE-IT HAPPINESS IS A PART OF ONE’S ESSENCE-IT

HAS ALWAYS BEEN THEREHAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE

• PAST PRESENT FUTUREPAST PRESENT FUTURE

GUILT FEARGUILT FEAR

INABILITY TO STAY CONSCIOUSLY IN INABILITY TO STAY CONSCIOUSLY IN THE MOMENTTHE MOMENT

• THE FARTHER AWAY ONE IS FROM THE THE FARTHER AWAY ONE IS FROM THE MOMENT THE MORE THE SUFFERINGMOMENT THE MORE THE SUFFERING– FEAR (ANXIETY) IS GENERALLY ABOUT THE FEAR (ANXIETY) IS GENERALLY ABOUT THE

FUTUREFUTURE– GUILT AND SHAME (DEPRESSION) IS GENERALLY GUILT AND SHAME (DEPRESSION) IS GENERALLY

ABOUT THE PASTABOUT THE PAST

PERSONAL AND MATERIAL PERSONAL AND MATERIAL ATTACHMENTSATTACHMENTS

• BUDDHISM-ALL SUFFERING IS DUE TO ATTACHMENTS AND IGNORANCE

• ATTACHMENTS TO…– PEOPLE– THINGS (FOOD, DRUGS, WORKWORK)

Power Principles of Alcoholics Anonymous

• Avoids coercion (Force)– “Easy Does It”– “Live and Let Live”– “First Things First”

• Respects Freedom– Individual choice– Neither endorses or opposes any cause– Alcoholic must diagnose him or herself

"Lord, make me a channel of thy peace—that where there is hatred, I may bring love—that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness—that where there is discord, I may bring harmony—that where there is error, I may bring truth—that where there is doubt, I may bring faith—that where there is despair, I may bring hope—that where there are shadows, I may bring light—that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted—to understand, than to be understood—to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life. Amen."-Saint Francis of Assisi

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions page 99

http://www.silkworth.net/aa/stfrancis.html


• Honors Power Patterns (Positive Attractors)– Honesty– Humility– Responsibility– Service– Tolerance– Goodwill– Brotherhood


• Avoids Moral Judgment (Negative Attractor)– No Opinions– No Motives– No Positionalities

• Exerts No Control (Force)– Charts a Path– “If you practice these principles in all of your affairs, you

will recover from this grave and progressive fatal illness, and regain your health, self-respect and the capacity to live a fruitful and fulfilling life for yourself and others.” CHAPTER 11, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS


• Power Is Based On..– Power of the Group

• Principles over Personalities

– Higher Power– Service To Others

• Humility

ONLY 31 PAGES LATER THE ONLY 31 PAGES LATER THE BEDEVILMENTS ARE REPLACED BY THE BEDEVILMENTS ARE REPLACED BY THE

PROMISES PROMISES THE BEDEVILMENTS (page 52)• We were having trouble

with personal relationships.• We couldn't control our

emotional natures.• We were a prey to misery

and depression.• We couldn't make a living.• We had a feeling of

uselessness.

THE PROMISES (page 83) • We will lose interest in selfish

things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away.

• We will comprehend the word serenity and we know peace.

• Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.

• Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.

• That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.

ONLY 31 PAGES LATER THE ONLY 31 PAGES LATER THE BEDEVILMENTS ARE REPLACED BY THE BEDEVILMENTS ARE REPLACED BY THE

PROMISES PROMISES THE BEDEVILMENTS (page 52)• We were full of fear.

• We were unhappy.• We couldn't seem to be of

real help to other people.

• And, most of all,

THE PROMISES (page 83) • We will intuitively know how to

handle situations which used to baffle us.

• We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.

• No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how your experience can benefit others. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.

• We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

EGO FUNCTIONS: STRUCTURE OF THE EGO

• Western Psychotherapy– Need for strong ego

• Defined in terms of impulse control, self-esteem and competence in worldly functioning

• Eastern Psychology– EGO as defensive self

• Unreal and unnecessary

– Egoless• Free from the constraints of the ego

• Ego as transitional state


• Composed of positionalities that set thinking mechanisms in motion

• Primordial Positionalities– “Ideas are significant and important”– Dualistic, “There are dividing lines between opposites”– Value of authorship: “Thoughts are valuable because they

are mine”– Thinking is necessary for control, survival depends on

control


• TWO PREMISES– “Ego’s products are valuable because they have

meaning”– “Content is necessary for survival and IT WILL

BRING HAPPINESS”


Achilles Heel

VANITY

IT CANNOT PRODUCE SUSTAINED HAPPINESS

EGO• Source of

EGO

• Feeds off of:– UNHAPPINESS– MARTYRDOM– GUILT– INJUSTICE– BEING THE VICTIM

““In nonduality, in no one instant can any such In nonduality, in no one instant can any such thing as a ‘problem', 'conflict’ or ‘suffering’ thing as a ‘problem', 'conflict’ or ‘suffering’ occur. These all arise in anticipation of the occur. These all arise in anticipation of the next instant or recall of the past. The ego next instant or recall of the past. The ego appears to be the product of fear, and its appears to be the product of fear, and its purpose is to control the next instant of purpose is to control the next instant of experience and ensure its survival. It seems experience and ensure its survival. It seems to vacillate between fear of the future and to vacillate between fear of the future and regret over the past..”regret over the past..”

Hawkins, The Eye of the I. Veritas, 2001, pg 19.

EGO

• EGO pictures a world that is a projection of its own illusions and positionalities

Emptiness

• Most is Space

• Suffering comes from ATTACHMENTS• Suffering comes from MISCONCEPTION

EMPTINESS

• Taught that it is bad and associated with

Emptiness

• Fill the EMPTINESS with:– Sex– Food– Alcohol– Drugs

• BUT IT DOES NOT WORK!

In Not Out

• Instead of going Out further, decide to go In• Sort through the layers in our “Mirror of

Memory” (EGO)

• Back to EMPTINESS

We derive an answer based on our Personal Level of Awareness.

Personal Levels Of Awareness

• Level One: Toxicity/Addiction• Level Two: Early Recovery• Level Three: Acceptance• Level Four: On-going Recovery• Level Five: Spiritual Transcendence• Level Six: Early Life Developmental

Trauma

FORMAT: Personal Levels Of Awareness

• Level-What is the stage of addiction or recovery?

• Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous- What “steps” must be completed to move forward?

• “EGO”- What changes must occur in the way we see the world?

• Treatment Approaches- What approaches will help the client move to the next level?

• Steps of Alcoholics AnonymousStep Zero-Willingness to change

Level One: Toxicity/Addiction

• “EGO”– Egosyntonic– Narcissistic– Lower Brain

Level One: Toxicity/Addiction Treatment Approaches

Understanding the Unconscious Mind Stages of Change

Precontemplation Assessment and Education

Motivational Interview Intervention Motivational Crisis Understanding Desire & Pride

Do Not Drink/Drug To ESCAPE

• Neuroleptics will relieve anxiety but client will not call for a refill

• Percodan script brings different response• Use to Connect

– “life of the party”

The Power To Get One “High”

How Does Happiness End Up Nastiness?

• At one time “I” created happiness• Now “I’ say that the drug makes me happy• When give power to the drug it reverses the

energy field• People become intoxicated to experience self• Once they relearn it can be experienced

directly there is little actual need for the drug– Function of AA

How It Starts

• When I first found my DOC• “Chased the high”• What caused this?

– Dopamine-Nucleus Accumbens– Glutamate-Prefrontal Cortex

• Both transmitters in abundance• Produced maximum pleasure and stimulation (energy)

As Addiction Progresses

• Glutamate levels go down rapidly• This interferes with cognitive functioning

– Cognitive functions (ex. Executive Functions) do not come back until 6-8 weeks into recovery-more with stimulants

– Provigil

Addiction As A Stress-Related Disorder

• How is it addict’s brain different?– Stress

• We don’t all face the same kinds of stress– Genetics

• Chronic Severe Stress secondary to..– Early Life Trauma– Rape– Undiagnosed Mental Illness– Living Conditions and Lifestyle

Chronic Severe Stress• Elevates Corticotrophin-Releasing Factor (CRF)

– Precipitates chronic increase in cortisol• Shuts down Prefrontal cortex• Breaks dopamine system

–Down regulation=Anhedonia• Midbrain takes control

–Survival Mode

CRAVING

“You have to get something to make this better”-CRAVING

• Add alcohol and/or drugs

• Alcohol and/or drugs become the central organizing principle– Tagged as #1 coping mechanism

Hedonic Capacity

• Normal pleasure and normal release of dopamine doesn’t work

DEFECT IS A STRESS-INDUCED DYSREGULATION OF THE BRAIN’S HEDONIC (REWARD) SYSTEM

REQUIRES LARGE AMOUNTS OF DOPAMINE

What Creates Large Surges of Dopamine?

DRUGSALCOHOL

FOODSEX

RELATIONSHIPSGAMBLING

RAGE & VIOLENCEOVER-WORK & OVER-EXERCISE

Desire

• Level of Addiction– Bondage and enslavement

• Worldly acquisition and ownership that can become insatiable (GREED)

• Compulsions– Constant “craving” + emotion= “Need”

• Results in endless pursuit, depression, anxiety and manipulation seeking satisfaction

Desire

• Excessive Desire creates inner feelings of “lack” leads to…– Constant seeking– Chronic dissatisfaction– Feelings of being incomplete

• Inner feeling of “wanting” leads to– Frustration– Anxiety– Greed – Avarice

Desire

• Origin is the hunger of the animal• Seen as selfish• Desire to control others is an attachment• Desire blocks the SELF

Desire

• Alcohol and Drugs are the “right direction” but the “wrong method”– HOW CAN ALCOHOL AND DRUGS CREATE A

FEELING ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSCIOUSNESS LEVEL OF THE HIGH 500’s (JOY)?

• A/D block lower energy levels• “High” is the radiance of “SELF”• Drugs themselves calibrate at 75• Craving is for the high of JOY

Desire

• Wanting more and more but enjoying it less and less• Even the pleasure disappoints

– Residual sense of something “lacking”– So we cling to “it” hoping that by possession we can complete

the act– But you can never fully possess

• Desire will no leave us alone• Downside

– Frustration– Envy– Jealousy

Desire

• Great importance given to external objects– EGO becomes infatuated with it’s own projections

• There is a hopefulness about the human spirit that sometimes will not accept “no”

• Treatment– Understanding that desire can be both an ally and

a foe (TRUTH)– Replace “wanting” and “lack” with choice and

decision

Desire

• Treatment (continued)– Grief process

• Working the steps• Grief of loss from childhood issues

– Cannot deny any aspect of self as its shadow will persist

– Desire involves a drive for transcendence• Sublimate

– Desire as a natural response to the reality of suffering

– Desire is vitality, energy and motivation• What is the individuals motivation at this level of recovery?

Desire

• Treatment (continued)– Surrender desires to God as they arise– Identify positionalities and surrender them– “And then what?

• “I will be happy.”

– Dedicate all action to God– Recontextualize what was negative so that it

becomes a positive in ones life

Pride• Opposite of Shame

– In both real worth is not a consideration• Self-worth is secondary to effort (earned) and

achievement• As a spiritual defect..

– Attitude or positionalities– Arrogance applied to beliefs, thoughts– A refusal to surrender to God– Sees humility as inferiority and submission as

humiliation

Pride

• EntitlementEntitlement comes from unresolved infantile narcissistic egocentricity (“BABY”)– Produces lack of remorse– Justifies resentments– Core of evil in our world– Real or perceived slight can cause incredible rage– As “spiritual Pride” creates a “better than”

attitude such that it is now OK to hold Negative judgement

Pride

• Tenacious, rigidly defended and sometimes uncorrectable (ASPD). The more the entitlement the less the level of empathy.

• This attitude is basically psychotic as the inner grandiosity is delusional.

Pride• Inflated EGO is vulnerable to attack

– Can be deflated into shame– Positions must be defended

• High profile creates need for constant vigilance and defense– Paranoia

• Pride fuels denial• Arrogance, personal superiority and denial block

ability to grow– Creates personal “neediness”

Pride

• Need to be constantly admired may lead to depression

• Image swings on success and failure– Vulnerable to depression

• Pride=Self-Admiration– Implies others are inferior

• “Specialness” triggers resentment in others

• Recovery is impossible because character defects are denied

Pride

• Dark side of Pride is fragile self-esteem– ENVY LEADS TO HATE– COMPETITIVENESS LEADS TO MALICE– JEALOUSY LEADS TO VINDICTIVENESS

• Treatment– Understand that Pride is based on false assumptions of

one’s worth (rather die than to admit wrong)• Instead of attracting positive attention and admiration it

provokes attack leading to prideful “rage” and vengeance

Pride

• Treatment (continued)– Humility is necessary for most cases of self-

deception• Humility and integrity over self-deception

– Acknowledging God and not one’s EGO can result in gratitude

– Humility and acceptance leads to inner peace– Seeing pride as a defect– Exploit vulnerability-”Has it bought you

happiness”

Inscription on the Desk Plaque of Dr. Bob

Humility is perpetual quietness of the heart. It is to have no trouble. It’s never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore. To wonder at nothing that is done to me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in myself, where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my father in secret. Where I can be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness when all around and about is seeming trouble.

SEVEN DEADLY SINS These considerations were taken from pages 48, 49, 66 & 67 These considerations were taken from pages 48, 49, 66 & 67

of the Twelve and Twelve The bold type presents of the Twelve and Twelve The bold type presents definitions from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. definitions from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.

• PRIDE: An over high opinion of oneself; exaggerated self-esteem; conceit, arrogance, vanity, self-satisfaction.– Have I been so proud that I’ve been scorned (disrespected) as a

braggart (bragger)? – Have I acted prideful, consciously or unconsciously out of fear? – Have I used pride to justify my excesses in my sex conduct? – Do I like to feel and act superior to others?

SEVEN DEADLY SINS • GREED: Excessive desire for acquiring or having; desire for more

than one needs or deserves.– Have I been so greedy that I’ve been or could be labeled a thief? – Do I long for the possessions of others out of fear of not getting

enough? – Do I let greed masquerade as ambition?

• LUST: To feel an intense desire, especially sexual desire; to long: after or for.– Have I been lustful enough to rape, if not physically what about in my

mind? – Do I fear I will never have the sex relations I need? – Do I have sex excursions that have been dressed up in dreams or

delusions of romance?

SEVEN DEADLY SINS • ANGER: A strong feeling excited by a real or supposed injury; often

accompanied by a desire to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party; resentment; wrath.– Have I been angry enough to murder? – Do I get angry out of fear when my instinctive demands are threatened? – Have I enjoyed self-righteous anger in the fact that many people annoy me

and that makes me superior to them? – Have I enjoyed gossiping as a polite form of murder by character

assassination?

• GLUTTONY: One who eats too much. One with a great capacity for something; as, a glutton for work.– Have I been gluttonous enough to ruin my health? – Do I grab for everything I can, fearing I’ll never have enough? – Do I bury myself in my work, hobbies or activities?

SEVEN DEADLY SINS • ENVY: To resent another for excellence or superiority in any way, and to

be desirous of acquiring it.– Do I agonized over the chronic (persistent or recurring) pain of envy? – Does seeing the ambitions of others materialize make me fear that mine

haven’t? – Do I suffer from never being satisfied with what I have? – Have I spent more time wishing for what others have than working towards

them?

• SLOTH: Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; habitual indolence; laziness, idleness; slowness; delay.– Have I been paralyzed by sloth? – Do I get alarmed with fear at the prospect of work? – Do I work hard with no better motive than to be secure and slothful later on? – Do I loaf and procrastinate? – Do I work grudgingly and under half steam?

Level Two: Early Recovery

• Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous– 1st Step- We admitted we were powerless over

alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable.– 2nd Step- Came to believe that a Power greater

than ourselves could restore us to sanity


• Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous– 1st Step-

• Coming out of denial• Powerless over the Truth• Truth reverses the energy field

– 2nd Step-• Need something more powerful than ego


• “EGO”– Hopeless– Fear (Anger)– Narcissism

• Narcissistic Denial


Treatment Approaches Management of

Hopelessness Fear (Anger) Narcissism

Craving Management Postacute Withdrawal Syndrome

Restitution of Health Sponsorship and Home Group

Hopeless

• Cannot help themselves– Apathy

• No hope-no need to try (to make contact)– Anhedonic and/or depressed

• Reduced monoamines

Hopeless

• Treatment– Need energy from outside

• Love and carefrontation– Gender differences

• Therapeutic relationship• Friendship

Fear

• Not from loss of drug but from loss of high energy “state”

• What is sought is sought by everyone• Fact is alcohol/drugs don’t work• Don’t need to change directions just means• Find high energy state within yourself

Treatment Of Fear (Anger)

Want energy but not feeling Disassemble

Physical symptoms Can you handle them?

Emotional symptoms Can you handle them?

Not experiencing fear just a bunch of symptoms “Fear is not you, it is just a symptom

Treatment Of Fear (Anger)

“You are bigger than your fears.” Anger and other outward expressions of fear

represents a need to control what feels unmanageable PARADOX

“Your fear and anger give people control over you” Vertical Integration of the brain “When you lose the fear of fear the world cannot

control you!”

Fear (Anger)

• Worry, panic, anxiety and/or anger• Projections into the future

– “How will I change People, Places and Things?”– “What’s in it for me?”– “Without alcohol and drugs my life has no

meaning?”• Strategies to avoid fear keep us stuck in fear• Locus of control still external

Treatment of Fear (Anger)

• “I will lose my job”• “And then what?”• If you keep asking this question you will

ultimately arrive at a fear of death.• Answer is SURRENDER to God and

Recontextualization of death• Buddha said “There is no death”• “Life Ever After”

Level Three: Acceptance

• Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous– 3rd Step- Made a decision to turn our will and our

lives over to the care of God as we understood him.

– 4th Step- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

– 5th Step- Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.


• Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous– 3rd Step-

• Willingness to surrender (turn over) pain and suffering (hell) moves one up the energy field

• Opens a space for the “Grace of God’• “AA is the language of the heart” (Bill W)

– 5th Step-• Capacity and attractiveness for self-destruction

removed• Self –hatred turns to mild regret


• “EGO”– Power is internalized/Ego deflated– Non-judgmental– Does not seek to control or change– Can see and accept limitations– Result of wisdom

• Surrendering positions• Transcending perceptual distortion

Acceptance• “And acceptance is the answer to all my problems

today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation-some fact of my life-unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God’s world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy.” Big Book, pg 417 new edition, pg 449, old edition


• Treatment Approach– Guilt and Remorse– Moral Inventory– Internalization of Personal Power

Guilt-”I DID SOMETHING BAD”

• Comes later and is language based and less visceral than shame

• Related to unacceptable behavior• Consequence of the memory of

regretted past actions as they are recalled

• Equates former self that “was” with current self that “is”

• Feelings of loss (youth, money, etc.)

Excessive Guilt And Remorse

• Form of narcissism• Allows “self” to be exaggerated,

blown up, and the hero of tragedy• Feeds the EGO• The EGO blames and is a defective

compass• Error is inflated instead of being

relinquished to a Higher Power

The EGO

• Hate is the Ego's “juice” (pay off)• It loves suffering a perceived wrong,

being the martyr, being misunderstood-the endless victim

• Stockpiles grievances and is full of self-pity– Pay off is “center stage” and sympathy

• Must choose forgiveness over hate• True self is immune to falsehood

Treatment Of Guilt

• Guilt as opposed to lack there of (ASPD)• Humility-admitting one’s errors

– “My guilt stems from pride and I should not have said that to you.”

• We did the best we could with what we had at the time given the circumstances– Reframe

• What did we learn from the experience?

Treatment Of Guilt

To transcend Change context

Who you were Who you are now Who you will become if you stay the path

See as part of learning and development & therefore unavoidable

maybe even critical Make amends Pray to have shortcomings removed Self-forgiveness, humility and acceptance of limits Confession, moral inventory, forgiveness, renewal,

rededication of our lives (no secrets)

Taking A Moral Inventory• First understand one’s conscience and how

it works (SET INTENTION)– Self-critical and perfectionistic or….– Keep you on the path

• Conscience should act benignly (AS TEACHER NOT PUNISHER) in the process– Self-blame will increase guilt and shame

• Character defects are intrinsic to the ego which does not have the capacity to know the truth

• Accept one’s limitations in the service of humility

Taking A Moral Inventory

• First approach from the side of the SUPER EGO (CONSCIENCE)– Before uncovering unconscious material be aware

that super ego houses self-hatred and guilt• SUICIDE

• Remember the ID-deep layer of the unconscious thinks in extremes and uses extreme symbolism– It doesn’t just hate but wishes to kill

Treatment Of Guilt

• Good deeds, selfless service and service work– Help remove character defects

• Dealing with unrealistic expectations• Understanding the difficulty inherent

in the human condition

Level Four: On-going Recovery

• Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous– 6th Step- Were entirely ready to have God remove

all these defects of character.– 7th Step- Humbly asked Him to remove our

shortcomings.– “LETTING GO STEPS”


• Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous– 8th Step- Made a list of all persons we had

harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

– 9th Step- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.


• Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous– STEPS 6-9

• Action Steps to help undo what damage we can without creating further harm


• “EGO”– Higher Mind

• Moral• Ethical• Motives, Opinions, and Positionalities

– Integrity- Not Self-service– Reason and Logic– Love (conditional)


• Treatment– Bringing the Prefrontal Cortex Fully on Line

• Utilizing Plasticity• Enhancing Complexity

– Motives, Opinions and Positionalities– Mindfulness

Level Four: On-Going Recovery

Bringing The Prefrontal Cortices Fully Back on Line

A BETTER PARENT A BETTER PERSON

A BETTER CITIZEN

Bringing the Prefrontal Cortices Fully Back on Line

• Prefrontal Cortices– Dorsolateral Prefrontal cortex– Orbitofrontal Cortex– Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Therapist task-optimize plasticity

The Prefrontal Cortices

• Coordinate the many brain activities needed to utilize:– Executive Functions

• Set goals• Make plans to attain those goals• Organize steps to carry out the plans• Ensure that desired outcomes are achieved

– Conscience– Pursue Reward Within the Law

Bringing the Prefrontal Cortices Fully Back on Line

• PFC plastic especially between 0-5 and 10-20 years of age

• Developmental delays occur secondary to early life trauma and early onset alcohol/drug abuse.

• Treatment– Positive role models (Sponsor)– Surrogate family (Home Group)– “Growing Up In AA”

Motives, Opinions and Positionalities (EGO)

• Motives– To Feel Good by restoring self-esteem

• Put others down• Enjoy others difficulties


Opinions Highly valued by the EGO Basically Worthless Vanities Without Intrinsic Value Emotionally charged leading to

STRIFE DISSENT ARGUEMENT


• Positionalities– Source of all MISERY, FEARS AND

UNHAPPINESS– Every position is inherently flawed

• “Sounded Good at the Time”


• Treatment– Understand the motives of the EGO– Continue on the spiritual path toward SELF

• The SELF is All That Is– Humility

• We are not capable of knowing anything– To know is to be that which is known

» All else is speculation and supposition

– Forgiveness

Mindfulness

• Most people in therapy are preoccupied with the past and future

• Suffering increases as we move from the present

• Mindfulness is not trying to change anything but involves observing the mind, body and emotions the way they are

• “BE”

Mindfulness

• “BE” or unawareness (automatic pilot)• Mindfulness practice reveals

– Energy spent on daydreaming, anticipating, planning, worrying, fantasizing (EGO)

– Unawareness leads to engaging in the insanity of life (doing the same thing over and over)

– Mindful “body scan”

Level Five: Spiritual Transcendence

• Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous– 10th Step- Continued to take personal inventory and

when we were wrong promptly admitted it.– 11th Step- Sought through prayer and meditation to

improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.


• Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous– 10th Step-

• Self-correction turns into a “way of life”• Self-purification

– 11th Step-• Increasing connectivity to that which is already

happening (Love and Divinity)• Over and above what got from alcohol/drug


12th Step- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all of our affairs No changing of mind as now committed to the course


“NO EGO” FORGIVING NURTURING SUPPORTIVE Small self to BIG SELF


• Love is not something you do it is what you are• Emanates from the heart• Love is inclusive-unconditional• It focus on the goodness in life

Road From the small self to SELF

• WILL– Relatively steady and unchanging– Seat from which progress thru consciousness to

transcendence occurs– Seat of POWER– Direct contact with Holy Spirit– Where form and formless meet

Spiritual Will

TOOLS

Spiritual Will

Spiritual Will

• Duality is source of all suffering

SELF

• Small self– Vulnerable to flattery– Aligns with weak or negative attractor patterns

• BIG SELF– Humble and grateful– Aligns with strong attractor energy

Road From the small self to SELF

FORMLESSSELFLove

DevotionGratitudeHumility

Inspiration Faith

FORMSelf

IdeasThoughtsMemoriesConflictsImages

Revenge

Road From small self To BIG SELF

Internal ladder to successWhat you “have” that counts

Status, wealth and belongingsWhat one “does” that counts

Position and activitiesWhat one has “become” secondary to life experiences that counts

“Charismatic Presence”

Road From small self To BIG SELF

• Sense of self is identified as consciousness itself (Enlightenment)

• “Oneness”• A condition of infinite Power (vs. Force), infinite

compassion, infinite gentleness and infinite love• “Higher Power”• Elimination of self as finite

Unconditional Love

• Goal of most spiritually committed persons• Requires close adherence to well established

spiritual disciplines• From “Saying The Prayer” to “Being The

Prayer”

References

• http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/templates/PressReleases.aspx?articleid=115&zoneid=48

• http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1526775#R133

http://www.casacolumbia.org/absolutenm/templates/PressReleases.aspx?articleid=115&zoneid=48



Mutual Support Groups

• Women for Sobriety -- http://www.womenforsobriety.org/SOS -- http://www.sossobriety.org/SMART Recovery -- http://www.smartrecovery.org/LifeRing Secular Recovery -- http://www.unhooked.com/index.htm

Mutual Support Groups

• Fundamentalist Christian MSGs like Alcoholics Victorious (http://www.alcoholicsvictorious.org/) and Christians in Recovery http://christians-in-recovery.org/)

• For Moslems we have:(http://www2.islamicity.com/al-muminun/MIFAX/mifax.htm

Mutual Support Groups• Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) at

http://draonline.org/.• dual recovery program for Wiccans

http://www.pagansanctumrecovery.org/.• Faces and Voices of Recovery (FaVoR) maintains

an MSG section at http://www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/resources/support_home.php

http://draonline.org/

http://www.pagansanctumrecovery.org/

UK AA PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

• http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.UK/newcomer/videoh.shtml>

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/newcomer/videoh.shtml

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/newcomer/videoh.shtml

Nuckols Books and Tapes• www.gwcinc.com/drnuckols.htm • www.hci-online.com/cnuckols • http://www.hazelden.org/

OA_HTML/hazCSrdSrchResults.jsp?event=&cg=-200&kw=NUCKOLS

http://www.gwcinc.com/drnuckols.htm

Documents

C.C. Nuckols [email protected]. Information on Alcoholics Anonymous. A.A. World Services, Inc. Available at: