Stages of Addiction

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Stages of Addiction
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Jellinek (1937)

• progressive nature ?
• Pre-addiction phase no longer a social
  activity
• 2. Addiction no longer has control
• 3. Chronic alcoholism physical dependence

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The Addiction Process ?W.H.O. (1957)

• Four main stages
• CONTACT first experience pleasurable
• EXPERIMENTAL excessive use occurs in social
  context
• EXCESSIVE USE damage or risk of damage
• ADDICTION dependence occurs, functioning
  severely impaired

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ARF ?4 stages

1. Learning new found feeling of goodness
2. Seek and find mental obsession occurs
3. Substance abuse compulsion, loss
4. The final stage rock bottom ? choice to quit or
   keep using determines if addict will survive
   their addiction

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Nakkens Stage of Addiction

• addictive personality acts much like Freuds id
• Natural cycles of life lapsing and
  uncontrollable moments of peace, happiness,
  fulfillment
• Addiction is an attempt to control natural cycles
• Emotional logic I want what I want and I want
  it now

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Stage 1 Internal Change

• First contact is intense, unlike anything else
• Illusion of control/comfort/confidence
• Do not know how to have healthy relationships
• Emotional isolation leads addict to turn to
  object/event rather than friends/family
• Most important aspect if creation of Addictive
  Personality (id over ego) ? personality split b/w
  Self and Addict

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Stage 1 contd

• Early experiences with family has taught them
• Distance themselves from others
• Treat others like objects
• Closeness is not a reality/option
• Nurturance through avoidance
• crystallizes the addictive logic ? a toxic
  system of beliefs

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Self-statements of Addict

• I dont really need people
• I dont have to face anything I dont want to
• Im afraid to face life and my problems
• Objects/events are more important than people
• I can do anything I want, no matter whom it
  hurts

9

• Addiction starts to create pain need to
  continue
• Uneasiness and shame re loss of
  self-control/esteem/love etc. heightens
• A negative downward spiral
• Emotional craving ? mental preoccupations ?
  acting out ? pain ? acting out ? more pain

10

• Addictive logic further enhanced
• Develops rationalizations ? i.e. Im not hurting
  anyone
• Manipulative tactics ? i.e. minimizing concerns
• Addiction as a process of denial
• Acting out creates fun, excitement, new ideas,
  and stimulation

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Stage 2 Lifestyle Change

• Fun of acting out starts to vanish
• Takes on a maintenance quality ? dependency
  develops
• Behavioural commitment is all-encompassing
• Arrange life around addiction
• Starts to lie excessively
• Blames others
• Protects behaviour any way possible

12

• Addictive rituals develop ? prescribed and
  predictable behaviour
• Surround self with other addicts
• Mistrust of others grow
• addict becomes a role within the family
• Addiction takes more of persons focus and energy
  ? further erodes ability to be normal
• spiritual deadening

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Stage 3 Life Breakdown

• No longer produces pleasure, but too painful to
  quit
• Pain, fear, shame, anger, etc. are hallmarks of
  life
• Security in routine ? resist the unfamiliar
• Lifestyle based entirely on addictive ritual
• Cannot break cycle without intervention
• Addictive logic becomes simple get high and exist

14

• may cry uncontrollably or have fits of rage for
  no apparent reason
• Paranoia/free-floating anxiety
• Loses ability to manipulate
• Others recognize addicts style and react less
  get fed up withdraw
• Fear of ending up alone is overwhelming ? clingy,
  desperate

15

• May begin to show signs of physical breakdown
• Abandon self-care
• May start to consider/attempt suicide
• Cannot break out of this stage alone
• Must learn new lifestyle ? reach outward, regain
  self-respect