The spin cycle of addiction

Erin Snow

Most people think of addiction during the “active” phases of the cycle, where addicts are actually drinking, using, or engaging in addictive behaviors (such as gambling, watching porn, etc.), but if we want to fully understand addiction, we also have to look at the order of events before and after the actual “use” experience. When we do this, considering the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that drive addictive behavior, we see that addiction is not a repeat of our own events. Instead, it is a cycle in which an individual rotates from one stage to the next, barely knows what is going on and has little chance to leave the carousel.

That is, addicts have the opportunity to recognize their situation and act the opposite. This is a process that begins with the spin cycle of recognizing addiction. Over the years, we have seen many versions of the addiction cycle. I believe that the most effective are the six phase cycles outlined below.

Phase 1: Trigger

The trigger is the catalyst for creating a desire to participate in addiction. The trigger can be internal (lost, boredom, anxiety, stress) or external (person, place, image, event). When the addiction trigger is not dealing with it in a healthy way (dissipated through a healthy, non-additive coping mechanism), the cycle slides forward into the second phase.

Stage 2: Fantasy

When triggered, drug users turn to their primary initial coping mechanism (addiction fantasy). They start to think about the extent to which they enjoy their addictive behaviors in the past and to enjoy it now or again in the near future. These fantasies do not involve memory of adverse experiences or adverse consequences.

The third stage: ritualization

Ritualization is where fantasy develops into reality. Drug addicts call their dealer to stock up on drugs, or they log in to their computer and go to their favorite escort site, and so on. This phase of the cycle is also called bubble or tr Because of the addict Losing reality In it. This stage of addiction, rather than actually getting drunk/high, or engaging in behaviors that are actually addicted (such as gambling or sex), provides many of the neurochemical highs of escapism that addicts seek.

Phase 4: Action

Most non-advisors believe that this stage, rather than the third and third stages, is the goal of addiction, because this is where actual substance use or addictive behavior occurs. However, the extended fantasy-driven escape and separation of stages, if not more attractive, can be the same. After all, the goal of addiction is emotional escape, which is the existence of the fourth and third stages.

Stage 5, alienation/numbness

After the addicts are addicted, they try to emotionally distance themselves from what they just did. Basically, their thoughts are now focused on “damage control” and in all forms of denial – blame, rationalization, rationalization, etc. They do this to protect themselves from the sixth stage of the cycle.

Stage 6, Despair (Shame/Anxiety/Depression)

As time goes by, distance/numbness fades away and becomes lower. When doing so, the addict begins to feel ashamed and regretful about his secret life or created situation. These unnecessary emotions are exacerbated because they feel powerless about addiction. Plus, whatever the reality and feeling they try to escape from the first phase return. So now they feel the emotional discomfort they have felt before, plus any new consequences of powerlessness and addiction. Therefore, the sixth stage rotates back to the first stage.

When can we intervene?

When the trigger first appears, the cycle of addiction is best interrupted early in the first phase. If an addict learns to identify triggers, the person has the opportunity to engage in the opposite action to prevent the addictive behavior from actually starting.

Think of addiction as a big boulder on the top of a mountain: If you hit the boulder to the bottom when you start rolling, you can hit the bottom more easily. After building some motivation, you can’t do much.

Usually, it is possible for an addict to stop the addiction cycle in the first stage, and even in the fantasy and ritual behavior of the stage and the third stage. But doing so becomes Gradually more difficult. The deeper the cycle the drug addict goes, the more likely the addict is to engage in addiction.

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