-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
nervous system
withdrawal from addiction
psychospiritual approaches
metaphors and correlations
It is generally believed that people who are addicted to alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs have a chemical addiction, meaning their cells are hooked on the drug(s). But at the level of the body's chemistry, we find that heroin or nicotine fits into the same receptors on the cell walls that everyone has. An addict does not have receptors that exhibit abnormal cravings. The truth seems to be that the cell's memory for the addictive substance is what is hooked, and it keeps creating distorted cells that reflect its weakness. In other words, an addiction is a distorted memory. If you take an addict, detoxify his body, and keep him away from alcohol or drugs for several years, all the old cells that used to be 'chemically addicted' are totally gone. Yet the memory persists, and if you give it a chance, the memory will latch onto the addictive substance once again. (Chopra, p. 88)
(related materia medica listings: state-dependent learning)
Conflict between a primary and a secondary process in which one uses increasing quantities of a drug to support a secondary process in order to overcome the primary one. (Mindell, 1988, p. 173)
(related materia medica listings: process oriented paradigm; holographic paradigm)
Many addicts have a primary process in which they actually identify with the drug of choice; they are the drug, and they will produce that drugs' effects around them - people who are coffee addicts begin to produce high strung, hyperactive coffee-like effects on those around them, just as alcoholics produce an alcoholic environment around them (warm, sympathetic, relaxed, loss of relativity). (Mindell, 1988, p. 114, 125)
Being an alcoholic or an addict means having a preference for a certain state of consciousness. It is not drug dependent but can be accessed as an altered state. Only one of the parts is drunk or stoned. There is always another part which can be accessed. With a drugged person, however, accessing any secondary process when the primary one is drunk will be a very sobering experience because drunkenness is only a primary process. For example, the person may find the courage to look closely and soberly at their responsibility. (Mindell, 1988, p. 122, 131)
Running from the self. Dislike of the self. (Hay, 1988, p. 10)
Alcoholism: Feeling of futility, guilt, inadequacy; self-rejection. (Hay, 1984, p. 151)
Lynn Andrews, in "Mirroring the Life Force" states: 'Life force pours out of you through the holes in your life called addictions, whether they be to substances or emotions (sadness, chaos, poor self-esteem).' (Carlson, p. 44)
related materia medica listings:
addiction: psychosocial approach
Chinese psychophysiology:
Heart ~ Xin houses the Shen (Spirit) and reveals itself through the brightness in the eyes; governs Fire and Heat; rules the Xue (Blood) and its vessels and directs the circulation; opens into the tongue and controls speech; and relates to the integration of the organs and the personality.
» Healthy expressions are warmth, vitality, excitement, inner peace, love, and joy.
» Heart Xu (Deficiency) signs include sadness; absence of laughter; depression; fear; anxiety; shortness of breath (Seem, p. 28); cold feeling in the chest and limbs; palpitations; cold sweat; inability to speak; memory failure; nocturnal emissions; and restless sleep. Chronic Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Empty Fire, acute and chronic.
» Heart Shi (Excess) signs include false or facile laughter; sobbing; agitated spirit; insomnia (Seem, p. 28); frightful dreams; anxiety; tongue feels numb and heavy; heavy chest; hot sweat; and orange-colored urine.
» The Heart is the Emperor of the bodily realm so that when the Heart is disturbed all the other organs will be disrupted.
Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); governs the Xue (Blood); resolves Dampness and Phlegm; maintains upbearing; and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel centered and balanced.
» Healthy expressions are fairness, openness, deep thinking, and reminiscence.
» Spleen Xu (Deficiency) signs include slightness (deficient "form"); abundant elimination; morning fatigue; cold, wet feet (Seem, p. 28); abdomen taut and distended like a drum; craving for sweets; flatulence; nausea; mild edema; memory failure; heavy feeling in legs; pale lips; loose stools; muscular weakness; and eventually obesity.
» The excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating, and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen and may lead to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant brooding. (Maciocia, p. 241) Likewise, inadequate physical exercise and excess consumption of sweet and Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen. Environmentally, the Spleen is highly susceptible to attack from external Dampness and Cold.
Kidney ~ Shen stores Jing (Essence) and governs birth, growth, reproduction, development, and aging; houses the Zhi (Will); expresses ambition and focus; provides the "Fire of Life" through its Yang functions; provides the nourishing and stabilizing qualities of Yin and Water that balance the Yang and the Fiery qualities, especially of the Heart; nourishes the brain to sustain concentration, clear thinking, and memory; manifests through the teeth, head hair, ears and equilibrium; and displays the effects of sexual dissipation, overwork, aging, chronic debilitation, and extreme stress.
» Healthy expressions are gentleness, groundedness, and endurance.
» Kidney Xu (Deficiency) signs include indecisiveness; confused speech; dreams of trees submerged under water; cold feet and legs; abundant sweating (Seem, p. 28); fearfulness; apathy; chronic fatigue; discouragement; scatteredness; lack of will; negativity; impatience; difficult inhalation; low sex drive; lumbago; sciatica; and musculoskeletal irritation and inflammation, especially when worse from touch. As always, chronic Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Empty Heat and/or acute inflammation.
» Intense or prolonged fear depletes the Kidney. Often chronic anxiety may induce Xu (Deficiency) and then Fire within the Kidney. (Maciocia, p. 250) Overwork, parenting, simple aging, and a sedentary or excessively indulgent lifestyle all contribute significantly to Kidney Xu (Deficiency).
Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; stores and cleanses the Xue (Blood); maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); opens into the eyes; and expresses itself in the nervous system; and reflects emotional harmony and movement.
» Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement.
» Liver Xu (Deficiency) signs include impotence; frigidity; pain in thighs, pelvic region, and throat; ready tendency to "the blahs" (Seem, p. 28); timidity; depression; irritability; vertigo; pruritus; dry eyes, skin, and/or tendons; asthma; aching at the waist; hernia; and difficulty raising head up and down. Liver Yin Xu (Deficiency) predisposes to Shi (Excess) conditions such as Liver Yang Rising, and Liver Fire Blazing.
» Liver Qi Stagnation reflects and accentuates emotional constraint as the Liver's function of facilitating smooth flow in the body is constricted. Stagnation is associated with frustration, irritability, tension, and feeling stuck. With time this pattern tends to produce a gloomy emotional state of constant resentment, repressed anger or depression, along with tightness in the chest, frequent sighing, abdominal tension or distension, and/or a feeling of a lump in the throat with difficulty in swallowing. (Maciocia, p. 216)
» Liver Shi (Excess) signs include discontent; anger; pain in lumbar region and genitals (Seem, p. 28); muscular tension; excessive sex drive; insomnia; moodiness; excitability; genital diseases; red, tearing eyes; compulsive energy; and bitter taste in the mouth. Chronically suppressed anger can implode and give rise to Fire in the Liver and Gall Bladder with symptoms of irritability, bitter taste, headaches, etc.
therapies
related materia medica listings: patient handout: tips on quitting smoking
behavior modification:
related materia medica listings: relaxation techniques
imagery:
do it again lamb: (3 times a day for up to 3 minutes for full series, for 3 cycles of 21 days of use and 7 days off). (Chavez)
frog journey: negativity (Scully)
Mut and crone journey: intuition, healing wisdom (Scully)
rainbow butterfly: self-esteem (Scully)
reparenting: self-esteem (Fanning, p. 180)
Taueret journey: rebirth (Scully)
Substance abuse as a method to reduce tension and anxiety supports the use of relaxation and imagery. These methods are also useful if the motivation is producing a positive affective state or altered state of consciousness, to augment a sense of coping and control. (Zahourek, p. 204)
Visualization can help smoking cessation in these ways: (1) helping to discover unconscious need that smoking fills (nurturance, social lubricant, stress relief, weight control, complement to other pleasures such as food, coffee, alcohol, sex, or simply self-destructive tendencies); (2) by reinforcing alternative means of meeting those needs; (3) by creating a strong image as a nonsmoker; and (4) by serving as a means of relaxation during nicotine withdrawal. (Fanning, p. 77)
Images of a safe place with shields; shields can have pseudopods which would grab alcohol bottles and smash them. (Korn, p. 154)
Positive Imagery Techniques: Image situation in which alcohol (or other additive substance) is usually consumed. Then imagine it is his/her favorite alcoholic beverage, then smell it, resist it, and walk away. (Korn, p. 154)
affirmation:
I now discover how wonderful I am. I choose to love and enjoy myself.
(Hay, 1988, p. 10)
"One day at a time"; "Easy does it" (AA slogans) (Zahourek, p. 204)
theotherapy:
Ares, Ariadne, Aristaeus, Centaurs, Dionysus, Fates, Polyphemus, Selene, Silenus (Lemesurier, p. 87)
process paradigm: (experientially oriented)
Working with the drug state: Point out to the individual that he is now on heroin, or alcohol, every time he refuses to think, every time he refuses to meet a conflict, every time he slouches. Point out that he is on heroin/alcohol now whether or not he has taken it. Intoxication is a state which occurs with or without the real drug. The real drug makes it more available but the state is there before the drug! Each client will react differently. One type of addict is shocked to realize s/he now behaves as if on heroin and reacts by immediately producing a sober state. Another may begin to analyze why they want to leave their feelings. Another may deny the state, in which case, you could ask him to act as if he were on heroin and to move, feel, and appear in that way. He would then realize that heroin is state-dependent and not drug dependent. Or you could act drugged and ask them for help. A process reversal occurs and the addict takes over the role of psychologist trying to help. Still there is another group of drug takers who are really hidden shamans and who need help in investigating the far reaches of their own human potential. They need to learn the ins and outs of working with altered states, processing their own material and learning methods and procedures of body work and psychology. (Mindell, 1988, p. 117)
What is the symptom preventing me from doing? What is the symptom making me do? (see process interview: psycho/neurological system)
related materia medica listings:
the shadow and physical symptoms
converting a symptom to a signal
body reveals: the spirit
state-dependent learning
recovery: twelve step programs
recovery: precautions with AA programs
recovery: stages of treatment
hologram of an alcoholic
addiction: psychosocial approach
imagery: precautions
imagery: techniques
affirmations: guidelines and precautions
theotherapy
process paradigm
footnotes
Reprinted from The Foundations of Chinese Medicine, Maciocia, Giovanni, 1989, by permission of the publisher Churchill Livingstone, a division of Elsevier Limited.