Attachment and Addiction - A practical discussion about addiction as an adaptation to developmental trauma (150 mins)
Addiction is an activity; dependency is developed through a habitually reinforced search for meaning, survival and in some cases dissociation.
If we change the focus from substance use in addiction, to understanding the pain behind the adaptation, changes how we deliver treatment, services and support to those affected by all kinds of addictions.
Addiction is an activity; dependency is developed through a habitually reinforced search for meaning, survival and in some cases dissociation.
If we change the focus from substance use in addiction, to understanding the pain behind the adaptation, changes how we deliver treatment, services and support to those affected by all kinds of addictions.
Addiction is an activity; dependency is developed through a habitually reinforced search for meaning, survival and in some cases dissociation.
If we change the focus from substance use in addiction, to understanding the pain behind the adaptation, changes how we deliver treatment, services and support to those affected by all kinds of addictions.
Guests
Wendy Shepherd: Facilitator of the conversation, with a background in child sexual exploitation Wendy is very interested in how the trauma of childhood increases the likelihood of addiction in later years.
Andy Ryan: Andy’s passion about addiction services originated from lived experience and developed as he trained as a psychotherapist while working in the addiction treatment field for over 17 years. He has pulled together his experience as a psychotherapist, his lived experience, and his years working in addiction services, to bring an alternative way of looking at addiction and of how we support people affected by addiction.
Angela Carr: Angela is interested in the developmental impact of trauma and its influence on our future relationship with self and others. Her work with individuals. organisations and systems is rooted in reintegrating the disowned, shadow parts with hope and compassion.
Addiction as an Adaptation
Substances are not the figural focus of recovery from addiction dependency. Andy, Angela and Wendy discuss theory and share information that could be used in a practical way to help anyone with a desire to gain a deeper understanding of addiction and think about how to support therapeutically.
The discussion explores viewing the process of addiction as an adaptation to life and pain. We explore understanding addiction as a relief seeking process and behavioural activity rather than an disorder, illness or dysfunction.
Below is the diagram referred to in the audio discussion referencing the gestalt cycle:
