The Role of Change in Addiction and Recovery, with Mary Cook

"Addictions are not easy. It’s a heavy burden to feed these insatiable, ever expanding beasts. And their stories are filled with anger, despair, insanity and trauma. As addiction progresses, artificial euphoria and symbolic power diminish in length of time and intensity, while cravings for gratification increase. Ultimately, addictions backfire bringing more pain and problems than previously experienced. This presents an opportunity for addicts to glimpse a bit of truth about their calamitous condition, and stimulate curiosity as to its relief.

Negative self image accompanies addiction, generating harsh judgments, unreasonable resentments and pessimism. Poor esteem is linked to repeating negative habits of thoughts, feelings and actions, and the loss of a whole integrated sense of self. Allowing a Higher Power and recovery support people to disrupt these habits and teach healthier behaviors and attitudes gives rise to compassion and optimism. Personal inventory brings insight, and motivates healing and positive change. As transformations occur, past negative energies are relinquished and a deeper, truer self emerges. It requires tremendous courage and support to starve the beast of addiction. It requires humility to walk through darkness and surrender all that we know. But this is how we see that our story arose from confusion and pain and its resulting defenses and defects." ~says Mary Cook, M.A., R.A.S. author of “Grace Lost and Found: From Addictions and Compulsions to Satisfaction and Serenity”, who has 35 years of clinical practice and 29 years of university teaching experience.