Unmasking Cognitive Distortions

Hello there,
 
I wanted to take a moment to share the latest episode of the Cracking Addiction podcast with you. In this episode I had a fascinating conversation with Dr. Laura Petracek about the first step of the twelve steps in addiction recovery: admitting powerlessness over alcohol and recognising the unmanageability of our lives.

Why Listen:

In this episode, Dr. Petracek and I delve into the concept of powerlessness and how it relates to addiction. We explore the cognitive distortions that often hinder individuals from acknowledging their lack of control over their substance use. We also discuss the importance of motivational interviewing in helping individuals move towards accepting the need for abstinence.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Gain a clear understanding of the first step in the twelve steps of addiction recovery - admitting powerlessness over alcohol and recognizing the unmanageability of one's life.
2. Learn about the cognitive distortions that prevent individuals from acknowledging their lack of control over their substance use.
3. Understand the role of motivational interviewing in facilitating a patient's acknowledgment of their powerlessness and need for abstinence.
4. Explore alternative approaches to confrontational methods in addiction treatment, such as a more relaxed and non-judgmental approach.
5. Discover the importance of recognizing personal responsibility as a healthcare provider and the benefits of allowing patients to be responsible for their own behavioural change.

Actionable Takeaways:

1. Take a moment to reflect on instances where alcohol or substance use has caused powerlessness in your life or the lives of others, and consider writing them down as a way to recognize the impact.
2. Challenge cognitive distortions surrounding substance use by seeking objective evidence of your inability to control consumption.
3. Consider using motivational interviewing techniques to engage in open and non-confrontational conversations about addiction and recovery.
4. Practice adopting a more relaxed and non-judgmental approach when discussing substance use issues with others, as confrontational methods often create defensiveness.
5. Embrace the idea that as healthcare providers, our role is to support and guide patients towards acknowledging their need for change, rather than forcibly trying to fix their behaviour.

Interesting Fact:

Did you know that some individuals minimize their alcohol or substance use by redefining what it means to "drink"? For some, having a few drinks spread out throughout the week might not be considered "drinking" in their eyes. This highlights the cognitive distortions that can occur when individuals try to justify their level of consumption.

Call to Action:

If you want to dive deeper into the topics of powerlessness and motivational interviewing in addiction recovery, I encourage you to listen to the full podcast episode.

Best Quote:

"One of the issues that I used to have, which was a barrier to my accepting the value of motivational interviewing, was I used to feel that I was responsible for my patient's behavioural change. And therefore, it tends to be that if you're responsible for making someone else's behaviour change, then you've got to make sure that they truly understand what's going on. And this is the reality of the situation, and it must change. Whereas with motivational interviewing, you can meet the patient wherever they are. And if they're in a situation or if they're in a mindset which tries to minimize their alcohol, that's okay, because you're not responsible for their change." - Dr. Ferghal Armstrong

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Warm regards,

Dr. Ferghal Armstrong
Host, Cracking Addiction Podcast