Lesson 10 Reflection PDF

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Claire Moore Lesson 10 Reflection 1. Addictions are substances or behaviors that one knows are harmful, but feels compelled to continue using. Many times a person with an addiction feels the need to hide or lie it. We usually think of addictions like smoking, pornography, or drugs, but even normal things like eating, exercising, shopping, and sex can be addictive. People with addictions feel powerless to the compulsion. Also, addictions affect the whole individual -including physical, emotional/mental, and social aspects of the person. Usually, people want to stop their addiction and know that it goes against what they value. Once the people steps away from their addiction, they experience withdrawals. 2. Addictions greatly affect the makeup of the brain. A central feature is that the addictive thing triggers the reward pathway in the brain. Nerve cells release dopamine which create a high. The pleasurable stimulation in the brain is what eventually leads to addiction. After getting hooked over time, oversupply of dopamine leads to decreased production when the stimuli of the addiction is introduced. The minimal effect leaves the person without that same reward pathway high, feeling flat and depressed. They’ll then get further stuck, hoping to achieve the same effect as before. The book says, “The normal functioning of the reward pathway usually requires concerted effort, after which the response is delayed. But addictive substances and behaviors are essentially a “shortcut” to the reward. The memory of this shortcut tends to alter the normal reward pathway, creating a craving just for that stimulus.” 3. There are some traits that make a person more likely to struggle with addictions. They are anxiety, impulsiveness (impatience/need for immediate gratification), self-centered or arrogance (arising from low self-esteem), obsessed with “image” and the need for approval, dependency on others, denial of problems, justification or rationalization of behavior, pseudo-pleasure (or unable to find pleasure in normal activities, seek sensation), obsessed with having control (over themselves or others), depression and negativity, and lastly, perfectionism and unrealistic self-expectations. Some of these traits have both positive and negative sides. 4. Drug addictions are among the most common. They reach the brain quickly and create powerful highs.Caffeine is another common drug, in fact, the most widely used stimulant. I’ve seen family with addictions to caffeinated drinks, like Coke. I know many who are also addicted to coffee. Alcohol is another common addiction. 22% of Americans are “heavy drinkers”, with 2+ drinks a day. Tobacco addictions are common, in fact, tobacco is the leading cause of death. It is addictive because it contains the drug nicotine. I don’t see these substances posing a challenge to me because I live the word of wisdom. Some behavior addictions are gambling, pornography/sex, technology, and dysfunctional innerspeech (when negative put-downs become an addiction). I have had minor experiences where my technology usage because mindless or uncontrolled. I’ve also seen how being overly critical about myself leads to sadness and in the end not achieving much. However, overall I think I manage these things well. 5. My results for 10.1 (the AUDIT test) gave me a 0 likelihood for developing an alcohol addiction. This makes sense since I don’t drink and never have. For the second test, 10.1 Assessment of Addictive Behavior, I scored a 2, meaning I show some warning signs for an addiction (the one I had in mind was chewing gum. Thankfully this isn’t a big problem

and has no serious consequences in my life). For the assessment 10.4 on cell-phone usage, I scored a 4. I don’t rely on my phone as much as many other people do, however I could improve on not reaching for my phone any time I’m bored or have a spare moment. I also shouldn’t use it when driving -- that’s really dangerous! 6. The book explains “To overcome an addiction, we need to back off and find strength from another source to change the addictive desire.” This can be done using a holistic mindbodyspirit approach,with a biological approach using medication, or a combo. The 12-Step program, started by AA, is centered on a belief in a higher power and accepting and giving help. Motivational Enhancement Therapy is a counseling method that uses listening and determining intrinsic motivation to change behavior. Solution-focused Therapy uses “focuses on helping the individual and family build a positive life in their immediate future.” Medications can be used to relieve from withdrawal symptoms. I want to focus on finding a balance between work/activity & relaxation to maintain wellness. 7. I give myself a 30/50 for my wellness-tracking. This week I have gotten more sleep than last which has felt really nice. I’ve been managing my time better and making an effort to get to bed on time. I was able to exercise as much as a I could with a crazy schedule. One area for improvement would be eating less sugar. I ate a lot of treats this week and weekend. I think I overall, my mental health is good. I’ve had a lot of work and catching up to do, but I’ve been productive and managed all the pressure well....