Re:addictions and self-control

I was just re-reading some of the responses written in the forum and as I was reading Jim's response to the question of addictions and self-control, I had a few thoughts.

1. Jim's response seemed to be a strange one for a cognitive therapist. I rather suspect a lot of cognitive therapists are really affect people in disguise.
2. The schema processes by Jeff Young of schema avoidance explains this phenomenon very well using a cognitive model. Yet Jim seems so much against using these processes to help understand these self-defeating behavioral patterns.
3. I do believe that the maladaptive schema is triggered with the associated negative affect and the individual uses the coping style of avoidance to escape the emotional pain associated with the schema.
4. Thus, I agree whole heartedly with Jim but like to put it into cognitive terms. If this was an offender using these behaviors, I would indeed help him to identify the thinking that led to the emotional pain which led him to the tension reducing behaviors. I would use the Vertical arrow technique (found in "Mind over Mood" to identify the underlying schemas and core beliefs).
5. However, whenever I suggest such terms and techniques, I get no real responses.

Replies:

Re:addictions and self-control, by Jim Pretzer, 07/22/02

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.