Craving after Drug Rehab, How to Handle it, Part 4
July 26th, 2005 by Terry Keith
Continual Repetition of Drug Use
Through continual repetition of drug or alcohol use, the chain between craving and urges becomes stronger.
In contrast to the habits involved in skilled acts such as driving, the pattern of drug use is compulsive and dysfunctional.
Skilled acts are based on conscious decisions while drug-taking exhibits less and less conscious
control.
Stimulus Generalization
Gradually with increasing use, the individual responds with craving to an increasingly broader range of stimulus situations.
Originally the individual might have felt the craving for a drink or drug only in a group, they now also experience craving when upset or bored or lonely.
With the linking of craving to more and more stimuli, there is an expansion of dysfunctional beliefs about drug use.
Expansion of Dysfunctional Beliefs
The individual’s original belief might have been “I should drink or use to be part of the group,” the beliefs build up to “I need to drink or use to be accepted” and later “ I have to take a snort to relieve my loneliness and distress”.
The rebound depression or sadness experienced after cocaine, heroin or alcohol use results in a renewal of craving to counteract this “low” feeling.
Now the beliefs are expanded to “I need a hit in order to feel better”.
When drugs or alcohol are taken to relieve stress related anxiety or sadness or naturally occurring tension or anxiety or sadness, it tends to reinforce the belief that “I need the drug,” or “I can’t tolerate unpleasant feelings”.
The Most Common Erroneous Belief
There is a common erroneous belief that addicted individuals have little or no control over their urges and behavior or that craving is irresistible.
(. 34-35, “Cognitive Therapy of Substance Abuse,” Aaron T. Beck, Fred D. Wright, Cory F. Newman, Bruce S. Liese, The Guilford Press, New York, 1993.)
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