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Words of Wisdom 1 0 4 on the Wounded Cycle
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Recovery part 12 introduction.
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It's helpful to see the
fundamental elements of things
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and how those elements interact.
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Today we take a deeper dive into the
addict's past and what fuels addiction
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in what I call the wounded cycle.
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This episode is part 12 in a
series on addiction and recovery.
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To see the entire recovery
series go to wise craft.org.
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Last week we discussed the core
chaos cycle and how it contributes
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to addictive behavior, but there's
more going on here, much more.
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Where do addictions come from?
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What feeds them?
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How are they sustained over time?
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Deeply understanding addiction is complex.
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I'm 17 years into my own recovery journey.
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In that time, I've personally seen
more than 10 counselors, recovery
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coaches or spiritual directors.
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I've been a part of multiple recovery
groups and completed an 18 month
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intensive outpatient treatment program.
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I have a master's degree in psychology
and an addiction study certificate.
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I've worked at an inpatient
treatment center and was privileged
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to be able to work at that same
intensive outpatient program.
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I was formally a client at, and much
of my private practice today is helping
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people struggling with addiction.
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Yet how much do I understand addiction?
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In some ways it seems I'm only
just beginning to understand it.
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But I do wanna share some of
what I've learned along the way
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about what causes addiction.
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First, I should acknowledge there
are certainly genetic factors
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that contribute to addiction.
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There are also physiological elements or
ways the brain and body gets triggered,
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becomes dependent and develops tolerance
towards a substance or an experience.
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But today I want to explore
the deeper elements that are
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part of the life experiences.
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In the internal thought processes.
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Those ways an addict makes meaning
of the external world and their
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own life, and it turns out that
understanding these elements can be
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helpful for anyone, addict or not.
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Who wants to move from chaos and pain
and grow towards a life of flourishing.
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Because the brain is plastic,
it can heal and grow.
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Where you are today does
not mean you are trapped.
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You are capable of astonishing
growth, healing, and transformation.
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Just as the addictive behavior cannot
be understood in isolation, the cycle
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of addiction must be understood in the
context of what I call the wounded cycle.
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The wounded cycle is a combination
of the following five elements.
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First connection wounds.
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We also call these attachment wounds.
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Second, any specific trauma that they have
experienced, especially childhood trauma.
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Third, as a result, a
person's wounded stories.
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Fourth and closely related
their false beliefs.
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And fifth, their shame, which
is essentially their false
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beliefs about themselves.
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To view an image of the wounded
cycle, go to wise craft.org.
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All of these elements feed each
other and also feed into the chaos
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cycle, which we introduced last week.
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A person can stop a specific
addictive behavior, but if they do
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not heal the underlying wounds and
the chaos cycle, they will likely
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only switch to another way of coping
with their pain, shame, and trauma.
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So the wounded cycle feeds the core chaos
cycle if healing and flourishing is to be
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experienced, all of these elements must
be not only addressed but transformed.
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This massive transformative
experience is the strength and hope
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of the spiritual awakening and the
deep work that we call recovery.
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Quotes.
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Sometimes when you're in a dark
place, you think you've been buried,
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but actually you've been planted.
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From the book Uninvited by Lisa Hurst.
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There is no greater agony than
bearing an untold story inside you.
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From the book.
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I Know Why The Caged Bird
Sings by Maya Angelou.
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Questions one.
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How do you relate to the concept of
the wounded cycle in your own life?
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Two, what false beliefs do
you hold about yourself?
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How do these beliefs impact your
actions and decision making?
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Three.
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How do you experience shame in your life?
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If shame had a voice, what
would it say about you?
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How does it affect your self-perception
and relationships with others?
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Four.
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In what ways do you currently
cope with pain, shame, and trauma?
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Are there healthier ways that you
could approach these challenges?
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Use these questions as a journal
prompt and prayers this week.
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End note.
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To understand addiction, you must
take a long look back at your life
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and you must look deeply inward.
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Live wisely, Josh.
