WoW 104: On the wounded cycle, Recovery, Part 12

: 00:00:00

Words of Wisdom 1 0 4 on the Wounded Cycle

2

: 00:00:05

Recovery part 12 introduction.

3

: 00:00:08

It's helpful to see the

fundamental elements of things

4

: 00:00:11

and how those elements interact.

5

: 00:00:14

Today we take a deeper dive into the

addict's past and what fuels addiction

6

: 00:00:18

in what I call the wounded cycle.

7

: 00:00:21

This episode is part 12 in a

series on addiction and recovery.

8

: 00:00:25

To see the entire recovery

series go to wise craft.org.

9

: 00:00:30

Last week we discussed the core

chaos cycle and how it contributes

10

: 00:00:34

to addictive behavior, but there's

more going on here, much more.

11

: 00:00:39

Where do addictions come from?

12

: 00:00:41

What feeds them?

13

: 00:00:43

How are they sustained over time?

14

: 00:00:46

Deeply understanding addiction is complex.

15

: 00:00:50

I'm 17 years into my own recovery journey.

16

: 00:00:54

In that time, I've personally seen

more than 10 counselors, recovery

17

: 00:00:58

coaches or spiritual directors.

18

: 00:01:00

I've been a part of multiple recovery

groups and completed an 18 month

19

: 00:01:04

intensive outpatient treatment program.

20

: 00:01:06

I have a master's degree in psychology

and an addiction study certificate.

21

: 00:01:10

I've worked at an inpatient

treatment center and was privileged

22

: 00:01:13

to be able to work at that same

intensive outpatient program.

23

: 00:01:17

I was formally a client at, and much

of my private practice today is helping

24

: 00:01:22

people struggling with addiction.

25

: 00:01:25

Yet how much do I understand addiction?

26

: 00:01:28

In some ways it seems I'm only

just beginning to understand it.

27

: 00:01:33

But I do wanna share some of

what I've learned along the way

28

: 00:01:37

about what causes addiction.

29

: 00:01:40

First, I should acknowledge there

are certainly genetic factors

30

: 00:01:43

that contribute to addiction.

31

: 00:01:45

There are also physiological elements or

ways the brain and body gets triggered,

32

: 00:01:50

becomes dependent and develops tolerance

towards a substance or an experience.

33

: 00:01:57

But today I want to explore

the deeper elements that are

34

: 00:02:00

part of the life experiences.

35

: 00:02:02

In the internal thought processes.

36

: 00:02:05

Those ways an addict makes meaning

of the external world and their

37

: 00:02:09

own life, and it turns out that

understanding these elements can be

38

: 00:02:13

helpful for anyone, addict or not.

39

: 00:02:16

Who wants to move from chaos and pain

and grow towards a life of flourishing.

40

: 00:02:22

Because the brain is plastic,

it can heal and grow.

41

: 00:02:26

Where you are today does

not mean you are trapped.

42

: 00:02:30

You are capable of astonishing

growth, healing, and transformation.

43

: 00:02:36

Just as the addictive behavior cannot

be understood in isolation, the cycle

44

: 00:02:41

of addiction must be understood in the

context of what I call the wounded cycle.

45

: 00:02:47

The wounded cycle is a combination

of the following five elements.

46

: 00:02:52

First connection wounds.

47

: 00:02:55

We also call these attachment wounds.

48

: 00:02:58

Second, any specific trauma that they have

experienced, especially childhood trauma.

49

: 00:03:05

Third, as a result, a

person's wounded stories.

50

: 00:03:09

Fourth and closely related

their false beliefs.

51

: 00:03:14

And fifth, their shame, which

is essentially their false

52

: 00:03:18

beliefs about themselves.

53

: 00:03:21

To view an image of the wounded

cycle, go to wise craft.org.

54

: 00:03:25

All of these elements feed each

other and also feed into the chaos

55

: 00:03:29

cycle, which we introduced last week.

56

: 00:03:32

A person can stop a specific

addictive behavior, but if they do

57

: 00:03:36

not heal the underlying wounds and

the chaos cycle, they will likely

58

: 00:03:41

only switch to another way of coping

with their pain, shame, and trauma.

59

: 00:03:46

So the wounded cycle feeds the core chaos

cycle if healing and flourishing is to be

60

: 00:03:53

experienced, all of these elements must

be not only addressed but transformed.

61

: 00:04:00

This massive transformative

experience is the strength and hope

62

: 00:04:05

of the spiritual awakening and the

deep work that we call recovery.

63

: 00:04:12

Quotes.

64

: 00:04:13

Sometimes when you're in a dark

place, you think you've been buried,

65

: 00:04:18

but actually you've been planted.

66

: 00:04:22

From the book Uninvited by Lisa Hurst.

67

: 00:04:28

There is no greater agony than

bearing an untold story inside you.

68

: 00:04:34

From the book.

69

: 00:04:35

I Know Why The Caged Bird

Sings by Maya Angelou.

70

: 00:04:41

Questions one.

71

: 00:04:43

How do you relate to the concept of

the wounded cycle in your own life?

72

: 00:04:48

Two, what false beliefs do

you hold about yourself?

73

: 00:04:53

How do these beliefs impact your

actions and decision making?

74

: 00:04:58

Three.

75

: 00:05:00

How do you experience shame in your life?

76

: 00:05:03

If shame had a voice, what

would it say about you?

77

: 00:05:07

How does it affect your self-perception

and relationships with others?

78

: 00:05:11

Four.

79

: 00:05:13

In what ways do you currently

cope with pain, shame, and trauma?

80

: 00:05:19

Are there healthier ways that you

could approach these challenges?

81

: 00:05:24

Use these questions as a journal

prompt and prayers this week.

82

: 00:05:29

End note.

83

: 00:05:30

To understand addiction, you must

take a long look back at your life

84

: 00:05:35

and you must look deeply inward.

85

: 00:05:39

Live wisely, Josh.