Why aren’t Negative Consequences Sufficient to Bring about Lasting Change?
• How we want to feel: Everyone wants more than simple survival. We all want to live fully and feel life vividly. For some, using substances and/or excessive behaviours seems like the only way to achieve this desired feeling of ‘aliveness’. Despite the ever growing list of catastrophes, the addicted individual fears the loss of the substance or activity beyond measure. Having any quality of life without this powerful relationship seems impossible. • Triggers and high risk situations. Over time, an individual comes to associate the experience with certain cues or triggers and anticipated rewards —for example, a clock signals quitting time at work. The individual responds to the trigger by looking forward to the substance or behaviour as he or she has done so many times before. Craving sets in. Because the rewards of engaging in the behaviour happen quickly – the high for example, craving and anticipation quickly build. • Defense Mechanisms: Self-deception: Today he or she feels capabl
