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You will see in future chapters that the needs of many individuals with substance use issues in todays ever-changing world have indeed transformed with the times. And prescription medications can help rebalance your brain chemistry, reducing your cravings for certain substances and behaviors. In other words, even if someone never stops using substances (abstinence) there still can be a measurable level of progress. Taking the Escalator. By the same token, it is not necessary for someone to label themselves in order to get better. When combined with counseling, this approach is proven highly effective. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. People who are currently benefitting from 12 Step programs and 12 Step philosophy may not need this book unless they are looking for something additional to supplement their recovery. The Escalator therefore was born from a desire to provide an alternative but reasonable, sensible, yet comprehensive and effective option for those with substance use issues who fall into one or more of the following categories. Taking the Escalator - An Alternative to the 12 Steps Is it ethical and reasonable for those who fund treatment to implement a 12 Steps or else policy? This maneuver only works if you have another adult with you. Are you covered for addiction treatment? Do You Really Need to Avoid Alcohol on Antibiotics? X It is important to note that the Escalator is primarily focused on substance use however, any difficult to stop, compulsive habit can be interchanged with substance use issues. Buidling motivation and insight for inspiration and progress Getting back the concept of sobriety, however, the second key aspect of sobriety is abstinence. Obviously, the greater the degree that an individual is able to sustain inspiration and demonstrate actual progress and upward change then the more successful the experience has become. For the legal system it makes fiscal sense to mandate 12 Step attendance because 12 Step meetings are free and there is that undeniable aspect of improved outcomes with regard to sobriety goals for those in the legal system who embrace 12 Step recovery. Lost - Taking the Escalator therapy activity intro Taking the Escalator 319 subscribers Subscribe Like 928 views 3 months ago Link to activity - https://takingtheescalator.blogspot.c. Finally, the Escalator is focused on two of the most critical factors for successful growth in the upward change process: Motivation and Insight. ThoughtCo. There are some caveats to any research study, and this particular study has a number of particular strengths and potential weaknesses. You should be receiving an order confirmation from Paypal shortly. The notion that most forms of substance use disorders share some similar brain pathways, such as the reward pathway in the brain that is primarily mediated by the neurotransmitter dopamine, would reinforce the notion of a neurobiological substrate that is responsible for a vulnerability to developing a cross addiction. These same individuals in treatment can become preoccupied with repeatedly asking their counselor, Do you think that I am an addict? Without even answering, in some cases it may be glaringly obvious (like for example, the daily fall-down, blackout drinker or the several hundred dollar-a-day crack user or the guy who has been arrested a dozen times for substance abuse related crimes). Evidence Based Online AlcoholAddiction Treatment Program. That leads directly back to the subject of how to look at abstinence. Other methods are very much needed for this population. What Is Cross Addiction, and Is It a Real Thing in Recovery? For example, suppose a 400 pound obese man had diabetes and was receiving treatment for heart disease. The Escalator allows each individual to determine their own starting point based on the unique circumstances that brought about a need for change. Instead focus on behavior change which will influence better decisions in the present and future. Most of the supporting evidence is based on anecdotal evidence and case histories that are not sufficient to support an overall theoretical concept. The Challenge of Cross Addiction | Psychology Today When I started in this field most substance abuse programs were still 12 Step based. Help us by submitting your sober resource here >>>, Sober Eastbourne Directory. So, by extension, someone who is not abstinent cannot be sober either. The Escalator is designed to help people to look within themselves for inspiration, hope and change while using others for guidance and support. Thus, based on the available research, it appears that most individuals who successfully complete a substance use treatment program have developed sufficient coping skills to deal with relapse, whereas individuals who have not been able to successfully address their substance use disorders are at a higher risk to develop even greater difficulties. https://www.thoughtco.com/psychology-of-compulsive-behavior-4173631 (accessed March 4, 2023). The best case scenario when it comes to achieving the goal of the Escalator is a degree of sustained inspired progress. People with advanced addictions will continue their addictive behavior, even when they understand that doing so is harmful to themselves and others. Even though there has been some very mild and admittedly weak empirical evidence for the notion of cross addiction, most of the observations are anecdotal observations that are generated by individuals who deal with substance use disorders or treat substance use disorders. According to the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, over 210 billion passengers use elevators in the U.S. and Canada each year. 1. Still, what about those people who cant even get past Step 1? I couldnt go back to work. Taking the Escalator is an easy to understand method developing the inspiration to overcome the struggle with managing addictions. The other accidents happened when the kid was riding the escalator outside of the stroller. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. And I had epileptic fits every day. Getting On and Off the Escalator with One Adult. Another way to examine the same question is to ask: Do people who cannot or will not abstain from using drugs and alcohol need treatment even more than those who are sober? The Escalator is designed to be interchangeable and adaptable for both groups and for those who are more comfortable staying out of groups by working individually. In summary, abstinence should always be considered for its simplicity and basic effectiveness. Fortunately, there are solutions. These types of case study evidence are useful in describing aspects of a broader and empirically validated theoretical concept, but they are the weakest forms of evidence to describe an overall theoretical concept. Since then, other non-12 Step methods and techniques have been in use by treatment providers. There are those to whom the concept of recovery directly applies but it does not make sense to exclusively refer to this process of getting better only as recovery due to the existence of many individuals to whom recovery does not apply. References. I know it was June 2007, and after I had finished work at the fishmongers, I went to the pub to drink, as I did every day. Consider the fact that the person who worked on the house now still has some of the tools that they bought. On the surface it makes fiscal sense for those who fund treatment such as insurance companies and government grant agencies to require 12 Step involvement as a way to cut costs and improve outcomes. For example, if someone overcomes alcohol use disorder but smokes cigarettes heavily instead, this might qualify as a cross addiction. From this viewpoint, the most crucial thing is to avoid new addictions, not all substances. Another group activity for change planning with focus on Insight, Internal Motivation and External Motivation according to the Taking the Escalator Method. Taking your stroller on the escalator can be dangerous for kids. It is also consistent with many strict disease models of addiction where individuals are unable to make rational choices regarding substance use due to changes that occur in the brain. This amazing method will change the way the world looks at addiction which is long overdue. Common examples of this would be replacing opiates with alcohol, or replacing cocaine with ADHD medication. They were terrible, violent Id be on the floor, couldnt move my body, couldnt talk, and I would be depressed for ages afterwards. Inspired Progress The Goal of the Escalator. Often there was a choice to be made for those who did not fit in to 12 Step recovery. With most diseases a partial recovery is considered to be progress and therefore even partial recovery is embraced by treatment providers in a positive manner. That is simply not the case. In the case where someone begins using substances in adolescence and in some cases even in childhood, there is no original former and better state or condition to return to once the drugs are removed. This is because of the false belief that having an addiction to one substance puts you at a much higher . The answer is most assuredly YES. When someone is abstinent, they are not using. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Rather than letting the steps prescribe the path through the change process, the Escalator allows ones changing circumstances and needs to define exactly what is involved in next phase in the upward change process. Im a lot kinder now that Im sober. The Psychology of Compulsive Behavior. Understanding the Fear of Elevators. Better outcomes means having to pay out less for treatment and 12 Step meetings are free. To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds toupgrade your browser. In other words, you really can have too much of a good thing. For example, the good habit of exercising regularly can become an unhealthy compulsion or addiction when done to excess. For example, when considering going on a diet, think about how many times a person may experience little bursts of inspiration until finally one day they stick with the diet and actually start losing weight. What I was taught early in my career as a substance abuse counselor was that when people werent working the steps and embracing 12 Step recovery they were viewed as in denial, non-compliant or not ready. There are others however, who still can exhibit a degree of progress with reduced substance use without abstinence at least for a time period if not longer. The Escalator therefore defines the process by which someone gets better, improves, and develops healthy skills for managing their issues as The Upward Change Process, In sticking with the analogy of an escalator, moving us upward is what an escalator is often designed to do. Here is our guide to giving up (or cutting back) on alcohol. And is it really always a bad thing to find a substitute to replace a more harmful behavior? Thus, individuals who were unable to address their original substance use issue were more vulnerable to developing other substance use issues than individuals who were successful in addressing their substance use disorder. Beside the millions who have benefitted from the 12 Steps there have always been those lost individuals who just didnt catch on to 12 Step philosophy and programming. The difference between cross addiction and dual diagnosis. Any attempt that someone makes toward getting better from a substance use issue in which there is a degree of inspiration and at least some change in a positive direction can be considered as a positive and valuable experience. In the meantime, while awaiting the miracle cure, we need to focus on how we can change and make adjustments in our lives in order to break negative patterns related to substance use issues. The reason that formal research methods are employed to develop theories that lay the foundation for practical treatment is to minimize the effect of bias and subjectivity when considering the broader aspects of behavior. A huge collection of non 12 step, free addiction and recovery tools, including PDF worksheets, handouts, assessments, and videos. A compulsion is different from an addiction, which is a physical or chemical dependence on a substance or behavior. It is a situation where an individual has more than one addiction or uses more than one . A few hours later, some time around midnight, I realised I would have to rush otherwise Id miss the last tube. In addition, as time has progressed, this 12 Step resistant population has been on the rise similar to an antibiotic-resistant infection. Lets start by examining the commonly accepted: Disease Model of Addiction: *All words and phrases in this book where definition is provided was taken completely or in part from the online dictionary: www.dictionaryreference.com. TheBoozemusings CommunityBlogis written by a diverse group. Once an accurate starting point us determined, each individual can choose to move to different areas within the matrix as needed based on their individualized needs with ongoing consideration to variable motivation and insight levels which can change with time and circumstances. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. Unfortunately, however, for many individuals faced with a situation where they must look at their own substance use issues, striving for the ideal recovery may be out of reach for a variety of reasons. But is cross addiction real? Once again, the reason is that 12 Step involvement improves outcomes is because those who become engaged in 12 Step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous have a statistically better chance of staying sober. When someone ends up staying inspired long enough to maintain the changes, improvement and progress that they made in the upward change process that is the most desirable outcome. One study showed that only 6% percent of escalators accidents for kids 5 or younger happened when the kid was in a stroller. Understanding these differences can help in taking appropriate action or seeking treatment. Just like it wouldnt make sense to imply that everyone who has a cold will absolutely one day develop pneumonia, it is just as restrictive to assume that everyone who has signs of an early stage substance abuse problem will one day be a raging, out of control, drug addict. Compulsive behaviors can be physical acts, like repetitive hand washing or hoarding, or mental exercises, like counting or memorizing books. So instead of sobriety as our goal, the Escalator uses Inspired Progress as the standard to work toward. By using our site, you agree to our. Understanding and Coping with Guilt and Shame - takingtheescalator I do think about my daughters future. The biggest mistake people most often make is that they often want to be the exception to the rule when it may not be a choice. This could lead someone who quits drinking to crave sweets, and develop sugar addiction. We have all heard the warnings from our sponsors, counselors or friends, that there is no safe way for "the addict" to ever drink alcohol, take prescription stimulants, or use cannabis for the rest of their lives. I havent had a fit for several months, and although I still have aphasia, its not as bad as it used to be. toregainhealthafterbeingsick,wounded,orthelike:torecoverfromanillness. It did not take long for me to curiously wonder about those people who could not make it in treatment due to an inability to accept key 12 Step concepts such as powerlessness or Higher Power. Shame can involve feeling "flawed" "unworthy" or "not good enough". towardahigherormoredistinguishedcondition,rank,level, etc. In the spirit of the Escalator, the desired goal is to use terminology that includes a wider range of people. But when I tried working again after my accident, I couldnt even tell customers the names of the fish. These comparisons disregard a large portion of people who abuse substances. This post discusses everything you should know about cross addiction, including what it is, the research behind it, and whether or not you should worry about it. Nonetheless, these weaknesses do not invalidate the findings. Get in touch with our team today, and learn how we can support you towards a sustainable recovery. 1 Such addictions may extend well beyond alcohol and other substances of abuse, including compulsive behaviors such as hair pulling, skin picking, gambling and excessive shopping are also addictions. The 12 Steps have been the ideal when it comes to recovery from substance abuse issues and addiction for a long time. For example, research suggests cross-sensitivity is possible for sugar and alcohol among some individuals. I was in an induced coma for a week, and I remember having these powerful, vivid dreams. However, if someone has come to the conclusion on their own that they want to identify themselves an alcoholic or an addict that should not be discouraged once again, provided that the individual has personally accepted the label as true in their personal case. In fact, individuals who attempt this process of trying to deal with substance use issues effectively can still make progress regardless of the eventual outcome. Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. It may or may not line up with what we traditionally call alcoholism.. Many people will continue to benefit from the wisdom of the 12 Steps and the 12 Step philosophy. Taking Another Look at Addiction, Recovery and Sobriety This new perspective behind the Escalator can be best explained by first expanding upon the way we look at addiction, recovery and sobriety. I remember being at a meeting of supervisors of treatment programs in my area and one program manager said At my program, the policy is: Two positive urines and you are discharged! I remember questioning myself quietly how someone could put an arbitrary number on something as complicated as relapse when substance use issues and recovery issues vary such a great deal from person to person. Joining a coaching program can help you build adaptive skills for long-term recovery, and healthier habits to replace addiction. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. What if the number of people who failed to respond to the accepted treatment was growing? Pleasure: Compulsive behaviors, such as those involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder, rarely result in feelings of pleasure, whereas addictions typically do. However, the Escalator views addiction slightly differently that the traditional disease model. One does not have to call themselves and addict or an alcoholic in order to get better. Therefore, it is important not to exclude or discourage abstinence as a part of the goal because for many individuals abstinence is the only viable outcome for them. By contrast, people with addictions want to use the substance or engage in the behavior because they expect to enjoy it. The 2 Most Psychologically Incisive Films of 2022, The Surprising Role of Empathy in Traumatic Bonding. Although it was a very bad accident, it turned out also to be quite a good accident. Have you signed up for Taking the Escalator? However, abstinence isnt always practical for everyone. Longley, Robert. For example, someone with a history of alcohol issues may be more likely to abuse opioids in the future because both substances have depressant qualities. Understanding Your Fear of Elevators - Verywell Mind These concepts are very real and there are millions of stories of alcoholism, addiction and dependency that prove that these issues exist on a large scale in todays world. What factors could help explain why some individuals with substance use disorders may be more likely to develop new substance use disorders later? The Escalator however seeks to include the full range of individuals who are facing the prospect of either wanting to or needing to change their patterns of substance use or other similar behaviors for whatever reason. Some believe that a drug is a drug is a drug, and that if youre in recovery from anything, you should avoid everything. Are you confusing a low probability with a high probability? Labels can help someone gain insight and understanding into the nature of a substance abuse problem. Ria Health offers several FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. The main point of this book is to outline some of those tools and strategies in a constructive and practical manner to help the reader better help others. Risk of harm must always be factored into this equation. Moving upward is a gradual, steady process of getting better, improving and developing. For instance, exercise may have helped calm your anxiety early in recovery. These include: As with all mental health issues, persons who believe they may be suffering from compulsive or addictive behaviors should speak to a healthcare professional. This leads to the following question which has been an area of debate for quite some time: Does there need to be abstinence for there to be success, when it comes to substance use issues? Recognizing, understanding and gaining insight into ones behavior and accepting that there is some degree of a problem that needs changing is enough, regardless of what one may try to call it or label it. Let the front wheels rest on lower step and the back wheels rest on a higher step. What Is a Human's Psychological Makeup for Ergonomics? I had been a manager in the fishmonger departments at Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason, and I used to add all the bills up in my head. The term substance use issues is not only significantly more expansive and inclusive than other commonly accepted terms or labels, but it is also much less threatening, which is aligned with the overall philosophy of the Escalator as we will discuss later. A good question is; What should be done about people who are not ready or not willing to try abstinence (even if it is what they need)?