Using Rational Self Anaysis to Change Addictive Behavior

Using Rational Self Anaysis to Change Addictive Behavior

While it is true that many addictions have a physical component, the psychological side of an addiction is often the most difficult to overcome. If fact, most addictions are purely in our minds. Don't interpret as minimizing the severity of the addiction and the difficulty to overcome.

First, let me say, I am from the camp that defines an addiction as the condition of being abnormally dependent on some behavior that causes problems for the individual. This definition includes behavior such as gambling and sex. Some definitions only include chemical dependency addictions such as smoking and drug abuse.

Addictive behavior is what causes problems for the addict. Behavior is created by feelings and feelings by thoughts and beliefs. Learning to challenge thoughts can, ultimately change behavior, including addictive behavior. This may not seems obvious at first, but it's true.

Most addictive behavior is done, at least initially, to make us feel better. That is why we so often turn to our addictive behavior when we have negative feelings. We have a bad day and we drink, or shop, or have risky sex. We get stressed and we smoke, or use drugs, or gamble.

If we can challenge negative thoughts that are leading us toward our negative behavior, we can change that behavior. Easier said than done, right? Yes but it is very possible with a technique known as Rational Self Analysis (RSA). The training and practice for RSA's are far beyond the scope of this article. An introduction to this valuable tool is meant to motivate and encourage the reader.

RSA's should be learned and practiced in a group therapy setting. Supervision by a professional and the feedback of peers will help to keep the addict on track and brutally honest with herself. This is often an unpleasant and even painful experience. It has been compared with giving birth. It is difficult to go through, but well worth the struggle when completed.

The precept behind RSA's is this: irrational thoughts lead us to feeling in a way that makes us more likely to perform our addictive behavior. Thinking errors are behind the irrational thoughts. By identifying those thinking errors and the irrational thoughts, we can challenge them and create rational thinking. Rational thinking creates rational behavior. Rational behavior is not addictive behavior.

Some of the many thinking errors that you will learn are: Absolutes (all or nothing); Magical Thinking (mind reading and predicting the future); Awlfulizing (thinking the worst will happen); and Sentimentality (self-serving acts of kindness). Different therapists and programs may refer to them by different names.

Rational Self Analysis, like all self-analysis is a difficult process. When we look into the mirror, we sometimes won't like what we see. Nevertheless, we must look if we are to correct the flaws that led us into our addictive and self-destructive behavior.

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