All addictions have their roots in some kind of trauma. Addiction is any behaviour that protects us from the danger of our childhood or other traumatic experiences.
When we are unable to flight or fight from our traumatic experiences that have created deep pain/ shame/ guilt/ abandonment/ feeling not good enough. We numb ourselves to not feel these things. The feel-good chemicals released by a certain substance or behaviour helps us to self-soothe and cope with the physical damage that has happened to the brain.
Breaking free from addiction can be truly challenging but remember you can always give yourself a healthier and fulfilling life.
"I Can't"
Escape the chain of being an addictive person.
"I Can"
Stay addiction free and have healthy coping mechanisms.
How does it work?
We first have to heal the undenying trauma before we can heal the addiction. Helping people to see this as medical and not moral, dramatically decreases guilt, self loathing and anger.
That's what I help my clients through brainspotting to release the stuck trauma and integrate the various parts of your brain to function healthily.
Best part of this technique is that it works well with people who are disassociated and those who don't remember their past as we use our eyes to directly work with the feeling brain and not have the need to analyse or rationalise the behaviour.