It was really eye opening for me when I expanded my work with adolescents and young people. For example, suppose a 400 pound obese man had diabetes and was receiving treatment for heart disease. 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. Online Recovery Courses. Other people may hear of some of the expectations involved with traditional recovery models and consider these goals to be unrealistic, unreasonable or out of reach. Escalating and moving upward is all about taking it to the next level so to speak; whatever that next level may be, as long as it is a notch above where you once were. To prevent the stroller from rolling down, have it facing the same way you would have it if you were going up the escalator (behind you instead of in front of you with the stroller facing upwards). While they have some characteristics in common, addictions and habits are different from compulsive behaviors. I was running down the escalator, and I was drunk, so I must have tripped and fallen, and I ended up in a heap on the floor at the bottom. 0 reviews The 2013 book: Taking the Escalator - An Alternative to the 12 Steps, has been a much needed, refreshing new look at substance abuse and addiction in today's modern, ever-changing world. Now suppose, in this example, that after a few weeks the house is built so clumsily that it does not pass inspection and cannot be lived in. Enjoy! If you sign up to the 28, 90 or 365-day challenges then you get daily emails and video support that []. >People who are not convinced that abstinence is the only way to get better. Along the same lines of reasoning as the legal system, many insurance companies and other funding sources that pay for substance abuse treatment began viewing 12 Step programs as a mandatory part of the recovery process. Gearing treatment toward only the most severe (in this case those who may be considered addicted) neglects the much larger population of those who are in earlier stages across the spectrum or who have only some of the qualities of the disease but not others. I dont think about my future, I focus on each day as I live it. Are you covered for addiction treatment? Along the same line of reasoning, it is important to be careful with labels. >A system for self exploration and mental expansion through learning to challenge your own beliefs in order to learn about yourself at your own pace, on your own terms without fear of judgment or harsh criticism from others. Also, make sure you step over the comb-plate when entering. This example has a direct parallel when it comes to substance use issues. Get in touch with our team today, and learn how we can support you towards a sustainable recovery. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. In many cases, that outcome may involve sobriety which is a wonderful thing. Many people will continue to benefit from the wisdom of the 12 Steps and the 12 Step philosophy. For all of the success that the 12 Steps have had there are still a huge number of individuals who have not responded. 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. Moderate marijuana use might help that unique individual reduce anxiety and avoid alcohol relapse, while causing fewer harms than drinking. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. In persons with OCD, however, these feelings become so consuming that the fear of failing to complete the repeated action causes them to experience anxiety to the point of physical illness. How many individuals who developed a new substance use disorder had overcome or successfully treated their initial substance use disorder? So instead of sobriety as our goal, the Escalator uses Inspired Progress as the standard to work toward. Why Does My Stomach Hurt After Drinking Alcohol? The Escalator Viewpoint on Abstinence: Abstinence of course is the ideal. Awareness: People with obsessive-compulsive disorders are typically aware of their behaviors and are bothered by the knowledge that they have no logical reason for doing them. 2 Wasting Too Much of Your Valuable Time Sure we all need recreation and definitely some " down time " is good for all of us, however, getting into the habit of excessive time-wasting is a motivation killer. Researchers interviewed over 34,000 participants at the beginning of the study, and again three years later. The concept of recovery makes a lot of sense when considering a traditional view of substance abuse and addiction. Give everyone a chance to have a turn Share mason.script.plugins.twitterTweetPlugin.tweet Welcome Find your insurance. In addition, diseases, like substance abuse or dependence tend to be progressive in nature but not everyone progresses in the same way or to the same level. 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. A drug is a drug is what some may say but in reality, there is definitely greater harm associated with some drug behaviors than with others and that fact cannot and should not be ignored. Shame can involve feeling "flawed" "unworthy" or "not good enough". However, a small number of individuals with a history of successful remission did develop a different substance use disorder. Since so many people have goal setting and making changes on their mind, take some time to review some of the things outlined in the Taking the Escalator methodology for overcoming addiction and other hard to quit habits. While almost any behavior can become compulsive or addictive, some are more common. Over the years I saw that this younger group had progressively become more and more resistant to 12 Step groups and philosophy. In other words, even if someone never stops using substances (abstinence) there still can be a measurable level of progress. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Most of the supporting evidence is based on anecdotal evidence and case histories that are not sufficient to support an overall theoretical concept. Consider an example . Beyond addiction and recovery, she also covers topics relating to general well-being, mindfulness, fitness, mental health, and more. In fact, going forward in the Escalator, inspiration will be linked with readiness to take action. At the heart of it is understanding that you do not need alcohol to function and have a good time. The Escalator emphasizes quality over quantity when it comes to levels of inspired progress. According to the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation, over 210 billion passengers use elevators in the U.S. and Canada each year. Both addiction and cancer are viewed as having the following disease qualities: >Are influenced by Genetic Predisposition, >Recovery is a process requiring lifestyle change. If youre struggling with a cross addiction in recovery, youre not alone. Cross addiction, also known as addiction interaction disorder, is when a person has two or more addictions. 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. Understanding the Fear of Elevators. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. Starting where you are and moving upward. Still, the same issue comes up for those who fail to adopt the 12 Step methodology. What Is a Human's Psychological Makeup for Ergonomics? If you give someone a label that they do not personally believe often they will become invested in proving how that label does not apply to them rather than accepting it. 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. Can Humans Detect Text by AI Chatbot GPT? Research supporting the notion of cross addiction is actually relatively rare. Alcoholism, addiction, and dependency are widely accepted terms. If I weighed something, I couldnt read out the numbers. Often there was a choice to be made for those who did not fit in to 12 Step recovery. *Do not be mislead by this statement: For many abstinence is the only way, but not everyone is ready to embrace that possibility, especially early in the process. >A variable, adjustable, and flexible process of upward change that takes into account your own needs beyond just substance use including emotional and behavioral issues, struggles with mental health, as well as the broad array of co-existing issues that may effect each unique person. This new perspective behind the Escalator can be best explained by first expanding upon the way we look at addiction, recovery and sobriety. Cross addiction is real and possible, but it may not be as likely as youve heard. >thedevelopmentofanindividualorsocietyinadirection consideredmorebeneficialthanandsuperiortotheprevious level. If we are not continuously working on changing for the better on some level, then life can get pretty mundane and meaningless. A few hours later, some time around midnight, I realised I would have to rush otherwise Id miss the last tube. Sometimes it is important to remember that the journey is often not as important as the destination. Do you have an experience to share? However, the Escalator accepts people exactly where they are at and uses the principle some change is better than no change .Therefore if the only thing that someone is willing to do is reduce their use for now, then it is better to start from there than do nothing at all. The Escalator is a highly effective alternative for the growing number of people out there who are using or abusing substances and who are in a position where they need to or must get help, whether that help is wanted or not. Be open to what family, friends and coworkers are saying and seek help to avoid a cross addiction issue. 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. Make sure you don't tilt and also that no one is in front of you, or check with them to see if it's okay if you do this. Is it ethical and reasonable for those who fund treatment to implement a 12 Steps or else policy? A compulsion is different from an addiction, which is a physical or chemical dependence on a substance or behavior. A much better disease to contrast with addiction is to compare substance abuse instead with the common cold. As touched upon earlier, the Escalator focuses more on the. In this example, the person spends weeks working on the house and it is a great struggle. A compulsion is different from an addiction. Be sure to lift the wheels over the comb-plate. For example, one person may not be able to drink alcohol without going overboard, but may be fine using cannabis occasionally. What do cross addiction and cross dependence mean? 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. One cannot recover what they never really had. Are you drawing conclusions where evidence is lacking? People in recovery from substance or alcohol use disorders may end up replacing their primary addiction with something else. Exploring some of these classic social psychology experiments can provide a glimpse at some of the fascinating research that has emerged from this field of study. Everyone has some kind of story where they were on a path in a direction that was not working for them and they were able to somehow turn it around and get moving in the right direction. Once again, to summarize, abstinence is good but it is the ideal and is therefore not the only way to determine progress. Looking at things from a motivational, insight-building perspective, the following is list of things that directly influence " Upward Change " (the ongoing gradual process of inspiration, development and personal growth). Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. On the other hand, people with addictions are often unaware of or unconcerned about the negative consequences of their actions. The Escalator is for: >People who are in a situation where they are required to get help but really dont want help. In the rehab community, youll see two common viewpoints: harm reduction and total abstinence. The participants in the study were surveyed in 2001 and again in 2004. Nevertheless, I and many of the colleagues I have worked closely with have seen a need for an inclusive, comprehensive design specifically created for the changing needs of problem substance users in the modern world. When I eventually woke up, I could walk, which is fortunate; a lot of people who have had a brain injury have to use a wheelchair to begin with. Lets again consider the rationale for developing this alternative method for recovery and the upward change process but this time we will go back a little farther and consider some personal experience: The Escalator is not an effort to undermine the 12 Steps. I was running down the escalator, and I was drunk, so I must have tripped and . Therefore, borrowing from the Harm Reduction model, the Escalator is abstinence oriented as opposed to abstinence based. % of people told us that this article helped them. The focus will primarily be on Twelve Step recovery. 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. Typical of the denial stage of addictions, the individuals refuse to admit that their behavior is harmful. In addition, the term substance abuse is still used at times in the Escalator not referring to any specific diagnostic criteria, but rather referring to any pattern of problematic substance use in a general sense in which some kind of change or help may be needed.