Addictive Thinking

by Twerski, Abraham J.

• ISBN13: 9781568381381
• ISBN10: 1568381387
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-05-01
• Publisher: Health Communications Inc

Summary

Addictive thought is inherently self-deceptive, yet offers a superficial logic that can be misleading to the addict as well as to the addict's family members.Abnormal thinking in addiction was originally recognized by members of Alcoholics Anonymous, who coined the term "Stinking Thinking" Addictive thinking often appears rational superficially, hence addicts as well as their family members are easily seduced by the attendant--and erroneous--reasoning process it can foster.In "Addictive Thinking", author Abraham Twerski reveals how self-deceptive thought can undermine and threaten the sobriety of a recovering individual. This timely revision of the original classic includes updated information and research on depression and affective disorders, the relationship between addictive thinking and relapse, and the origins of addictive thought. Ultimately, "Addictive Thinking" offers hope to those seeking a healthy and rewarding life in recovery.

Author Biography

Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., is the founder and medical director of the Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A rabbi, psychiatrist, and chemical dependency counselor, he is the author of many journal articles and books, including Self-Discovery in Recovery and When Do the Good Things Start? with "Peanuts" cartoonist Charles Schulz.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
John Wallace, Ph.D., CAC
1 What Is Addictive Thinking?	3	(10)
2 Self-Deception and Addictive Thinking	13	(14)
3 The Addictive Thinker's Concept of Time	27	(6)
4 Confusing Cause and Effect	33	(4)
5 Origins of Addictive Thinking	37	(4)
6 Denial, Rationalization, and Projection	41	(10)
7 Dealing with Conflict	51	(6)
8 Hypersensitivity	57	(4)
9 Morbid Expectations	61	(2)
10 Manipulating Others	63	(4)
11 Guilt and Shame	67	(4)
12 Omnipotence and Impotence	71	(4)
13 Admitting Errors	75	(4)
14 Anger	79	(8)
15 The Confining Wall	87	(4)
16 Managing Feelings	91	(4)
17 Flavors and Colors of Reality	95	(6)
18 Must One Reach Bottom?	101	(6)
19 Addictive Thinkers and Trust	107	(6)
20 Spirituality and Spiritual Emptiness	113	(4)
21 Addictive Thinking and Relapse	117	(4)
22 The Frustrations of Growth	121	(4)
23 Ridiculous Explanations, Sensible Solutions	125	(4)
Select Bibliography	129	(2)
Index	131	(6)
About the Author	137

Excerpts

Chapter 1What Is Addictive Thinking? Interviewing Ray, a young man who had been admitted to a rehabilitation unit for drug addiction, I asked, "What made you decide it was time to do something about the problem?""I've been on cocaine for a few years," Ray replied, "and occasionally I'd quit using for a few weeks at a time, but I'd never decided to stop for good before.""For the past year my wife has been pressuring me to stop completely. She used to do cocaine too, but she's been off for several years now. I finally got to the point where doing coke wasn't worth the hassle, so I decided to give it up completely.""I sincerely wanted to stop for good, but after two weeks I started up again, and that proved something to me. I'm not stupid. I now know that it is absolutely impossible for me to stop on my own, maybe."I repeated Ray's last sentence several times because I wanted him to hear what he had just said. But he could not see what I was trying to point out.I said, "It is perfectly logical to say, 'Maybe I can stop by myself.' It is also perfectly logical to say, 'It is absolutely impossible for me to stop by myself.' But to say, 'I now know that it is absolutely impossible for me to stop on my own, maybe,' is absurd because it is self-contradictory. It is either 'absolutely impossible' or 'maybe,' but it cannot be both." Ray, however, was unable to see my point.I have repeated this conversation to a number of people, and even seasoned therapists initially show no reaction, waiting for the punch line. Only after I point out the contradiction between "absolutely impossible" and "maybe" do they see the absurdity of the statement and the distortion of thought taking place in this man's mind. Distortion of Thought The phenomenon of abnormal thinking in addiction was first recognized in Alcoholics Anonymous, where the highly descriptive term stinkin' thinkin' was coined. Old-timers in AA use this term to describe the "dry drunk," or the alcoholic who abstains from drinking but behaves in many other ways much like an active drinker.Distortions of thinking are not unique to addictive disorders, however; nor are they necessarily related to chemical use at all. Thought distortions can be found in people who may have other adjustment problems. For example, one young woman was procrastinating turning in her term paper for a class. "Why don't you finish it?" I asked. "It's finished already," she said. "Then why haven't you submitted it?" I asked. "Because I need to do some more work on it," she said. "But I thought you said it's finished," I remarked. "It is," she said. While her assertion appears illogical to most people, it can make perfect sense to someone who thinks addictively. Furthermore, although distorted thinking does not necessarily indicate addiction, the intensity and regularity of this type of thinking are most common among addicts.We all recognize that the statements "The term paper is all finished" and "I

---

Excerpted from Addictive Thinking: Understanding Self-Deception by Abraham J. Twerski
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.