The Valley of Addiction

How we became chemically dependant, why we can’t get out, how we eventually walk into freedom.

Introduction:

• Suicidal Thinking 
• Co-occurring Disorders 
• Recovery Coaches 
• The Valley Approach – Relationship Theory 
• The Disease Theory – Why is Addiction Called a Disease?  

Prologue: The Exact Nature of Addiction

Section 1: Consequences 

• The Effects of Addiction 
• Let’s Focus on Feelings 
• Examples 
• Reality Check  
• Examples 
• Has Addiction Affected You in the Following Areas 
• Personal Life 
• Family 
• Ethics 
• Work/Studies  
• Reality Check 

Section 2:

 Denial:

• Examples 
• 2.1 Minimizing Addiction 
• Examples 
• 2.2 Justifying Addiction 
• Examples 

Denial by Blame

• 2.3 Who and What Did You Blame? 
• Examples 
• 2.4 Who and How Did You Blame? 
• Examples 

Denial by Comparing

• 2.5 Comparing Yourself to Other People 
• Examples 
• Focus on Feelings 
• Examples 

Section 3: 

Control  

• 3.1 Attempts to Control Using 
• 3.2 Attempts to Stop Using 
• 3.3 Historical Attempts to Stop Using 
• 3.4 Substance Switching 

Section 4: 

Powerlessness

• 4.1 Evidence of Powerlessness 
• Examples 
• 4.2 Self-centredness 
• Examples 
• 4.3 How Does Powerlessness feel? 
• 4.4 Written Assignment

 Section 5:

 Unmanageability

• 5.1 Temper Tantrums 
• Examples 
• Reality Check 
• 5.2 Motivational Events  
• 5.3 Feelings of Responsibility 

Section 6: 

Acting Out

 6.1 How Have You Been Acting Out? 

Section 7: 

Reservations 

• 7.1 Current Reservations 
• 7.2 Acting Out Behaviours 
• 7.3 Current Emotional Struggles  

 Section 8: 

Surrender

• 8.1 Willingness to Surrender 

Section 9:

Moving On

 Section 10: 

New Beliefs

• 10.1 Symptoms 
• 10.2 Emotional Intelligence Growth 
• 10.3 Obsessive Behaviours 
• 10.4 Feelings, Thoughts and Attitudes 
• Family Discussion: Noticeable Changes 
• Your Valuable Opinions 

Section 11: 

Restoration

• 11.1 Changes in Thought & Behaviour 

Section 12: Making a Decision

• 12.1 Actions 
• 12.2 Difficulties 
• 12.3 Struggles to Surrender 

Section 13: Self Will

• 31.1 Consequences of Self Will 
• 13.2 The effect of my Self Will on others 
• 13.3 Destructive & Constructive Self Will 
• 13.4 Personal Goals 
• 13.5 Recovery Principles 

Section 14: 

Relationship Killers 

• 14.1 Resentments Format 

Section 15: 

Guilt, Fear and Shem in Relationships 

• 15.1 Guilt and shame around people 
• 15.2 Guilt and shame when innocent 
• 15.3 Guilt and shame connected to behaviour 
• 15.4 Your Fears 
• 15.5 Hiding your fears 
• 15.6 Fear based reactions 

Section 16:

 Secrets in Relationships 

• 16.1 Your current secrets 
• 16.2 Willingness to list your secrets 
• 16.3 Blocks to recovery

Section 17:

Readiness for Recovery Relationships 

• 17.1 Personal conflicts which damage relationships 
• 17.2 Compulsive relationship seeking 
• 17.3 Repeating patterns 
• 17.4 Feeling ‘stuck’ in a relationship 
• 17.5 Intimacy struggles 
• 17.6 Feeling like the victim in relationships 

Section 18: 

Reading Assignment

• Out with the old, in with the new 

Closing thought, journey’s blessing

Section 19: 

One Year Personal Reconditioning Regime 

1. Month One: Resentments 
2. Month Two: Recovery of Character Assets 
3. Month Three: Fear 
4. Month Four: Recovery of Character Assets 
5. Month Five: Inappropriate Anger 
6. Month Six: Recovery of Character Assets 
7. Month Seven: Control 
8. Month Eight: Recovery of Character Assets 
9. Month Nine: Low Self Esteem 
10. Month Ten: Recovery of Character Assets 
11. Month 11: Irresponsibility 
12. Month 12: Recovery of Character Assets