October 2024 Meeting speaker recap
Dr Sana Barada (Pharmacologist) | Life skills on habits & addictions
Why the title?
Because addictions are habits; life skills need to change when our habits are inappropriate or lead to complications
There are similarities in all addictions (substances, food, electronics, relationships, sex, gambling, etc) – brain synapses are the default pathways which develop when behaviors are repeated.
WIN-Presentazione PPT English Addictions
Development of any habit involves these steps:
– instant gratification
– repetition
– tolerance increase
– polarization of focus (focus is on one thing)
– disconnect between judgement & decision making
Her two types of treatment:
1) One-on-one (personalized and tailored) – involves:
– empathy, patience
– sensitivity to the terms “illness” or “disease”
– not only meds
– preparation for relapse (bc there is a high rate)
2) Prevention and maintenance – involves:
– well-being courses
– changing habits
– embracing autonomy
– tools for change >>> life skills to develop self-esteem and self-awareness
– strengthening the human needs demonstrated in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: physiological > safety > belonging and love> esteem >cognitive > aesthetic > self-actualization > transcendence
Conclusion:
The opposite of addiction is connection – break the cycle of secrecy, isolation and withdrawal
Q&A session covered discussion on:
– AA
– guilt
– procrastination
– electronics