The Addictive Personality

[retteacher]

I'm reading The Addictive Personality. It's been around quite a while. I read about emotional logic. That's what happens to me when the desire to drink comes out of nowhere (as it did yesterday). Nothing seemed to trigger me. I just opened a bottle of wine & started drinking until it was empty. I'm again plagued w/physical side effects, anger at myself, etc. I'm drink tracking. Maybe seeing my alcoholic abuse on screen will help.

[ModerationNow]

The Addictive Personality

I know what you mean. My desire to drink comes out of nowhere with no particular triggers. Yesterday, I was working in the yard. I needed to get more potting soil, so I had some mineral water and went to Home Depot. On the way back I passed one of our liquor stores and decided to already buy my hubby's and my beer for the night....well, to make a long story short, by the time hubby came home, I had consumed 9 beers. Damn! Speaking of addictive personality! I really don't know how to get a grip on it.

[nancy]

The Addictive Personality

I have also read that book and thought it was right on.

I guess the idea is that you have a longing for connection, emotional satistfaction, mood-altering experience. then you associate the bottle or some other substance with satisfaction. but this only provides temporary relief. the addict sometimes views people as being unreliable whereas the substance is predictable.

i think the best thing to do is find a healthy substitute, something that provides a mood-alering experience predictably, emotional relief, without the downsides. exercise for example. how about massage? last night i really wanted to get some beer but instead i came home and listened to my hypnotherapy CD. it is relaxing.

[Allie]

The Addictive Personality

How ironic! I am reading The Addictive Personality right now as well and I have learned so much! I think this book makes more of an impact on me than any other I have read in regards to this struggle. I am close to the end of it where it talks about the "pleasure centered" personality. I can so identify with that. It talks about that very issue of not necessarily turning to your substance of choice (can be many different things) because you are stressed, or something triggered it, but simply because you associate it with pleasure. Its your "treat" at the end of the day for many simply because it requires nothing of you, it is always reliable and gives you the positive feelings (initially) that you have become so reliant on. It is a friend who is always there.

Here's a quote from the section I am reading that I underlined.

"Unfortunately, if we are pleasure-centered and have addictive personalities, we fail to realize that chasing and worshipping pleasure ultimately destroys our ability to create and experience pleasure. Our natural desire for pleasure must be surrendered. It must be combined with our drive for power and then re-dedicated to a drive for meaning. It is only by surrendering ourselves that we can find ourselves again."

Here's another good one...

"As we seek pleasure and live in a trance, we step outside everyday life and its realities. We become unskilled in the "how-tos" of creating a meaningful and joyous life. Strangely, the more we pursue raw pleasure, the more afraid we become to let it go."

"We're grasping, holding tight, and allowing our drive for sensation to direct us. All the while, we are seeking to control and intensify our sensations. The addict becomes trapped in this pleasure syndrome."

Anyway - those are a few things I have underlined that I can identify with. My counselor gave me the book to read and I have to finish it by Monday for homework! I highly recommend it.

Allie

[lushy]

The Addictive Personality

Thanks for the book tip. I am going to get it.

[SqueakyClean]

The Addictive Personality

I have looked for this book on Amazon and I can see many called the Addictive Personality, but with different sub-headings. Who are the authors of the book that is recommended I would like to get the right one.
Thanks!

[InnerStrength]

The Addictive Personality

I also recommend books that talk about amino acid therapy and their role in addictions. I am reading a book called "End Your Addiction Now: The Proven Nutritional Supplement Program That Can Set You Free".

Here is a chart of aminos and what they do - and how they are related to what mood/substance

AMINO ACID NUTRITION THERAPY

Supplemental Ingredient: D-Phenylalanine or DL-Phenylalanine
Restored Brain Chemical: Enkephalins, Endorphins
Addictive Substance Abuse: Heroin, Alcohol, Marijuana, Sweets, Starches, Chocolate, Tobacco
Amino Acid Deficiency Symptoms: conditions sensitive to physical or emotional pain. Crave comfort and pleasure. Desire certain food or drugs.
Expected Behavior Change: Anti-craving. Mild anti-depression. Mild improved energy and focus. D-Phenylalanine promotes pain relief, increases pleasure.

Supplemental Ingredient: L-Phenylalanine or L-Tyrosine
Restored Brain Chemical: Norepinephrine, Dopamine
Addictive Substance Abuse: Caffeine, Speed, Cocaine, Marijuana, Aspartame, Chocolate, Alcohol, Tobacco, Sweets, Starches
Amino Acid Deficiency Symptoms: Depression, low energy. Lack of focus and concentration. Attention-deficit disorder.
Expected Behavior Change: Anti-craving. Anti-depression. Increased energy. Improved mental focus

Supplemental Ingredient: L-Tryptophan or 5 hydroxytryptophan (5HTP)
Restored Brain Chemical: Serotonin
Addictive Substance Abuse: Sweets, Alcohol, Starch, Ecstasy, Marijuana, Chocolate, Tobacco
Amino Acid Deficiency Symptoms: Low self-esteem. Obsessive/compulsive behaviors. Irritability or rage. Sleep problems. Afternoon or evening cravings. Negativity. Heat intolerance. Fibromyalgia, SAD (winter blues).
Expected Behaviors: Anti-craving. Anti-depression. Anti-insomnia. Improved appetite control. Improvement in all mood and other serotonin deficiency symptoms.

Supplemental Ingredient: GABA (Gamma-amino butyric acid)
Restored Brain Chemical: Gaba
Addictive Substance Abuse: Valium, Alcohol, Marijuana, Tobacco, Sweets, Starches
Amino Acid deficiency syndroms: Feeling of being stressed-out. Nervous. Tense muscles. Trouble relaxing.
Expected change with supplement: Promotes calmness. Promotes relaxation.

Supplemental Ingredient: L-Glutamine GABA (mild enhancement)
Restored Brain chemical:Fuel source for entire brain
Addictive Substance Abuse: Sweets, Starches, Alcohol
Amino Acid deficiency syndroms - Stress. Mood swings. Hypoglycemia.
Expected results of amino acids: Anti-craving, anti-stress. Levels blood sugar and mood.

Note: To assist in amino-acid nutritional therapy, the use of a multi-vitamin/mineral formula is recommended. Many vitamins and minerals serve as co-factors in neurotransmitter synthesis. They also serve to restore general balance, vitality and well-being to the Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RSD) patient who typically is in a state of poor nutritional health (see paragraph above chart for explanation of RSD).

[lushy]

The Addictive Personality

Thanks for the reminder on that book Jen. I just put it on hold. I, too, would like to know the author of The Addictive Personality because there are a few to choose from. Thanks!!

[ModerationNow]

The Addictive Personality

Regarding herbal remedies, I wanted to add my 2 cents about a few that have helped me when I was either abstaining or moderating (time for me to get more of those):
Melatonin (it is a natural hormone our bodies produce and give us restful sleep, this hormone is decreased in alcoholics or people who drink a lot around bedtime). It has helped me get restful sleep when I'm AF or moderating. I sometimes take it with Valerian Root, which is good for the nerves.
I also make sure to take my daily multivitamin and an additional large dose of B-50 complex (B vitamins are supposed to boost the mood and it has helped me).

[InnerStrength]

The Addictive Personality

Thanks MN!

[SqueakyClean]

The Addictive Personality

Are we talking about this book?:

The Addictive Personality: Understanding the Addictive Process and Compulsive Behavior (Paperback) by Craig Nakken
ISBN: 1568381298

[MKR]

The Addictive Personality

thanks J, and all for the reminders of what all the vitamins can do when we need them.

Another healthy item I am becoming addicted to and enjoying, trying to get a full 8 hours of sleep. (Boring, but good stuff when your past 50!!!)

[dilayne]

The Addictive Personality

Good stuff here..I will be reading the book. I also had a massage therapist tell me about the amino treatment.

[InnerStrength]

The Addictive Personality

Hi D
Apparently its huge! (the amino stuff)

[Allie]

The Addictive Personality

Sorry, I've been away all day and didnt mention the author and did not realize there were multiple books with the same title. But yes... the author is Craig Nakken. Its a pretty thin paperback. You can devour it in two days, but it has so much good info in there, that I have underlined just about the whole book! I just bought it right at my counselor's office.

Go get it!
Allie