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I think this idea is very intuitive, and personally, has helped me considerably. Re-learning music, and dance (Let's do The Time Warp Again, again), climbing a sailboat mast, aggressively riding my bike has helped chronic pain and depression of hospice.

Perhaps the fear of accountability with others in the 12 steps is similar to stage-fright, which can certainly distract and increase autonomic outflow.

That said, each scenario is very, very personal and subjective.  All encompassing therapies may be ineffectual without the attention to the individual with the problem. Overgeneralization with a term that has such a frightening social stigma is harmfull.   The umbrella of "addiction" covering hundreds of behavioral problems may be a dangerous over-simplification.

Please read my case posted on  Aug. 11 of this blog.  Thank you for your interest and concern in others' well being. Certainly, this is what sets us apart in the best ways.  We are a diverse nation with diverse problems.  Diverse therapies should be sought after.

Peace,

Mark

posted 3 years, 9 months ago
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I have a rare genitic disorder, unkown. My internal organs,especially my bowels die.  I have had 37 open abdominal bowell resections over the last four years.  I have been sent home with an open abdomen from the ICU on hospice three times. My brain, kidneys and heart are not affected directly from the disease.

I was in excellent health before the crash, My wife and I were sailing on the Columbia the day I went to the emergency room.  I have a doctorate in neuroscience, published with a tenure position.  However, After 3 years of the disease, I was on an extreme cocktail of IV morphine, ketamine and versed, plus a myriad od other drugs stabilizing my condition. 

I went to LA to a teaching hospital where there was a Surgeon who helped a condition like mine.  My disease is more complicated than can be described here.  The attending Physician of my pain manement team at the LA hospital decided I needed to be off of all narcotics and sedatives. 

My bowels had gone through 32 resections at this time and were so swolen,  friable and leaking that my abdomen could not be closed.  I was in the ICU when they took off all of my narcotics and seditives over  four hours. 

I went into a lethal withdrawl, adrenaline storm causing a complete cardiovascular/ respiratory failure.  Two emboli found thier way into my lungs from emergent life support interventions. My lung was punctured as well.  I went into a psychosis which I am still recovering from.

The fear of pain management interventions causing secondary addiction problems needs to be clearly weighed against the negative perceptions of drug abuse. 

Why should I and others suffer horribly because my disease state misery is more socially acceptable than the umbrella of addiction.

I understand that addiction is a severe problem.  Many of my finest students have anorexia which can also fall under this umbrella. I

I must go now but will gladly talk and help anyone I can

Peace,

Mark

posted 3 years, 9 months ago
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