Addictive Thinking: Understanding Self Deception
by Abraham J. Twerski, MD
- What is addictive thinking?
- Self deception and addictive thinking
- The addictive thinker’s concept of time
- Confusing cause and effect
- Origins of addictive thinking
- Denial, rationalization, and projection
- Dealing with conflict
- Hypersensitivity
- Morbid expectations
- Manipulating others
- Guilt and shame
- Omnipotence and impotence
- Admitting errors
Ch. 1: What is addictive thinking?
although distorted thinking does not necessarily indicate addiction, the intensity and regularity of this type of thinking are most common among addicts. (2)
In a sense, both the addict and the person with schizophrenia are like derailed trains. With some effort, an addict can be put back on the track. The schizophrenic person, however, can’t be put back on the same track. The best that may be accomplished is getting this person on another track that leads to the destination. (5)
Addictive thinking has a superficial logic that can be very seductive and misleading. (5)
Often addicts are taken in by their own thinking, actually deceiving themselves. (6)
Both obsession and compulsion are characterized by the person’s being preoccupied, even consumed, by something irrational. In an obsessional neurosis, it is an irrational idea that plagues the person. In a compulsive neurosis, it is an irrational act. (7)
Ch. 2: Self deception and addictive thinking
People functioning at the highest intellectual levels are as vulnerable to these thinking distortions as anyone else. In fact, people of unusually high intellect often have more intense degrees of addictive thinking. Thus, highly intellectual people may be the most difficult patients to treat. (12)
Many of the features of addictive thinking can be seen in codependents as well as addicts because they stem from the same origin: low self-esteem. (21)
Low self-esteem refers to the negative feelings people have about themselves that are not justified by fact. (21) #glossary
Ch. 3: The Addictive Thinker’s Concept of Time
When addicts recognize that part of their downfall was intolerance of delay and when they became willing to wait for the rewards of sobriety, they are on their way to recovery. (26)
“One day at a time” is not just a clever slogan. It is absolutely necessary for recovery from addiction (27)
Ch. 4: Confusing cause and effect
Ch. 5: Origins of addictive thinking
[Dr. David Sedlacek] describes addictive thinking as a person’s inability to make consistently healthy decisions on his or her own behalf. He points out that this is not a moral failure of a person’s willpower but rather a disease of the will and inability to use the will. (33)
The peculiarity of addictive thinking, he says, is the inability to reason with oneself. (33)
Feeling insecure and inadequate makes a person more vulnerable to escapism, so often accomplished via mood-altering drugs. The person feels different from the rest of the world, as if he or she doesn’t belong anywhere. (35)
Ch. 6: denial, rationalization, and projection
The addict’s behavior can be understood only in the light of the unconscious nature of these mechanisms. (37)
Rationalization and projection serve at least two main functions: They reinforce denial, and they preserve the status quo. (41)
Trying to convince addicts that their arguments are not valid is usually unproductive. (45)
The progressive elimination of these distortions of reality allows for improvement in recovery. (46)
Ch. 7: Dealing with conflict
In one or more ways, the addict feels grossly inadequate. (48)
In dealing with addicts, we must be alert to “catch” them doing something right and commend them for it. (50)
The addicted person is likely to think in extremes, with little understanding that there is flexibility in resolution of problems. (50)
Ch. 8: hypersensitivity
Though many people use alcohol and other drugs to get high, many others use substances just to feel normal. (54)
Some people seem to have greater sensitivity to stress. These people apparently feel emotional discomfort more acutely than others. Many addicts are emotionally hypersensitive and are likely to have more intense emotions than nonaddicts. People with substance use disorders or who are experiencing addictions often seem to be almost inordinately sensitive with emotions of extreme intensity. When they love, they love intensely, and when they hate, they hate intensely. (54)
Social withdrawal, abusive behavior, and fanatic jealousy are thus often found among addicts. (54)
Ch. 9: morbid expectations
Addictive thinkers seem burdened by a morbid feeling of being jinxed. (57)
let’s just be aware that addicts often feel they are walking under a dark cloud of impending doom. (58)
Ch. 10: Manipulating others
I often caution people entering treatment that they must be careful not to con themselves. (60)
The tragedy is that addicts have conned themselves into believing that they have achieved instant recovery. (60)
A shortcut is often the quickest way to some place you weren’t going. (61)
Ch. 11: guilt and shame
Guilt can lead to corrective action. Shame leads to resignation and despair. (63)
What is necessary is abstinence and a personality overhaul. This is how shame changes into guilt. (66)
Ch. 12: omnipotence and impotence
One feature of addictive thinking is the illusion of being in control. (67)
People who feel good about themselves are not usually threatened by an awareness of their impotence. (69)