Addictions, Risk
and Recovery Articles

While many resources exist for recovering alcoholics and addicts, none, so far, address the primary feature of all addictions; the state addicts would call, "aloneness"; the state emergence therapists call, "being in shock."

What does "being in shock" have to do with addictions? For one thing, "being in shock" is what puts people at risk for addictions and compulsions. For another, "being in shock" is the source of the addict's 'denial'; a kind of lie the addict believes is true. More important still, when addicts (and therapists who help addicts) see how shock and addictions connect, they gain a clear and blameless path toward "recovery" regardless of which addiction they address.

Of course, recovering from addiction is never easy, be it alcoholism, drug addiction, addiction to gambling, to food, to relationships, or to sex. Even so, when people focus on "being in shock" as the primary feature of addictions, the recovery process happens far more effectively and with greater love and gentleness than is usually thought possible. Even after years of addiction. Even for those with marginal faith.

This part of the emergence site explores additions in general; be it addition to alcohol, to drugs, to relationships, or to gambling. It also explores related conditions such as compulsive eating and dieting, as well as how shock affects risk for and recovery from all these ills. More important still, through out our discussions of these topics, we remain blameless explorers. How? By keeping our focus on the two most important things to know about addition and recovery: on how "being in shock" affects risk for addiction and compulsion. And on how emergence therapy can help people to recover.