The Three Rules of Sobriety
Part One
Foundations Hypnosis Seattle ~ Bellevue
A typical call to Foundations may involve a client who is searching for answers to their addiction issues that do not include the use of a 12 step group, and traditional therapy.
Years ago when I was first starting out as a chemical dependency counselor, I was trained in the idea that the only way to treat addiction was through the Minnesota Model, which was based on traditional 12 step jargon.
Back in those days most people who entered into the field of chemical dependency did so because they had gone through their own recovery process, and were bound and determined to help other addicts by getting certified as a chemical dependency counselor, (which back then took about 8 months), and then burnt out after a couple of years of trying to make people quit using these same rules and steps.
Times have changed. When I work with a client who is experiencing chemical dependency issues, I approach it from a view point deemed the three rules of sobriety by one of my clients. These three rules are as follows:
1) The Rule of Attention: What you put your attention on increases in your life.
2) The Rule of Detachment: You are not your thoughts, you are not your body, you are something much, much, more. An urge or a craving is simply a thought that creates an image that creates a feeling. When you learn to detach from your thoughts, you can learn to take control of your reactions, and thus become and an active participant in creating a life free of alcohol and / or drugs.
3) The Rule of Deliberate Creation: Utilizing the power of the brain through hypnosis, you can begin to clean up old images and programs, and create new images, new programs that produce feelings of high self worth, high self esteem, and that will allow you to manifest and experience the type of life that you truly want.
It sounds too good to be true, there has to be some sort of catch, or there has to be more to it than that. Yet hundreds of men and women have gotten themselves off of various drugs, including Crystal Methamphetamine, and Alcohol, and have been able to completely change their lives around.
Just listen to what one client had to say about the Foundations method:
* “I strongly recommend D.L. to anyone looking to seriously face their challenges/fears. He has an amazing ability to zero in on an issue and not waste time talking about all the trivial stuff. During the toughest period of my life, D.L. was one person who I knew believed in my ability to overcome the greatest challenges. Rather than allow me to focus on the problem, he helped me see things in a new light and discover a completely new way of living. Today, I enjoy my life and have a hopefulness and confidence I could never have imagined. I believe that D.L. was the spark that helped fuel my new life.”
Now how is this possible given all of the claims and the warnings put out by 12 step groups and traditional chemical dependency treatment agencies? How can just three simple rules bring about such life changing outcomes?
The first thing to realize is that when you use 12 step methodologies, it does work, for many people, and it is a good first step into sobriety. The second thing to realize is that it does not work for many people, and as a first step it leaves a lot to be desired.
I can’t tell you how many times over the years of my work as a CDP, that I have sat with friends and former clients, who were absolutely positive that despite the fact that they had not used in several years, that they were doomed to relapse on their 12 step birthday.
Twelve steppers are taught that they have to keep coming back for the rest of their lives; the only way to escape the lure of their addiction is to replace that lure with the lure of 12 step meetings.
I also can’t tell you how many times over the last several years that I have had friends and clients who have come to me, and admitted that they feel depressed, they find themselves tied to their meetings in the same way that they are tied to their drug usage. Their question is, “Is this all that there is?”.
I have good news for you, this is not all that there is. There is another road to take, one that may or may not include 12 support groups, but it does include support, it does include you working on your issues, and finally ridding yourself of the need to escape from your issues by using outside influences such as obsessive compulsive behaviors, drugs, or alcohol, or years of talk therapy.
The three rules of sobriety can, and have lead people to a clean and sober life style. It has and can help people regain their self worth, and self esteem, and it has taught people that they are not powerless over their own actions.