In our last entry we looked at how our addictive inner dialogs with specific absent others become repetitive such that the dynamic of our inner conversations themselves keep us trapped in our addictions. Underlying this dynamic is a closed feedback loop. It is this closed loop that keeps the addict...

Recalling that addiction is clinically defined as repeating negative behaviors despite the consequences or the risks involved and recalling also our initial categorization of our inner listeners as Absent Others we now look at addictive dialogs from within this framework. Addictive dialogs...

In our last entry we left open the question of who is doing the listening within our inner dialogues. Upon close introspection we find that there are multiple “inner listeners” that can be categorized as Absent Others; others “as if” they were present in the dialogue...

According to theAmerican Society of Addiction Medicine the clinical definition of addiction includes: "A primary, chronic, neurobiologic disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one...

Prochaska & DiClemente developed a stages of change model that identifies 5 progressive stages of change as they specifically apply to overcoming addictions. Precontemplation The stage where the inpidual is not contemplating changing any of their addictive behaviors. This stage is often...