0:00
There's another protocol that I really
0:02
like. It's called the feeling state
0:03
addiction protocol, and this is another
0:05
angle on how a positive emotions get
0:08
stuck in the nervous system that
0:10
correspond with uh substance uses. And
0:13
that feeling state addiction protocol
0:14
focuses on positive feeling states that
0:17
are associated with that use. Um this is
0:20
the part of our brain that says this
0:21
works. I feel better when um this makes
0:24
things feel okay or tolerable. And so
0:27
the feeling state addiction protocol
0:28
gently disconnects the substance or the
0:31
behavior from that positive internal
0:34
experience. Just like negative feelings
0:36
get stuck with memory and latched on and
0:39
encoded, well positive things do, too.
0:42
Think about your first kiss and the
0:43
cologne the person was wearing or
0:45
perfume. Or think about Thanksgiving and
0:48
grandma's apple pie and how now
0:51
Thanksgiving and fall has all of these
0:53
associations with specific smells.
0:56
That's how our memory works, and things
0:58
get encoded positively and negatively.
1:01
And so when we work to disconnect that
1:03
positive internal experience, it allows
1:05
our brain to like access the entire
1:08
truth of the scenario, which then
1:10
includes the negative consequences of
1:12
the use, whether they're health or
1:15
relational, the losses, and the
1:17
long-term impact of overuse or abuse
1:20
with a substance. And this isn't because
1:22
of shame, but it's through integration
1:25
of the adaptive information that isn't
1:27
accessible at the time of the use. So
1:30
what happens after the positive feeling
1:32
is uncoupled? Because some people are
1:34
afraid of that. They're like, I don't
1:36
want to not have this access point or
1:39
this crutch or this barrier that helps
1:41
me manage, and I don't know what else
1:43
I'm going to do or how I'm going to feel
1:45
when I when that doesn't work anymore.
1:47
And this is one of the most important
1:49
and often misunderstood parts of
1:52
recovery when it comes to substance use.
1:55
Cuz once the positive associations with
1:57
use are uncoupled, the nervous system no
1:59
longer has to defend the addiction. That
2:02
part that says it's just a little or I
2:04
don't do it that much or I do everything
