04 Sep That Defining Moment of Clarity When the Truth Sets You Free

Call it self-awareness, spiritual awakening, epiphany, “aha” moment or moment of clarity — all of these terms boil down to a moment in time when one realizes the truth about something that changes his or her life forever. Under the influence of drug and alcohol addiction, however, individuals may have rare occurrences when they achieve epiphanies about themselves and their surroundings; evidence suggests that self-medication through substance abuse impairs regions of the brain that help promote self-awareness and consciousness, which explains why those who need addiction treatment the most are the ones who seek it the least.

Understanding the roles of neural abnormalities and how they contribute to drug cravings, relapses and compromised self-awareness helps addiction psychiatrists to utilize appropriate interventions that will ultimately help their clients self-actualize.

With your help, you could lead your loved ones closer to their…

Moment of Clarity

“Clarity is that moment that has no resistance, and when you’re in that place of clarity, the feeling of what to do next is right there.” – Abraham Hicks”

Moment of clarity is…

• Facing your fears
• Aligning your values
• Hitting rock bottom and reaching for help
• Seeing the reality of the situation
• Realizing you’re no longer in control

Motivational interviewing is a person-centered counseling style that moves individuals from “why” to “how.” Essentially, this means that a substance abuse counselor would facilitate the growth process by strengthening someone’s internal motivation that would mobilize the individual to do something about his or her chemical dependency. Outreach coordinators connect individuals to counselors who can help them achieve that moment of clarity.

Moment of Truth

“I used to blame my problems on other people. But my moment of clarity, if you want to call it that, came when I was looking in the mirror one day and just burst into tears. It wasn’t just that I looked bad; it was that I knew my problem was me.” – Tom Sizemore”

Real change does not come about until you start taking responsibility for the problems that were created by addiction. If people don’t see that they have a problem with drinking or their addictive behaviors, they won’t seek help, and therefore they perpetuate the problems that spin out of control. You know you have come to a moment of truth when you’re ready to change the person in the mirror.

Moment of Authenticity

“Authenticity is not something we have or don’t have. It’s a practice – a conscious choice of how we want to live.” – Brene Brown”

Inauthenticity is created by cognitive dissonance, meaning that your behavior doesn’t match with your beliefs, values or attitudes. In psychology, cognitive dissonance is defined as the “psychological stress experienced by a person who simultaneously holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas or values.”

Authenticity is achieved when you know who you are, and by establishing a set of healthy boundaries, you are making a daily decision to live a drug-free lifestyle that supports your values and identity. Through evidence-based therapy and holistic programs like equine therapy, art therapy and paddle-board therapy, individuals learn how to protect their own boundaries as well as consistently live out their ethics and principles. Addiction professionals help clients to make choices that are congruent with their beliefs after the physiological effects of drugs and alcohol have dissipated.

Moment of Decision

“Anytime you’re gonna grow, you’re gonna lose something. You’re losing what you’re hanging onto to keep safe. You’re losing habits that you’re comfortable with. You’re losing FAMILIARITY.” – James Hillman”

At this juncture, you could help change the trajectory of your loved one’s life forever. Or, if you are the one who has realized your own moment of truth, this is the time to reach out and ask for help! Let go of what’s familiar and embrace the freedom ahead of you!

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