Addiction can be difficult to cope with, and many addicts are afraid of starting an addiction recovery program because they don’t want to be away from their drug of choice, whether it’s alcohol or drugs. One reason people continue to struggle with addiction is that they feel as though they have no other options – which isn’t true! There are many different schemas that contribute to addiction, some of which you may not even realise you suffer from. By understanding these schemas and how they affect your life, you can create a more positive future free from substance abuse and addiction.

Schema 1: Emotional Insecurity

People that struggle with addiction can also have emotional insecurity in relation to themselves and others. When people are experiencing a lot of pain in their lives, they turn to a substance for relief. Because of past experiences, addicts do not feel like they have enough self-control and tend to use substances as an escape. This pattern of behaviour is also used in several other addictive behaviours like sexual addiction, video game addiction, and gambling addiction. The main idea behind schema one is that addicts will sometimes experience negative thoughts or feelings but will then try to avoid them by turning to substances.

Schema 2: Low Self-Esteem

People who suffer from low self-esteem will often use unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drugs or alcohol. When they use these substances, they feel a sense of relief, which could lead them to think that drug or alcohol use is normal behaviour. This can lead addicts down a destructive path. Someone who suffers from low self-esteem may also have trouble with relationships and social situations and turn to drugs or alcohol when these situations arise. This lack of relationship skills can be caused by an absence of parental affection during childhood, abuse, neglect or having divorced parents. The individual may feel out of place in society and substance abuse is used as a coping mechanism for dealing with societal pressures such as work stress or financial issues.

Schema 3: Escapism

This is when an individual is focused on escaping reality. They are more concerned with finding different ways to avoid their pain or difficult emotions. This can lead them down many different paths, such as gambling, drugs, alcohol, and sex. Those who fall into a pattern of escapism often have impaired relationships that cause them a great deal of emotional pain and suffering. Thus, they will find themselves in situations where they can avoid what is going on around them in order to satisfy some need for relief from stress or discomfort. Escapism can be addressed through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) by teaching individuals how to effectively handle uncomfortable situations and their associated negative emotions rather than avoid them altogether.

Schema 4: Manipulation

People can be vulnerable to addiction if they feel controlled by others. For instance, an abusive partner may say things like “You’re going out on Saturday night? What will people think?” or “Let’s go for a drink—but only one drink”. People who feel pressured into activities and behaviours by their significant other are more likely to pick up an addiction as a way of self-medicating stress.

Schema 5: Meaningless Relationships

Our brains have a cognitive bias called confirmation bias, which means we tend to look for and find information that confirms our beliefs. This same mechanism can perpetuate addictive behaviour because it leads us toward relationships with people who enable it. For example, a workaholic might surround herself with co-workers who also value hard work, such as through after-hours social gatherings. To overcome meaninglessness in relationships, try getting outside of your comfort zone and make an effort to befriend someone different from you. For instance, if you often hang out with your high school buddies after work instead of seeing your family, ask them to accompany you on a family outing so they can meet your loved ones—and vice versa.

Schema 6: Hopelessness

Believing that nothing will ever get better or change. Hopelessness is like quicksand, pulling you further and further down into a hole of despair. It’s also an excuse to put off change until some undetermined future date: “I’ll start tomorrow—tomorrow will be different!” is a common mantra among addicts, who have learned that putting things off makes them feel safe and secure in their misery. They stop asking themselves what needs to be done now—and focus on when it will be done later. And if not later, then next year…or next month…or next week…. The most powerful antidote for hopelessness is hope. What do you want your life to look like?

Schema 7: Unstable Self-Worth

Sometimes, people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol struggle with low self-esteem. Drug and alcohol abuse can affect an individual’s self-worth, especially if they have a negative outlook on life and feel as though they lack meaningful relationships. If someone feels as though their life isn’t going anywhere or that their future is uncertain, drug use can temporarily alleviate these feelings of insecurity. However, if someone struggles with addiction issues and has an unstable sense of self-worth, they may continue using drugs in order to temporarily cope with these emotions. With continued drug use and stress being added into a person’s life, it can contribute significantly to their problems and make it difficult for them to seek out professional help when needed.

If you feel like you identify with any of the above schemas with your addiction and don’t know where to turn contact us at Open Minds where we can help to get you on the right path. Drop us an email info@openmindsrehab.com or phone our friendly team on 01978 312 120 (9am-4pm).