This was my final presentation for the undergraduate program. Some of it wont make much sense without the notes as it is just references to remind me what I wanted to cover.

1. Addiction: The Misunderstood Cry for Help Robert Jensen Argosy University

2. What is addiction? Symptoms Reed (2009) Moore and Guldner-Vukov (2009) The Misunderstood cry for help Misunderstanding by the addict Misunderstanding by professionals My thoughts on addiction and suicide. Introduction

3. Disease Genetic and Physiological Originally developed by AA during the inception of that program. Inspired the development of other models of addiction, and helped to reduce the stigma of addiction treatments. Replaced the Moral Model.

4. AA – NA – and now countless others Disease model Addict born to suffer addiction needing only a push Life-long Powerless, Surrender Relapse prone 12 step

5. Biopsychosocial Most popular current model Concerned with Biological, Psychological, Social and cultural, and environmental causes of addiction. Failure to validate existential causes

6. Existential-Humanistic Existentialism – meaninglessness, anxiety, death, suffering, responsibility, power (control) Humanistic – Positive, forward moving Does not minimize the physiological, social, environmental, or psychological aspects of addiction Symptoms, not causes.

7. Suffering Chen (2010) Primary Suffering Secondary Suffering Frankl Inspires Change Meaningful/meaningless Buddhism Impermanence Suffering

8. Meaning One major concern for every one. Touches nearly every aspect of life. Frankl KonkolyThege, Barna, Yaacov, Martos, and Kusnir (2009)

9. Responsibility Moore and Guldner-Vukov (2009) genetics, environment, control, and personal responsibility May – The Discovery of Bieng (1983)

10. Recovery and Relapse Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous Rogers (1961) Wiklund (2008)

11. Death Ultimate motivator for life Moore and Guldner-Vukov (2009) Power Immortality Early Demise Reed (2009)

12. Conclusion Addiction is more than the sum of its symptoms. Cognitive and behavioral Caused by Social and Environmental Caused by and/or exacerbates the condition Biological and genetic Physiological dependence / damage caused Genetic predisposition Freedom, and becoming.

13. Future Directions Would Existential-Humanistic focuses reduce relapse ratios? What would the effectiveness of symptom management through CBT, combined with a focus on existential-humanistic approaches be?

14. References Anonymous (1982). Narcotics Anonymous, 6th ed. Chatswotyh, CA: Narcotics Anonymous World Services. Chen, G. (2010). The meaning of suffering in drug addiction and recovery from the perspective of existentialism, Buddhism, and the 12 step program. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 42(3), pg 363-376. Retrieved from ProQuest. Gorski, T., and Miller, M. (1986). Staying sober a guide for relapse prevention. Independence, MO: Herald House/Independence Press. KonkolyThege, B., Bachner, Y. G., Martos, T., Kusnir, T. (2009). Tobacco smoking meaning in life: Does it play a role in smoking? Substance Use and Misuse, 44: 1566-1577. DOI 10.3109/10826080802495096

15. References (continued) May, R (1982). The Discovery of Being. New York, NY: W. W. Norton and co. Moore, L. J., Guldner-Vukov, M. (2009) The existential way to recovery. PsychiatriaDanubina, 21(4), p 453-462. Retrieved from EBSCOHost. Reed, R.C. (2009). Love and death: An existential theory of addiction. Lexington, KY: Xlibris. Rogers, C (1961) On becoming a person: A therapists view of psychotherapy. New York, NY: Hughton Mifflin company. Rogers, Maria A., Cobia, Debra (2008). An existential approach: An alternative to the AA model of recovery. The Alabama Counseling Association Journal, 34 (1). Retrieved from PROQuest.

16. References (Last Page) Wiklund, Lena (2008) Existential aspects of living with addiction – Part I: Meeting challenges. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17, 2426-2434. DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02356.x Wiklund, Lena (2008) Existential aspects of living with addiction –Part II: Caring for needs. A hermeneutic expansion of qualitative findings. Journal of Clinical nursing, 17, 2435 – 2443. Retrieved from EbscoHost.