Is Addiction Recovery Created by a Change in Consciousness?

Consciousness is more than rudimentary awareness of our surroundings. It is a deep and ingrained idea of who we are that shapes the way we see and move in the world. It has been suggested by many thinkers that addiction recovery requires a radical shift in the addict’s consciousness in order to make recovery stick. The addict must go from seeing the world through the myopic and distorted lens of addiction to a clearer and brighter perspective in recovery.

The first two weeks of June, I will be at conferences discussing this very subject – the consciousness of addiction recovery. I’ll start first at Yale University, where I will speak before my colleagues in the Society for Consciousness Studies. I’ll then go to the University of Helsinki to speak at the interdisciplinary conference “Toward a Science of Consciousness.” At each, I will look at how changes in our deepest ways of knowing and being are in fact a shift in consciousness and that this shift is required for long term sobriety to be attained and enjoyed. It is a complicated and still largely theoretical field. Please follow the discussion on YouTube later in the month and by corresponding with us on social media.

This is a quote from Albert Einstein which may serve as a jumping off point for an ongoing conversation:

“A human being is part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. The true value of a human being is determined by the measure and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self.”

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consciousness

https://consciousnessconference.org/

https://www.helsinki.fi/tsc2015/cfp.html

When you recognize harmful patterns and seek treatment, you can increase your chances of leading a healthier life. Cliffside Malibu is here to support you in your search for an alcohol-free life. We believe you deserve to have a private, comfortable and luxurious environment as you navigate your journey to a sober life. Our center allows you to explore your mental health needs, creates a treatment plan that is unique to you and allows you to discover beneficial coping skills. To learn more about alcohol treatment at Cliffside Malibu, call (855) 403-5641.