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| Sobriety and Maturity — Is There a Connection? |
| Columns - Opinion | |
| Written by Brian Duffy, MA, LMHC | |
| Friday, 04 January 2008 | |
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You’re in a restaurant, and a child at the next table (they’re always at the next table) begins to act up. He wants what he wants — and he wants it now. He is the center of his universe. He is being a child. That’s his job.
It causes me to consider the parallels between the child’s behavior and that of the person in early recovery. The road to maturity is one of delaying our gratification, walking through our fears, accepting that life is hard, learning how to bond and have fun with others, coping with hardship, practicing patience and tolerance, etc. Although we worry about adolescents who use substances to eliminate the pain of normal development, these lessons can be learned and relearned at any age. The role of maturity has important implications for all people recovering from substance dependence. When clients pursue maturity, they’re moving toward recovery, and vice versa. Self-efficacy Children from supportive families often hear encouraging words such as: “C’mon, you can do it. Great job! You’re the best.” Unfortunately, many of our clients reach adulthood without ever hearing “Attaboy.” Worse, they are told that they are “losers” and that they’ll never amount to anything. Their addictive behavior only solidifies that role in the eyes of their loved ones. Want to read the entire article? Don't miss out...Subscribe now to Counselor Magazine—or buy the single issue! It's easy. Just follow the links below:
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