Financial Disorders, Addiction, & Treatment
10 Criteria for Addiction
Loss of Control Clear behavior in which you do more than you intend or want.
Compulsive Behavior A pattern of out of control behavior over time.
Efforts to Stop Repeated specific attempts to stop the behavior which fail.
Loss of Time Significant amounts of time lost doing and/or recovering from the behavior.
Preoccupation Obsessing about or because of the behavior.
Inability to Fulfill Obligations The behavior interferes with work, school, family, and friends.
Continuation Despite Consequences Failure to stop the behavior even though you have problems because of it (social, legal, financial, physical).
Escalation Need to make behavior more intense, more frequent, or more risky.
Losses Losing, limiting, or sacrificing valued parts of life such as hobbies, family, relationships, and work.
Withdrawal Stopping behavior causes considerable distress, anxiety, restlessness, irritability, or physical discomfort.
The Addictive Cycle Belief System Unmanageability Impaired Thinking Addictive Cycle Preoccupation Shame Despair Ritualization Guilt Compulsive Behavior 2010 Patrick J. Carnes, PhD 2008/
Financial Disorders (Spending, work, obsession)
The Problem With Credit Average credit card interest is 18.9% Typical purchase is 112% higher than cash 20% of Americans maxed out their credit cards 40% of Americans spend more than they earn 1995 debt took 92% of disposable income (65% in 1975)
People with Credit Problems 40 60 million on the brink or over at any given time 25% of adults have problem credit Current rate of 1.5 million bankruptcies per year (19% increase per year) Debt to income ratio is 2.5 to 1 meaning they would spend 30 months to pay with no expenses
Credit Counseling Not counseling, consolidation Credit Counseling agencies have quadrupled in last ten years (Currently over 800 companies) Debt as % of income = 79% 5 million in credit counseling each year (defacto bankruptcy) Over two thirds are back in same situation within five years
Sudden Wealth Syndrome Lottery winners Sports figures.com owners
Cultural Messages You can have what you want (perpetual longing) Luxury magazines When your bank says no Second mortgage industry Great Depression Great Prosperity
Cultural Attitudes About Work Horatio Alger, Stephen Meader, Harry Potter taking pride in workaholism Money and work perceived as ambition, good work ethic, competition, success versus achievement, status versus meaning.
Financial Template Starts with Family
Beliefs Money is magic Money will protect me Money will make us whole World will not take care of you Money will end all problems There is never enough
Beliefs Hard work will make it Make hay while the sun shines You will be rewarded Only way to get ahead
Compulsive Spending: Cannot afford it, take it away Intolerance of feeling deprived
Compulsive Debting Binge/purge Spending results in debt which impoverishes
Compulsive Shopping Buy things they don t want or same things over and over Become obsessive - mood alteration Home Shopping Network is euphoric
Shopping Bulimics Buy, buy, buy Return, return, return Cannot savor a thing
Workaholism Excitement, living on the edge Escape of family realities No time to be with self Compulsive care taking Extraordinary life
Signs of Financial Disorder Chronic envy Trouble with creditors IRS trouble Fear of mail Inability to meet needs Self-worth tied to money, power Credit card minimums Fear of financial insecurity Work does not match talent/goals Obsessive involvement with investments, money making
Financial Disorder Template Belief in insufficiency -culture -family -early money experiences -work and money substitute for meaning Helping professions Pervasive neglect in history
Treatment
Using the Tasks Individual Therapy Group Therapy Twelve Step Meeting Sponsor Steps One through Nine Family Participation Family Recovery Couples Recovery Exercise/Nutrition
Tasks 1 71 1. Break through denial 2. Understand addiction 3. Surrender 4. Limit damage 5. Establish sobriety 6. Physical integrity 7. Culture of support Tasks 8 198 8. Multiple addictions 9. Cycles of abuse 10. Reduce shame 11. Grieve losses 12. Closure to shame 13. Relationship with self 14. Financial viability 15. Meaningful work 16. Lifestyle balance 17. Building support 18. Exercise and nutrition 19. Spiritual life Recovery Zone: Creating Personal Recovery Tasks 19 30 19. Spiritual life 20. Resolve conflicts 21. Restore healthy sexuality 22. Family therapy 23. Family relationships 24. Recovery commitment 25. Issues with children 26. Extended family 27. Differentiation 28. Primary relationship 29. Coupleship 30. Primary intimacy Recovery Zone II: Creating Family Recovery
Additional Information
IITAP International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals (IITAP) For more on the Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) trainings, the task-centered approach to addiction recovery, and assessment testing for sexual, work and financial issues go to: www.iitap.com or email Info@IITAP.com or call (480) 575-6853