Comments on: Three critical lessons from neuropsychology http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/ Solving the problem of addiction Wed, 16 May 2012 14:48:47 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: admin http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/comment-page-1/#comment-2687 admin Wed, 16 May 2012 14:48:47 +0000 http://addictionmanagement.org/?p=426#comment-2687 Don't be so sure nothing will ever change for him. Life is a moving target, and sometimes people are exactly where they need to be. Hang in there, continue to discuss addiction with him in a nonjudgmental manner, and he may surprise you :) J Don’t be so sure nothing will ever change for him. Life is a moving target, and sometimes people are exactly where they need to be. Hang in there, continue to discuss addiction with him in a nonjudgmental manner, and he may surprise you :)

J

]]> By: LA http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/comment-page-1/#comment-2684 LA Tue, 08 May 2012 00:46:17 +0000 http://addictionmanagement.org/?p=426#comment-2684 While reading your section on emotional intelligence and addiction I was reminded of a familiar scenario. My older brother is one of those really smart people who truly believe he can think himself out of his addiction. He runs himself in circles and as a result runs those who try to help him in circles. With my brother, his situation is further complicated because he also has a high level of emotional intelligence (or at least comes off as he does). Anyone who attempts to have the addictions discussion with him somehow leaves convinced that he does have a grip on reality after all. But the reality of the situation is that I have already seen the emotional intelligence rut that he is in. He is first to agree that he has a problem, but he doesn’t actually talk about his problem. He has lost his ability to go deeper with subjects because his dependence is not allowing him to. It saddens me and it seems as if nothing will ever change for him. He could have done anything that he wanted to do with his life-he is that smart. While reading your section on emotional intelligence and addiction I was reminded of a familiar scenario. My older brother is one of those really smart people who truly believe he can think himself out of his addiction. He runs himself in circles and as a result runs those who try to help him in circles. With my brother, his situation is further complicated because he also has a high level of emotional intelligence (or at least comes off as he does). Anyone who attempts to have the addictions discussion with him somehow leaves convinced that he does have a grip on reality after all. But the reality of the situation is that I have already seen the emotional intelligence rut that he is in. He is first to agree that he has a problem, but he doesn’t actually talk about his problem. He has lost his ability to go deeper with subjects because his dependence is not allowing him to. It saddens me and it seems as if nothing will ever change for him. He could have done anything that he wanted to do with his life-he is that smart.

]]> By: Lora http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/comment-page-1/#comment-2650 Lora Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:06:14 +0000 http://addictionmanagement.org/?p=426#comment-2650 I find it quite interesting to learn about the natural healing process that takes place in the brain once someone has gone through substance detoxification. I had no idea that it took so long for the brain to heal itself to the point of being capable of learning and processing new information. This completely makes sense though. From what I understand, most rehab environments contain a detox element immediately followed by a rehabilitation treatment plan. Some of these programs are as little as 30 days. I have noticed that the shorter the rehab treatment, the less likelihood for complete recovery-this makes sense. From what we know now, the brain is not capable of processing new information and strategies within the 30 days, or even 60 or 90 days. By the time treatment is over the brain is just getting to the point to where it can completely process the new information being provided. This seems like a waste of time and money. I can only imagine how the patient feels during this time.I hope that with this discovery of how the brain heals itself and the time required to to do so after detoxifying, that current treatment plans can be reassessed and modified to create the best manageable approach with the highest positive outcomes. I find it quite interesting to learn about the natural healing process that takes place in the brain once someone has gone through substance detoxification. I had no idea that it took so long for the brain to heal itself to the point of being capable of learning and processing new information. This completely makes sense though. From what I understand, most rehab environments contain a detox element immediately followed by a rehabilitation treatment plan. Some of these programs are as little as 30 days. I have noticed that the shorter the rehab treatment, the less likelihood for complete recovery-this makes sense. From what we know now, the brain is not capable of processing new information and strategies within the 30 days, or even 60 or 90 days. By the time treatment is over the brain is just getting to the point to where it can completely process the new information being provided. This seems like a waste of time and money. I can only imagine how the patient feels during this time.I hope that with this discovery of how the brain heals itself and the time required to to do so after detoxifying, that current treatment plans can be reassessed and modified to create the best manageable approach with the highest positive outcomes.

]]> By: admin http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/comment-page-1/#comment-2647 admin Mon, 05 Mar 2012 04:09:18 +0000 http://addictionmanagement.org/?p=426#comment-2647 Thanks for the nice feedback! J Thanks for the nice feedback!

J

]]> By: Chris Davidson http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/comment-page-1/#comment-2645 Chris Davidson Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:45:26 +0000 http://addictionmanagement.org/?p=426#comment-2645 I own a drug testing lab in Virginia and I appreciate the views and information I just read about the critical lessons. It assists me in communicating with the people who come in to be tested and the employers who hire us to do pre-screening and employment screens. A friend of mine has a sister in treatment and this program is 12-18 months long. Afte reading this article I bleieve her chances for success are very good. This is a great place for people like me to come for information. I own a drug testing lab in Virginia and I appreciate the views and information I just read about the critical lessons. It assists me in communicating with the people who come in to be tested and the employers who hire us to do pre-screening and employment screens. A friend of mine has a sister in treatment and this program is 12-18 months long. Afte reading this article I bleieve her chances for success are very good. This is a great place for people like me to come for information.

]]> By: Katelyn http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/comment-page-1/#comment-2641 Katelyn Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:29:04 +0000 http://addictionmanagement.org/?p=426#comment-2641 I found your post to be very insightful! If more drug treatment and rehabilitation centers took the same time and investment in their patients as Dr. Fitzgerald has I feel that the positive outcomes for patients in these programs would be astonishing. I also think it is important to note the significance of establishing the fact that "it's not intelligence that matters so much as the level of emotional development" not only when working with addicts but in relationships in general. I find it particularly interesting when Dr. Fitzgerald discusses how one it takes for the effects of different kinds of drugs to completely leave the brain and how this directly impacts the effectiveness of treatment for addicts. I think of several people that I know who have been in treatment programs and relapsed shortly after leaving. After reading this blog post I wonder, did the treatment/program fail for my friends because their brain wasn't ready to be treated? I also wonder what the connection is between TBI patients and drug addicts? I found your post to be very insightful! If more drug treatment and rehabilitation centers took the same time and investment in their patients as Dr. Fitzgerald has I feel that the positive outcomes for patients in these programs would be astonishing. I also think it is important to note the significance of establishing the fact that “it’s not intelligence that matters so much as the level of emotional development” not only when working with addicts but in relationships in general. I find it particularly interesting when Dr. Fitzgerald discusses how one it takes for the effects of different kinds of drugs to completely leave the brain and how this directly impacts the effectiveness of treatment for addicts. I think of several people that I know who have been in treatment programs and relapsed shortly after leaving. After reading this blog post I wonder, did the treatment/program fail for my friends because their brain wasn’t ready to be treated? I also wonder what the connection is between TBI patients and drug addicts?

]]> By: admin http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/comment-page-1/#comment-2596 admin Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:32:39 +0000 http://addictionmanagement.org/?p=426#comment-2596 I am not sure I understand you correctly, but my point is that often individuals in a relationship can have very different IQs, but rarely do they have significantly different emotional or developmental IQs. And you are right, different IQs often do lead to problems in relationships, just as different emotional IQs do. I agree work is important, but it can also be stressful and lead a person right back into their addiction, often because they underlying developmental issues have yet to be addressed. Timing of interventions is critical. Thanks much for your feedback! J I am not sure I understand you correctly, but my point is that often individuals in a relationship can have very different IQs, but rarely do they have significantly different emotional or developmental IQs. And you are right, different IQs often do lead to problems in relationships, just as different emotional IQs do. I agree work is important, but it can also be stressful and lead a person right back into their addiction, often because they underlying developmental issues have yet to be addressed. Timing of interventions is critical. Thanks much for your feedback!

J

]]> By: Michael Sadek http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/comment-page-1/#comment-2595 Michael Sadek Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:57:58 +0000 http://addictionmanagement.org/?p=426#comment-2595 It is a nice point about intelligence vs. emotional development. But I see that intelligence plays a big role in making different opinions more closely. I believe that intelligence is essential in any successful marriage. I agree that emotional development between couples is important, but it had to be with the same level of intelligence. If there is a big different in intelligence between any two couples, their life will suffer from a lot of problems. For what person should do between detox and treatment is working. I think working is really important as he will feel that he is an effective person and that his life worth something. By getting involved in work, he will forget his addiction. The person who is working will feel that he should give more efforts to his work. It is a nice point about intelligence vs. emotional development. But I see that intelligence plays a big role in making different opinions more closely. I believe that intelligence is essential in any successful marriage. I agree that emotional development between couples is important, but it had to be with the same level of intelligence. If there is a big different in intelligence between any two couples, their life will suffer from a lot of problems.
For what person should do between detox and treatment is working. I think working is really important as he will feel that he is an effective person and that his life worth something. By getting involved in work, he will forget his addiction. The person who is working will feel that he should give more efforts to his work.

]]> By: admin http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/comment-page-1/#comment-2520 admin Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:14:54 +0000 http://addictionmanagement.org/?p=426#comment-2520 Great, thanks! Great, thanks!

]]> By: Chris McNabb http://addictionmanagement.org/2009/11/three-critical-lessons-from-neuropsychology/comment-page-1/#comment-2518 Chris McNabb Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:36:10 +0000 http://addictionmanagement.org/?p=426#comment-2518 After reading this post I IMMEDIATELY sent it to some people I know who are struggling with trying to help a family member out of addiction and into recovery. This was more than insightful and relavant. Thank you. After reading this post I IMMEDIATELY sent it to some people I know who are struggling with trying to help a family member out of addiction and into recovery. This was more than insightful and relavant. Thank you.

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