Comments on: Three critical lessons from neuropsychology

By: admin

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:32:39 +0000

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!

By: Michael Sadek

Michael Sadek — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:57:58 +0000

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

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:14:54 +0000

Great, thanks!

By: Chris McNabb

Chris McNabb — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:36:10 +0000

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.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:44:58 +0000

Well said.

By: George

George — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:08:31 +0000

First of all, I find it obviously necessary to conduct neuropsych tests on patients following detox to determine optimal times to begin treatment. I am surprised this has not been a common practice until now. A person’s brain has to be prepared to benefit from treatment. The answer to what we should do between detox and treatment is definitely a complex one. Obviously, the environment a person is in can play a big part in the possibility of relapse. Ensuring a person is surrounded by family and loved ones that can provide emotional support is imperative. The treatment should certainly be aimed at addressing the patient’s emotional level, rather than their intellect. Smart people make bad choices all the time. Emotionally balanced people stand a better chance to make better decisions. The brain takes times to develop new pathways and therefore patience and perseverance is necessary on the part of the patient and the treatment provider.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:29:58 +0000

A nice point about intelligence vs emotional development. And it may go beyond that to actual personality. For people may not need as much intelectual stimulation from their partners as they need emotional stimulation.
Thanks.

By: LizPWoz

LizPWoz — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:31:18 +0000

Edgar, you have brought up a interesting point that I have not consider. Sounds like when you “intellectualize your language” you internalize your emotions. Hmm, it could be that simplicity in our lives has the potential to help us to be more healthy emotionally. Complications and distractions could mask our true feelings and be agents of denial. Your “linguistic intelligence” can actually get in the way of your emotional intelligence. This goes to show that IQ does not necessarily determine success and certainly does not determine whether someone will or will not be prone to addictive behavior. Emotional intelligence seems to be a better indicator of such behavior.

Jennifer, your statement that the clients should utilize the “time to grow, build and enhance community and especially relations,” and your points about learning and self discovery, are major aspects of emotional intelligence. I would also add self-worth, self-respect, and practicing positive coping techniques.

By: Jennifer Samsom

Jennifer Samsom — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 08:40:55 +0000

It is fascinating to learn that the brain isn’t ready for significant treatment for at least 1-2 months after full detox. However, it is not surprising that the relapse rate is so high considering just this one piece of evidence and scientific findings. The question of what should the client do in the meantime between detox and actual addiction treatment is an interesting one. Obviously, the client should remain in the residential facility and not be discharged (if the client detoxes in a residential facility). The 1-2 months after full detox could be crucial to the client’s success depending on how that down time is managed. My first thoughts were to be utilizing that time to grow, build and enhance community and especially relations. This support from family and the community is vital to the client’s success. This can be done in several ways, but family therapy comes to mind first. Psychoeducation is another good idea for the client to learn about their addiction, how they can manage it and how they can be successful in life and in managing their addiction. Self discovery would be a good thing for the client to pursue, so that once addiction treatment actually begins they would already have a pocket full of personal insights and behavior.

By: Edgar Frias

Edgar Frias — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 03:11:00 +0000

This idea of “emotional intelligence” makes me think of the “layers of trauma” or the way that trauma is inserted into our layered consciousnesses. The reason it reminds me about this is because I feel that I often intellectualize my language in order to ignore/defend against feeling any of the emotions behind things. I know that it is a defense mechanism, yet, I often feel powerless in front of it. This has definitely made me realize that I could have a linguistic intelligence that has nothing to do with (or does not correlate with) my emotional intelligence. Talk about feeling fractured!
It is also scary to think about the amount of time it takes for chemicals, drugs to come out of our systems so that we can finally start to understand where we stand in life. Hearing stories from friends about heavy metal deposits found in their blood, or hearing about mood stabilizers found in our tap water makes me wonder if I’ll ever be “sober” in this country, or how long it would take for me to “sober up” in a non-sober country.
Is being sober (at least in a sense where one is not consuming/engaging in any addictive behavior/substance) as possible as attaining “perfection?” The fact that heavy metals can be leaked in the air and that we can be consuming psychotropic medication in our tap water makes me a bit wary of ever hoping to attain a level of detox that will allow me to feel my “true health.”
It’s a definite goal though.