Welcome to the Phenomenology of Addiction

Solowoniuk, 2008 1

The Process of IndividuationFrom Latin “individuus” – “undivided,” “whole”

A process of psychological differentiation, having for its goal the development of the individual personality

Not to overcome one’s personal psychology and become perfect, but to become familiar with it

Increasing awareness of one’s unique psychological reality, including personal strengths and limitations, and at the same time a deeper appreciation of humanity in general

When we are on the path, we are at the goal

Jung’s Landscape

Psyche refers to the totality of all psychological processes. It “embraces all thought, feeling, and behavior, both conscious and unconscious. It functions as a guide which regulates and adapts the individual to his social and physical environment.”

The Self The Center of the Psyche

The “Central Archetype”

Like the Sun in the Center of the Solar System

Archetype of order, organization, and unification

Unites the personality

Responsible for fulfilling the blueprint of life

At birth – all is the Self

Connecting bridge to “The Unity”

Goal is psychological wholeness and completeness

Transpersonal, transcends the ego

ego

Self

C

C

C C

C

C

consciousnessPersonal

unconscious

Ego-Self Axis

C=ComplexA=Archetype

Jung's Model of the Psyche

Adapted from Stevens, 1990, pg. 29

A

A

A A

A

Acollectiveunconscious

Giving oneself over and being possessed

Held Hostage through denial

Dracula casts no shadow – loss of soul

Falling in love with our addiction – a lending / luring

We will need to pay it back

Moneylender and Demon Lover may emerge

Demon Lover – is our addiction

Folks will give different names to their sub personalities or archetypes if you will

Appears helpful

May show up in dreams

Inflation / Deflation

Ego Ideal

Guilt and Guiltlessness

The Ego

The central complex in the field of consciousness

Organizing function of the conscious mind

Gives sense of identity, continuity and personality – “I”

Composed of conscious perceptions, memories, thoughts and feelings

The “gatekeeper to consciousness”

Actually a very small part of the overall psyche

Ego

The Self

The ego has believed that everything revolves around it. Wrong!

“The night darkens the spirit, but only to illuminate it”

Leonard states – “here was my hope”

Confrontation with meaning of our existence

Purposeful journey?

The yearning behind addiction and the reason why addiction can be understood to be a counterfeit quest for wholeness is because the addict is trying to commune with a power that is beyond one’s one ordinary self.

And the usual choice an addict makes to get there is through egoic apparati.

Underneath addiction then, is a thirst for wholeness, to be truly ourselves, to feel alive, to be at one within ourselves.

However, through addictive means, a counterfeit feeling of spiritual connection or “okayness” can be misunderstood as connecting or finding this inner core.

which often leads to destruction and disaster...

16

I don't want to die out here in the valleyWaiting for my luck to changeAnd I just want my dad to knowThat I finally made it...

Everybody gets highEverybody gets lowEverybody gets bruisedEverybody gets sold

I don't want to die out here in the valleyYou don't have to lie,I know that's what I'll doI don't want my mom to knowThat I never loved my lifeAnd I sold my soul

Everybody gets highEverybody gets lowEverybody gets bruisedEverybody gets soldEverybody gets darkEverybody unfoldsEverybody gets highEverybody gets so low

And everyone's eyes are blueAnd everyone's mouth is dryAnd nobody wants to dieIn Van NuysVan Nuys

Song Interlude – Van Nuys

Following the Spiritual Call

Solowoniuk, 2008 17

There are a great deal other individuals who regularly attend to their spiritual center... Some of these activities include

•Painting / artwork •Meditation •Spiritual or religious practice •Prayer•Reading •Among other activities

Constant Craving K.D. Lang.

Even Through the darkest

phase

Be it thick or thin

Alw

ays someone m

arches

brave

Here beneath m

y skin

Constant craving

Has alw

ays been

Maybe a great m

agnet

pulls

All souls tow

ards truth

Or m

aybe it is life itself

That feeds wisdom

To its youth

Constant craving

Has alw

ays been

Craving

Ah ha

Constant craving

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ays been

Constant craving

Has alw

ays been

Constant craving

Has alw

ays been

Craving

Ah ha

Constant C

raving

Has alw

ays been

Has alw

ays been

Has alw

ays been

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ays been

Has alw

ays been

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ays been