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
Has alw
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
Has alw
ays been
Has alw
ays been
Has alw
ays been