From existing to living: Exploring the meaning of recovery and a sober life after a long duration of a substance use disorder PMC

Here’s what you need to do to go about reducing and reconciling the cognitive dissonance in your life. It’s the tension that arises when we think one way but act another way, or when we hold two opposing views at the same time. You believe we all should reduce our carbon footprint but struggle to break free from internal combustion engines and luxury SUVs. The present interview study has shown that sobriety is a prerequisite, but that rehabilitation should take a broader focus by keeping attention to psychosocial aspects of recovery.

Forced compliance behavior takes place when you are placed in a situation where you have to make a decision that is against your beliefs. The private, internal conflict or struggle that happens makes the decision hard. Cognitive dissonance revolves around the process of making decisions and how those decisions ultimately make you feel. If your decision is based on what you feel is expected of you rather than what you believe or feel is right, then you may struggle with the outcome. Your response to the situation creates more stress as you find a way to balance what you feel you should do versus how the situation is actually being handled.

Cognitive Dissonance and Addiction Behaviors

The defense mechanisms that someone places around themselves to keep cognitive dissonance at bay need to be addressed to start the recovery process. Harmful and painful addictive behaviors require a maze of lies, distortions, and psychotic denial to fend off the natural corrective consequences of cognitive and behavioral dissonance resulting from addiction. The subconscious mind resolves cognitive dissonance by changing the individual’s perception of reality to restore balance as a mental defense mechanism. Psychologist Joel Cooper recently published a comprehensive update of cognitive dissonance theory after more than 50 years of research. They further presupposed that participants would be driven to reduce the dissonance by justifying their behavior. Since participants in the $20 condition had a more substantial justification (higher pay) already, they were further assumed to perceive less dissonance than those in the $1 condition.

Theoretically, dissonance may contribute to a variety of changes in behavior or beliefs. Although people may think cognitive dissonance is a bad thing, it actually helps to keep us mentally healthy and happy. It may make us feel satisfied with our choices—or at least lets us justify them—especially when they cannot be easily reversed. Resolving dissonance cognitive dissonance and addiction may help prevent us from making bad choices or motivate us to make good ones. This desire to be at peace with our decisions might be just the thing to inspire us to go for that run after all. Thanks to advances in imaging methods, especially functional MRI, researchers have recently identified key brain regions linked to cognitive dissonance.

Rehab vs. Sober Living Houses

Some people need extra support in order to get through the painful transition to sobriety. Continuing to go to a therapist on a regular basis can be beneficial for mental and emotional health. There are many aspects of your life that you will have to learn how to deal with as a sober person. Your job, spending time with friends and family, or just getting through each day can be difficult when you have been accustomed to using substances for a long period of time. You may be faced with a lot of triggers and not know how to handle them at first.

However, when I asked someone about their first experience with alcohol, almost always, they would tell me how they did not enjoy it. The only exceptions seem to be if their first experience was a fruity, sugar-infused cocktail. The beginner’s mind refers to setting aside old beliefs and opinions to contemplate new ideas and information. Since this has been the normal way of thinking for them, it will continue as they progress through their recovery.

A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance – Leon Festinger

Many rehab programs and support groups include some type of spiritual aspect that can help people feel more positive in recovery. Spirituality is important to maintain in sober living because https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/what-difference-between-a-sober-house-and-a-halfway-house/ it prevents a feeling of emptiness or lack of meaning that can be dangerous and negative. Anyone who wants to maintain their sobriety will benefit from some type of spiritual practice.

• While it is true that cognitive dissonance causes stress and anxiety it can also provide a reason for you to make personal changes.
• Any way that you can give back will give you a chance to forget about your own issues and work to help someone else.
• Resolving or reducing cognitive dissonance is not always an easy task — but it’s worth it.
• After completing rehab it may be hard to go back to your normal life without having someone guiding you at every step.
• Sometimes a great way to stay on track with your sobriety is to be involved in giving back to your community.
• All of these situations bring on mental stress as you fight within your own head as to the reasons for your decisions.
• It provides an introduction to the theory and covers the topics of cognitive dissonance following decisions, the effects of forced compliance, the impacts of voluntary and involuntary exposure to information, and the role of social support.