Therapists Overview

WHAT PRICE AM I WILLING TO PAY?

GOALS OF THE EXERCISE

1. 2. 3. Lead the client to accept the fact that compulsive behavior is a problem and participate in a recovery program. Lead the client to compare his/her stated values with the actions and experiences of an addictive lifestyle. Challenge the client to establish his/her own measure for consequences that would convince him/her addictive behaviors have become an unacceptable problem.

ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS FOR WHICH THIS EXERCISE MAY BE USEFUL

Antisocial Behavior Opioid Dependence Relapse Proneness Sexual Promiscuity Substance Abuse/Dependence Treatment Resistance

SUGGESTIONS FOR PROCESSING THIS EXERCISE WITH CLIENT

The What Price Am I Willing to Pay? activity is designed for clients who minimize the impact of addictive behavior. It challenges the client to decide what hitting bottom would mean to him/her and to consider what negative consequences he/she is willing to go through rather than quit. Follow-up can consist of discussing answers with the therapist or group, self-monitoring for ongoing negative consequences of addictive behaviors and discussion of their significance, and the activity titled What Does Addiction Mean to Me?

EXERCISE XV.B

WHAT PRICE AM I WILLING TO PAY?

This assignment will help you clarify your own beliefs about which effects of addictive behaviors such as substance abuse, gambling, compulsive spending, or compulsive high-risk sexual behavior would be so unacceptable that you would have to avoid those effects at any cost, even if that meant permanently giving up those behaviors. 1. You may have heard someone say that for an alcoholic or addict to give up an addictive behavior, he/she has to hit bottom. What does hitting bottom mean to you?

2. While some people think hitting bottom means something as drastic as dying, being homeless, or going to prison, it may not mean that for others. The phrase means that some experience is unacceptablewe cant let it happen, or let it happen again, no matter what. Hitting bottom is different for each of us. Think about what it means to you and answer the following questions. a. Have you seen someone else experience a consequence of addictive behaviors that you could not tolerate in your own life, and if so, what was it?

b. Have you ever promised yourself that you would give up a certain behavior if a certain thing happened because of it? If you have, what was the experience you told yourself you couldnt tolerate?

3. What negative consequences have you experienced in connection with your compulsive behavior? Check any of these that have happened to you, and circle any that you have experienced more than once and write the number of times.

Spent more time or money than you meant to on the compulsive behavior Spent money on this behavior that you needed for something else Avoided an activity because it interfered with the behavior Compromised your values over the compulsive behavior

EXERCISE XV.B

Embarrassed or hurt your family Been asked to quit by loved ones Lied about the compulsive behavior Hidden it from family/friends Hoarded food/pornography/other things related to the behavior Been alienated from family/friends Been unfaithful to your partner because of it Been divorced/broke up because of it Lost time from work because of it Lost a job because of it Sold or traded possessions to get money for it Committed a crime while practicing the compulsive behavior Committed a crime to get money for compulsive behavior Been arrested, in jail, or in prison because of the compulsive behavior Traded sex for money for the compulsive behavior Considered/attempted suicide while practicing the compulsive behavior or due to its consequences Accidentally killed someone while practicing the compulsive behavior Intentionally killed someone while practicing the compulsive behavior 4. Now look back over question 3, which you just finished. Have you experienced any of the negative consequences you once said would be unacceptable to you (see question 2b)? If so, which ones? If there are others for you, please list them as well.

5. Picture yourself talking with a close friend, or perhaps a brother or sister, and having him/her tell you about experiencing the consequences you listed for question 5. Picture this person asking your advice about his/her addictive behavior. Would you be worried about this personwould you feel that this was such a serious problem that it would be best for the person to quit completely? If so, what advice would you give him/her?

EXERCISE XV.B

6. Are there consequences listed in question 3 that you may have experienced once, but that would mean your behavior was out of control if they happened again? Which ones?

7. Are there consequences listed in question 3 which you have never experienced, which would signal to you that you had hit bottom and needed to quit permanently, and if so which ones?

8. Now go back to question 3, and list here any of these consequences you have experienced which you do not consider unpleasant or serious enough to lead you to quit.

9. Review the items you just listed for question 8. By saying that you have experienced these but do not feel they are bad enough to make you quit practicing addictive behaviors, you are saying that going without your addiction would be worse than those consequences. If you heard someone say the same thing about another addiction, what would you think about his/her behavior?

10. After working through this assignment, you may have a clearer idea of what hitting bottom would mean to you when it comes to addictive behaviors, and you may also have changed some of your thinking about the role such a behavior has played in your life. a. Please write about any change in your views on your own behavior.

EXERCISE XV.B

b. What will you do if you experience one of the consequences that you said in question 7 would mean hitting bottom to you?

Be sure to bring this handout back to your next session with your therapist, and be prepared to talk about your thoughts and feelings about the exercise.