CONVERSION RECOVERY

When I use the term “Conversion” in this context, I’m not referring to a religious experience. Nor am I meaning the psychological condition of Conversion Disorder, where physical ailments (like blindness or paralysis) occurs without any medical explanation. What I’m speaking of some call “hitting rock-bottom”, others a “crisis experience”, and still some refer to it as the “gift of desperation”; all are talking about that pivotal event where the addict is ready for change. I now recognize this bottom-moment as critical to making a life-long transformation, where you strive to end your addiction and not just achieving a state of sobriety. Everyone I ever encountered who has entered and maintained a long-term recovery, I have asked, “what made the difference? Why, after all your previous attempts to quit, did this time work?” They all report having reached that “crisis experience” where they finally committed to changing their life.

The term I am using to describe this crisis-for-change process is Conversion Recovery. This level of despair where the individual has a complete loss or absence of hope, leads to what I describe as an "Ego Implosion"; essentially the breaking down of self-centered and defensive aspects of a person's identity. This can pave the way for a transformative process that includes the development of "Intellectual Humility" (acceptance that your beliefs and opinions could be wrong) and the emergence of "Truthful Curiosity" (an honest desire to find the truth), both of which can be instrumental in a "Conversion Recovery" process.

Here's how this progression might unfold:

· Implosion of the Ego: Hitting rock bottom can shatter the illusions and defenses that individuals often use to protect their ego and deny their problems. It can bring a stark realization of the consequences of their actions and their own limitations. This breakdown of the ego can be a humbling experience that opens the door to change.

· Development of Intellectual Humility: With the ego shattered, individuals may become more willing to admit their mistakes, acknowledge their vulnerabilities, and recognize that they don't have all the answers. This newfound humility can create space for self-reflection and an honest assessment of their situation.

· Truthful Curiosity: As individuals let go of their previous assumptions and defenses, they might become genuinely curious about their condition, the reasons behind their struggles, and the possibilities for recovery. They might start asking questions, seeking knowledge, and exploring different avenues for change.

· Recovery and Growth: Intellectual humility and truthful curiosity can create a foundation for sustainable recovery. Individuals are more likely to engage in therapy, seek support, and learn about healthier coping mechanisms. They become open to new perspectives, embrace personal growth, and actively work toward a better life.

Because of this process, I titled my book "Inner Pursuit of Happiness: a survival guide to the other side of darkness". It is structured to help you through the conversion process and into a condition of sustained positive growth.

Without reaching the ‘bottom crisis of desperation’, the addiction sufferer will not be open to changing beliefs which they have based their entire life-existence upon and ultimately down this path of self-destruction. Changing a belief is an incredibly hard task to do; it's equivalent to my asking you to rebuild the foundation of your house while you're living inside. You can't just "shore up" the whole house on stilts while removing the entire foundation all at once. The risk for a catastrophic collapse is too great with inconceivable consequences if this tragedy occurs. Just like with changing belief systems, you remove and replace one section of the foundation as you work your way through the rebuild. Like the old adage states, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

Here are some statistics as to why I am persuaded to suggest the critical nature of this transformation is paramount, followed by the need for developing a new belief system: According to the World Health Organization, only 1 in 7 people who are struggling with addiction will receive any form of help, and of that one who receives treatment... only half, 40-60%, will achieve sobriety for any length of time. Let me put some actual numbers to this situation; there are a total of 333 million people (2022 census report) in the USA, 6% of those are struggling with addiction; that represents approximately 20 million Americans who have a substance use disorder. 1 in 7 of those will get some form of treatment intervention, or roughly 3 million, and then only about half of those will have a measurable level of success; less than 1.5 million. To put this in an easy-to-understand format: Out of 20 people with addiction, 3 will receive help, and only 1, maybe 2, will recover! 18 of the 20 people with addiction will never recover.

The current philosophy of treatment is to encourage recovery, provide emotional support, and educate on issues that promote recovery. This apparently works well for 2 out of 20 people, but we still have all the others that are close to giving up. We need an additional different approach in an effort to reach those other 18 million still lost to the darkness. This is why I suggest embracing the path of Conversion Recovery.