Task One: Consequences Inventory
For many addicts, addiction builds slowly over time, making it difficult to actually see how life has changed. Consequences that even a casual outside observer could readily identify as severe have gradually become the norm. Thus, the insanity of addiction may look perfectly ordinary to the addict. The easiest way to break through the fog of addiction is to create a list of consequences related to the behavior. In creating your consequences inventory you should list as many items as possible, breaking the list down into the following categories:- Emotional Consequences: These may include hopelessness, despair, guilt, shame, remorse, depression, paranoia, anxiety, loss of self-esteem, loneliness, emotional exhaustion, fear of going insane, feeling like two people (living a double-life), suicidal thoughts, homicidal thoughts, fear of the future, and more.
- Physical Consequences: These may include ulcers, high blood pressure, weight loss, weight gain, self-abuse (cutting, burning, etc.), unintentional injuries (falls, car wrecks, etc.), abuse by others, trouble sleeping or waking up, physical exhaustion, sexually transmitted diseases, attempted suicide, and more.
- Spiritual Consequences: These may include feeling disconnected, feeling abandoned, feeling anger toward God, emptiness, loss of faith, loss of values and morals, loss of interest in the wellbeing of others, and more.
- Family and Partnership Consequences: These may include relationship strife, loss of respect, alienation, being disowned, threatened or actual loss of spouse or partner, threatened or actual loss of parental rights, jeopardizing your family’s wellbeing, and more.
- Career and Educational Consequences: These may include decreased performance, demotion, underemployment, loss of respect, poor grades or job reviews, not getting promoted, getting fired or dismissed from school, losing a chance to work in one’s career of choice, and more.
- Other Consequences: These may include loss of interest in formerly enjoyable activities, lack of self-care, loss of important friendships, loss of community standing, financial problems, involvement in illegal activities, near arrests, arrests, legal issues, incarceration, and more.
