This document discusses using neuroscience insights to improve addiction therapy. It emphasizes generating empathy through stories, finding the root causes upstream, and promoting connection over sobriety. Flow states and broad attention are important for happiness, while narrow focus can be problematic when used by brands to push messages.

1. Billy O’Connor
Professor of Physiology
Graduate Entry Medical School,
University of Limerick.
Ireland.
November 17th 2016
Using
your brain
to beat addiction
Getting your message across in addiction therapy

3. National drug and alcohol awareness week

4. Read more on Inside-the-Brain website and Facebook

5. Inside-the-Brain Facebook

6. Follow on twitter @InsideThe_Brain

7. Flow
Do more of what you love doing.
‘Maturity is the rediscovery of the seriousness
we had as a child at play.’
Nietzsche
Any activity that creates an ordered sense of
self (e.g. by setting a goal) provides us with
meaning and happiness.
Those individuals who can generate their own
flow experiences will tend to be happier.
After each instance of flow a person is more
than they were the person before. Each new
refinement of a skill enlarges the person and
makes them more unique.
A flow centered culture is anchored in the
timeless present (not the future) and is more
similar to our hunter gatherer past.

8. The problem of a single-minded, narrow focus of attention
Hint. Ask yourself, am I asking the right question?

9. ?

10. The problem of a single-minded, narrow focus of attention
Sometimes it is the question that is wrong - not the answer.

11. The brain is designed for pattern recognition and brands often employ this
fact to reinforce their message.
Can you find the hidden message?
The importance of a broad, sustained attention

12. ?

13. Sometimes words get in the way of the real message.
Can you find the hidden message?
The importance of a broad, sustained attention

14. The importance of the story in generating empathy
Stories help us find out what others are most concerned about and figure
out how best to address that.
A man fishing in a river sees a body floating by. He pulls it out, but
then sees another coming downstream and then two more and then
more after that. He calls for help and his caring community does
help. People pull the bodies out but more bodies come floating
downstream faster and faster.
The townspeople organize brigades and develop efficient systems
using a conveyer belt to bring the bodies to a safe spot, and shovels
to dig mass graves.
Finally someone says “You know, maybe we should go upstream
and find out what’s killing these people.
A River Story...

15. The opposite of addiction is not sobriety
The opposite of addiction is connection.

16. “Fortune favours the prepared mind.” Louis Pasteur.
Read six non-fiction books a year.
Read widely
Education Mind set Skills