I believe that script work is very helpful for individuals present for addictions treatment. True the old conventional old school 12 steps seems to help many initiate the recovery process and maintain abstinence, however how many of these individuals eventually relapse through acting out on unconscious life script processes. I am a advocate of the 12 steps and a big believer in the social support aspect of 12 step recovery. I also see relationships with others as a crucial element of the addiction recovery process. Addicts need other addicts. People need other people. We as a species need others to survive. Human beings are pack mammals and are genetically made up to need each other, without human contact we emotionally shrivel up. The 12 step literature states that the therapeutic relationship of one addict helping another is without parallel. It also states that an addict alone is in bad company. So how is this relevant to life scripts? A common narrative within the 12 steps fellowships is “I never felt I fitted in anywhere”, “I felt different to others”. I thought others knew something that i didn’t. This is TA terms would indicate the presence of a “Don’t belong” life script where individuals may feel as if they are always on the outside looking in. Both my personal experience and the evidence would also support that the fellowship is a powerful tool in helping others change the life script. Members often state that they no longer felt alone after finding the fellowships. The belonging, connection, commonality, purpose and inclusiveness. Therefore consciously of unconsciously script work is happening in the fellowship, however there is so much more we can do as clinicians working with addictions to give our clients a head start.by stepping into recovery by moving away from old scripts and reaching their full potential as human beings.
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My experience of “being in the world” was as an outsider, I felt as an uninvited guest at the “party of life”….can I really have things I need? Do I deserve them? Full of fear this was a very isolating and self-centred way of being and is sooner or later an untenable position with either a banal or tragic outcome. The “rock bottom” was this tragic outcome, but also the starting point for change. The experience of meeting people in the fellowship or in recovery without my defenses up has been great and would normally only happen with a close friend, known for years. From what I hear and my own experience addiction is an isolating process – no matter how much people have or don’t have in terms of friends, relationships or material possessions the process leads to separation from others. The driver to drink for example is I believe inseprable from the life script drivers that are so powerful. Stopping drinking alone without attention to underlying problems can lead to a miserable existence. The 12 step program does address these issues but the scripts we live are so powerful and may need therapy to address. It has been made clear to me that playing out damaging life script behavour sooner or later leads to relapse.
That is very moving and i agree with you. Understanding life script is so important to maintaining health and gives individuals the best chance. Its great that you have embraced this. I would love to use some of your input as data for a research project or book. Let me know what you think it would all be confidential. I Believe the life script work could help many suffering people and that perhaps the addiction world can benefit from some humanistic input,
I would love you to use any material regarding me as you may wish, especially since I know that you know what I mean (if you know what I mean!) It is a great comfort to have identification with others about our own way of being, to cut through the isolation of suffering. It is a relief to be understood and relize that we are not unique and not quite so special.
It is interesting the growing child needs to feel special and bonded in attachment. However, this then can become a pressure in adulthood as it has so many meanings attached to the process. I guess we are all special in our own ways as human beings are so interesting, complex and compelling. However, its the special ideal or the over-loving or cosseting or loaded expectations that can leave one with a role that is isolating and has the potential for suffering.