Addiction and trust: Marc Lewis at TEDxRadboudU 2013

A former drug addict himself, Lewis now researches addiction. In order to get over ones addiction, he explains, self-trust is necessary. Unfortunately, self- trust is extremely difficult for an addict to achieve. There are two factors that make it so difficult to get over an addiction: lack of self-control and an inability to put off reward. An addict wants his fix and he wants it now, despite the risk of losing out on a happier, healthier future.

The way to build self-trust, Lewis explained, and get over an addiction is for the addict to begin an internal dialogue with his future self to convince his present self that it can, in fact, live without its addiction. Lewis finished by explaining how he did just that. By writing the simple word 'NO' on a piece of paper and reading it at every moment he had a craving, he gradually started believing that if he could cope a few hours without drugs, then he could cope for a few days and, eventually, for good. He pleads that the only real way to help addicts is to motivate them to place their trust in themselves and to encourage them to engage in their own positive internal dialogue.

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[jimmyprescott]

I'm proud to say that i'm a recovering addict, I struggled through a battle with opiates for quite some time. I found a lot of the inspiration, confidence, courage & self control through watching talks & documentaries like this. And for that, I thank you!

[lb]

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created it” -Albert Einstein. I could not relay on myself to stay clean. I celebrate 10 months and 10 days of being clean today. I have had to look and get help from very many sources. Trust for myself is something I’m learning but it is defiantly not an attribute of a suffering addict.

[PatchedThePipe]

Addiction is the worst illness ever, in the fact that your very sick yet society is looking down on ya as most of them just think it's a case of self control when really your brain became hardwired to want drugs above all else. The fact that mother's lose or give up their kids demonstrates how powerful it's grip is. I'm doin ok now but still very jelous of folk who don't have any addiction issues, it just complicates life so much

[AMM.]

Your own thoughts and beliefs are so powerful.. when I was in jail withdrawal was easier.. when I had terrible cravings I couldn't do anything about it.. fact. But on the outside cravings feel inevitable.. like I can't fight this feeling forever! Don't get me wrong, there's a huge physical component.. and I relapsed before I left the courthouse.. so I didn't beat it that time.. it was when I knew I had to go back to jail in 1 week.. I was so terrified of being locked in that cell in withdrawal.. went to an opiate clinic that day, started treatment, that was the last day I shot up... jail was a breeze not dope sick!! It's been almost 3 years.. it's amazing!

[carlosmontoya]

I can agree with this im going tru it right now . Im a meth addict and its so true you have to find and love yourself to get you realized you are better than that . Thank yall ..God bless

[kmeunier]

This is quite powerful. It presents a few other helpful practices like surrendering to your future self (who you would imagine to be not-addicted because that's the very reason why you would want to stop) and having self-compassion (for the stuff ups and the craving thoughts) - are quite powerful to practice in the mind. Addicts are very good at beating themselves up and then drinking on top of those thoughts - so self-compassion is necessary. We can reset the day anytime we need to, even if we need to stop and becoming aware of the moment right now,  right before making a wrong decision. "NO". I used to scream in my head this word and squeeze out every bit of air out of my body (and repeat),  until the voices/cravings got the message.

[asmilelikeyoursphoto]

Today while I ran I thought about lab rats. There is an article I read about cocaine addiction and a scientist that decided to experiment. He wrote about a well known study where a rat was placed alone in a cage with two bottles of water, well almost. One bottle was just water and the other was laced with cocaine. The rat ALWAYS went to the cocaine water until it died.
The scientist questioned the validity of the finding and the assumption by the norm was that the rat was drinking the cocaine water because it was addicted. This scientist thought, “Maybe the rat isn’t addicted. Maybe he is just pissed and unhappy that he is stuck in a cage without any friends.”
To test his thesis he built a luxury rat palace. It was a paradise of mazes and colorful engagements to stimulate the rats. This time he put a group of rats together with only two bottles to choose from. One had water, the other had cocaine. This time the rat chose the clean water and so did his friends. Don’t get me wrong, they all enjoyed a dabble of high, but in the end the choice was unanimously sober.
Next he removed a rat and replicated the first experiment. He put the rat in an isolated cage, without any friends, and with the same choice: COCAINE or WATER? The rat went to the cocaine and the scientist let him until he assumed the rat had become a strung out addict. He then removed the rat and put him back in the luxury  palace with his friends. This is the part that floors me and I will admit I have not stopped thinking about it the weeks its been since reading.
We assume that addicts will always choose the drug, almost like an evil spirit is said to posses someone. Just yesterday I spoke with a friend briefly, “How have you been?” I asked, knowing of her circumstance.
Her immediate answer, “I am great. I have eleven years of sobriety now. I’m leaving for another support retreat this weekend.”
I stood there wondering why the cleanest and most sober person I know is the identification of ADDICT? Then I remember the steps and that she was told that addicts need to come to terms with the fact that they will forever be that way, “Addiction is in my genetics.”
These are the things I think about when I run. I think about brain washing. I worry about the concrete finality we are presenting our public with the labels we make them wear.
“People that want to do drugs and drink alcohol, but refrain, are addicts.”‘
“People who do drink and enjoy drugs are not addicts, unless a problem has been identified.”
Let me get back to the rats, because I left off on a tangent shorty after I announced my amazement. Do you remember that strung out rat I told you about. The rat who was allowed to become an addict by isolation and inactivity. The scientist returned that rat to a luxury palace with friends and more of the drug should he choose it. The same two bottles were there, one with only water, one with cocaine. The rat was already hopped up on drugs and still he returned to clean water when the environment was loving and rich with opportunity for a quality life. He was never addicted. We just believed he was.
I’m thinking about that right now. I’m thinking that I prefer to be a rat without a label and if I need to be in a cage I hope it is filled with ideas that make sense.

[Dadsinrecovery]

You are an exceptional man. I’m sober 40 years now and have worked with 100s of recovering addicts and alcoholics. Your simple solution just will not work for the masses. Love to chat more with you about this.

[kristinedandavino]

Thank you for writing your book. Thank you for helping others. Merci.

[karinturkington]

This is a magnificent talk. Thank you.

[TheContrariann]

Thank you so much Sir Mark Lewis, you are an inspiration for me ! Extremely Grateful 🙏

[charles]

I loved what he said at the last 12 seconds about trusting in yourself and not do drugs ever again. And giving your up your power to the group or god is the wrong way to go.

[chelsiebrouillette]

Great talk. I talked about this same issue in my blog although I didn't call it self trust exactly but I was trying to explain how getting clean giving up control to higher power wouldn't of worked for me because I needed to build self confidence and remind myself that I was in control.

[HeavyProfessor]

Drug addiction is a serious thing, but difficulties in discerning between drug addiction and severe drug abuse prevent obtaining meaningful data from retrospective/convenience sample analyses regarding long-term outcomes.

[selenaclarke]

Great talk, incredible courage to share your thoughts & I fully agree with you

[usfolks]

Interesting ideas, but "Self Trust' is not what finally freed me from Long term Heroin Addiction. Self Control does come however, but in trusting Self. My obsession and Cravings for Dope have been removed. Basically I will stick with Trusting in the Power of God, not Self.. Self Control over impulses came through that not through Self Reliance or Trust, but reliance upon the Power,

[genevamaynard]

Good speaker ... My heart breaks for the addict, my son was an addict my, police killed him for no logical reason, his story is on Justice for christopher Lee Ratliff ...

[robesrobes]

feel like our mental health in the United States isn't nearly as good as it should be. I was shocked at how confusing it was to seek out rehab facilities and not to mention the costs. No person can really recover in rehab unless they have six figures laying around.

[DW]

Struggling Porn addict .... watch for 3-4 hrs per day I tried stopping 1, 000 times but still hopeful

[arlinegeorge]

Interesting n informative. Great impressive amazing soul. Thank you.bless you. All your dreams come true.