I had no idea why for eight years I was my own worst enemy around the age of ten
my own worst enemy around the age of ten
my own worst enemy around the age of ten I began to question everything and by
I began to question everything and by
I began to question everything and by the time I was fourteen this questioning
the time I was fourteen this questioning
the time I was fourteen this questioning led to severe depression not only
led to severe depression not only
led to severe depression not only because disillusionment is a painful
because disillusionment is a painful
because disillusionment is a painful process but also because I struggled to
process but also because I struggled to
process but also because I struggled to fit in to understand people I wanted to
fit in to understand people I wanted to
fit in to understand people I wanted to talk about heaven and hell and about the
talk about heaven and hell and about the
talk about heaven and hell and about the notion of living forever about why all
notion of living forever about why all
notion of living forever about why all the adults in my life claimed that they
the adults in my life claimed that they
the adults in my life claimed that they strived for happiness every day but none
strived for happiness every day but none
strived for happiness every day but none of them seemed to be happy so by the
of them seemed to be happy so by the
of them seemed to be happy so by the time I was a teen I was seen by most my
time I was a teen I was seen by most my
time I was a teen I was seen by most my peers as well
peers as well
peers as well a little weird and I tried to start
a little weird and I tried to start
a little weird and I tried to start controlling every social interaction to
controlling every social interaction to
controlling every social interaction to try to forcibly make myself talk like
try to forcibly make myself talk like
try to forcibly make myself talk like and look like and act like my peers but
and look like and act like my peers but
and look like and act like my peers but people are quite good at detecting
people are quite good at detecting
people are quite good at detecting falseness so this just made me look all
falseness so this just made me look all
falseness so this just made me look all the stranger this all led to a horribly
the stranger this all led to a horribly
the stranger this all led to a horribly mangled self-image and on top of that I
mangled self-image and on top of that I
mangled self-image and on top of that I realized that along the way I had never
realized that along the way I had never
realized that along the way I had never developed an internal sense of
developed an internal sense of
developed an internal sense of self-worth I also had no sense of
self-worth I also had no sense of
self-worth I also had no sense of control in my life I was a victim in
control in my life I was a victim in
control in my life I was a victim in everything and I couldn’t control
everything and I couldn’t control
everything and I couldn’t control anything the world was just kind of
anything the world was just kind of
anything the world was just kind of happening to me
happening to me
happening to me something that psychologists call an
something that psychologists call an
something that psychologists call an externalized locus of control
externalized locus of control
externalized locus of control coupled with severe depression and a
coupled with severe depression and a
coupled with severe depression and a highly volatile temperament or and as I
highly volatile temperament or and as I
highly volatile temperament or and as I like to put it my emotions hitting me
like to put it my emotions hitting me
like to put it my emotions hitting me like a freight train I began to cut you
like a freight train I began to cut you
like a freight train I began to cut you see when you’re sad and angry and feel
see when you’re sad and angry and feel
see when you’re sad and angry and feel out of control you want to express that
out of control you want to express that
out of control you want to express that pain and when you don’t value your own
pain and when you don’t value your own
pain and when you don’t value your own life more than other people you target
life more than other people you target
life more than other people you target yourself and something about that
yourself and something about that
yourself and something about that physical pain really does make the
physical pain really does make the
physical pain really does make the emotional pain go away at least for a
emotional pain go away at least for a
emotional pain go away at least for a while so
while so
while so then I began to place I began to try to
then I began to place I began to try to
then I began to place I began to try to lose weight and began to play sports and
lose weight and began to play sports and
lose weight and began to play sports and you couldn’t cut when you played sports
you couldn’t cut when you played sports
you couldn’t cut when you played sports your arms were exposed a cross-country
your arms were exposed a cross-country
your arms were exposed a cross-country tank your thighs when you were in a
tank your thighs when you were in a
tank your thighs when you were in a one-piece swimsuit and your stomach when
one-piece swimsuit and your stomach when
one-piece swimsuit and your stomach when it was so blistering hot during track
it was so blistering hot during track
it was so blistering hot during track practice you were nothing but a sports
practice you were nothing but a sports
practice you were nothing but a sports bra and a pair of shorts but that was
bra and a pair of shorts but that was
bra and a pair of shorts but that was okay because I have found another way to
okay because I have found another way to
okay because I have found another way to express myself destructiveness I was
express myself destructiveness I was
express myself destructiveness I was very resourceful I began to lose weight
very resourceful I began to lose weight
very resourceful I began to lose weight and when I did it felt great people
and when I did it felt great people
and when I did it felt great people began to validate me for my physical
began to validate me for my physical
began to validate me for my physical appearance for my athletic ability I
appearance for my athletic ability I
appearance for my athletic ability I started to feel more socially composed
started to feel more socially composed
started to feel more socially composed more graceful and even more emotionally
more graceful and even more emotionally
more graceful and even more emotionally stable until I disappointed my coach
stable until I disappointed my coach
stable until I disappointed my coach until I wasn’t feeling seconds off my PR
until I wasn’t feeling seconds off my PR
until I wasn’t feeling seconds off my PR at every race then that same feeling of
at every race then that same feeling of
at every race then that same feeling of frustration that same sense of
frustration that same sense of
frustration that same sense of worthlessness came right back so I began
worthlessness came right back so I began
worthlessness came right back so I began to practice until I fainted I began to
to practice until I fainted I began to
to practice until I fainted I began to try to lose even more weight because I
try to lose even more weight because I
try to lose even more weight because I found out that if you lost 1 pound of
found out that if you lost 1 pound of
found out that if you lost 1 pound of fat you could pull 3 seconds of a 1-mile
fat you could pull 3 seconds of a 1-mile
fat you could pull 3 seconds of a 1-mile you see the trend here right I won’t go
you see the trend here right I won’t go
you see the trend here right I won’t go into any more history of my any more of
into any more history of my any more of
into any more history of my any more of my self-destructive history the point
my self-destructive history the point
my self-destructive history the point I’m trying to convey is that it seems
I’m trying to convey is that it seems
I’m trying to convey is that it seems like the same underlying pain just kept
like the same underlying pain just kept
like the same underlying pain just kept finding new ways to express itself
that’s what I realized about a year ago
that’s what I realized about a year ago when I received a grant from the
when I received a grant from the
when I received a grant from the University of North Georgia to conduct a
University of North Georgia to conduct a
University of North Georgia to conduct a research study on this topic I had
research study on this topic I had
research study on this topic I had already been doing research for the
already been doing research for the
already been doing research for the University and I had already honed in on
University and I had already honed in on
University and I had already honed in on eating disorders with the intent to find
eating disorders with the intent to find
eating disorders with the intent to find the missing piece of the puzzle in
the missing piece of the puzzle in
the missing piece of the puzzle in eating pathology but I realized along
eating pathology but I realized along
eating pathology but I realized along the way was that it wasn’t one piece
the way was that it wasn’t one piece
the way was that it wasn’t one piece that was missing half the puzzle was
that was missing half the puzzle was
that was missing half the puzzle was gone so to be more intimately acquainted
gone so to be more intimately acquainted
gone so to be more intimately acquainted with the disorder I began to read
with the disorder I began to read
with the disorder I began to read through my own writing hundreds of pages
through my own writing hundreds of pages
through my own writing hundreds of pages of prose poetry and personal essays that
of prose poetry and personal essays that
of prose poetry and personal essays that I had written throughout the years to
I had written throughout the years to
I had written throughout the years to see if I could notice any trends and
see if I could notice any trends and
see if I could notice any trends and what I found was astounding the same
what I found was astounding the same
what I found was astounding the same five words kept showing up in my writing
five words kept showing up in my writing
five words kept showing up in my writing during every period that I engaged in
during every period that I engaged in
during every period that I engaged in self-destructive behavior regardless of
self-destructive behavior regardless of
self-destructive behavior regardless of what it was no control
what it was no control
what it was no control overwhelmed pain sadness and most
overwhelmed pain sadness and most
overwhelmed pain sadness and most commonly worthless I translated these
commonly worthless I translated these
commonly worthless I translated these into the following four psychological
into the following four psychological
into the following four psychological factors externalize locus of control
factors externalize locus of control
factors externalize locus of control volatile temperament presence of
volatile temperament presence of
volatile temperament presence of depressive symptoms and low externalized
depressive symptoms and low externalized
depressive symptoms and low externalized fragile or in my case of the above sense
fragile or in my case of the above sense
fragile or in my case of the above sense of self-worth currently eating disorders
of self-worth currently eating disorders
of self-worth currently eating disorders are seen as isolated from other disorder
are seen as isolated from other disorder
are seen as isolated from other disorder mental disorders the very definition of
mental disorders the very definition of
mental disorders the very definition of a disorder explains the things that
a disorder explains the things that
a disorder explains the things that typify or we might say separate eating
typify or we might say separate eating
typify or we might say separate eating disorders from other mental illnesses
disorders from other mental illnesses
disorders from other mental illnesses this is where you look at me and go well
this is where you look at me and go well
this is where you look at me and go well Doug that’s what the definition does but
Doug that’s what the definition does but
Doug that’s what the definition does but just hear me out the dictionary defines
just hear me out the dictionary defines
just hear me out the dictionary defines an eating disorder in the following way
an eating disorder in the following way
an eating disorder in the following way any range of psychological disorders
any range of psychological disorders
any range of psychological disorders characterized by abnormal and disturbed
characterized by abnormal and disturbed
characterized by abnormal and disturbed eating habits well that’s somewhat vague
eating habits well that’s somewhat vague
eating habits well that’s somewhat vague so let’s look at a specific eating
so let’s look at a specific eating
so let’s look at a specific eating disorder say anorexia a psychological
disorder say anorexia a psychological
disorder say anorexia a psychological and possibly life-threatening eating
and possibly life-threatening eating
and possibly life-threatening eating disorder defined by an extremely low
disorder defined by an extremely low
disorder defined by an extremely low body weight relative the stature a low
body weight relative the stature a low
body weight relative the stature a low BMI extreme and needless weight loss
BMI extreme and needless weight loss
BMI extreme and needless weight loss illogical fear of weight gain and a
illogical fear of weight gain and a
illogical fear of weight gain and a distorted perception of self-image and
distorted perception of self-image and
distorted perception of self-image and body the problem with this definition is
body the problem with this definition is
body the problem with this definition is that larger society such as possibly you
that larger society such as possibly you
that larger society such as possibly you in the audience your family your
in the audience your family your
in the audience your family your neighbors the media and even a lot of
neighbors the media and even a lot of
neighbors the media and even a lot of counselors focusing on these symptoms
counselors focusing on these symptoms
counselors focusing on these symptoms and these symptoms alone you see a
and these symptoms alone you see a
and these symptoms alone you see a person who has an eating disorder
person who has an eating disorder
person who has an eating disorder someone who has some strange illogical
someone who has some strange illogical
someone who has some strange illogical fear of gaining weight someone whose
fear of gaining weight someone whose
fear of gaining weight someone whose vapid shallow some whiny rich brat who
vapid shallow some whiny rich brat who
vapid shallow some whiny rich brat who can’t stand stand to gain a pound as
can’t stand stand to gain a pound as
can’t stand stand to gain a pound as I’ve had sex in my face before this
I’ve had sex in my face before this
I’ve had sex in my face before this leaves people who suffer from eating
leaves people who suffer from eating
leaves people who suffer from eating disorders thinking you just don’t get it
disorders thinking you just don’t get it
disorders thinking you just don’t get it do you it’s not about food or weight not
do you it’s not about food or weight not
do you it’s not about food or weight not really not at all so what is an eating
really not at all so what is an eating
really not at all so what is an eating disorder and how can we reconcile eyes
disorder and how can we reconcile eyes
disorder and how can we reconcile eyes it that was the first step in my
it that was the first step in my
it that was the first step in my research and I came up with this
research and I came up with this
research and I came up with this hypothesis and a grander scope the
hypothesis and a grander scope the
hypothesis and a grander scope the researchers would pose that eating
researchers would pose that eating
researchers would pose that eating disorders are a type of
disorders are a type of
disorders are a type of self-destructiveness related to other
self-destructiveness related to other
self-destructiveness related to other forms such as substance abuse and
forms such as substance abuse and
forms such as substance abuse and self-mutilation it stem from a single
self-mutilation it stem from a single
self-mutilation it stem from a single condition we assert that all forms of
condition we assert that all forms of
condition we assert that all forms of stuff
stuff
stuff strumice have a similar possibly
strumice have a similar possibly
strumice have a similar possibly identical biological basis that is then
identical biological basis that is then
identical biological basis that is then mediated through similar psychological
mediated through similar psychological
mediated through similar psychological factors the resulting multiple very
factors the resulting multiple very
factors the resulting multiple very channels of expression thus lies in
channels of expression thus lies in
channels of expression thus lies in different social correlates now to
different social correlates now to
different social correlates now to explain that in plain English this
explain that in plain English this
explain that in plain English this hypothesis is saying that currently we
hypothesis is saying that currently we
hypothesis is saying that currently we see self-harm substance abuse and eating
see self-harm substance abuse and eating
see self-harm substance abuse and eating disorder all is entirely separate mental
disorder all is entirely separate mental
disorder all is entirely separate mental disorders but maybe they’re all just
disorders but maybe they’re all just
disorders but maybe they’re all just different forms of the same disorder
different forms of the same disorder
different forms of the same disorder self-destructiveness that’s finding
self-destructiveness that’s finding
self-destructiveness that’s finding different ways to express itself to make
different ways to express itself to make
different ways to express itself to make this a little clearer I have a diagram
this a little clearer I have a diagram
this a little clearer I have a diagram I’m gonna give you an example say we
I’m gonna give you an example say we
I’m gonna give you an example say we have a 21 year old male and a 16 year
have a 21 year old male and a 16 year
have a 21 year old male and a 16 year old female we’ll call them John and Jane
old female we’ll call them John and Jane
old female we’ll call them John and Jane respectively they both have genetic
respectively they both have genetic
respectively they both have genetic mutation a and genetic mutation B that’s
mutation a and genetic mutation B that’s
mutation a and genetic mutation B that’s associated with self-destructiveness
associated with self-destructiveness
associated with self-destructiveness they also have same more or less
they also have same more or less
they also have same more or less psychological profile but John is a
psychological profile but John is a
psychological profile but John is a musician and is in the music isn’t a
musician and is in the music isn’t a
musician and is in the music isn’t a scene we’re experimenting with drugs is
scene we’re experimenting with drugs is
scene we’re experimenting with drugs is condoned and sometimes even promoted and
condoned and sometimes even promoted and
condoned and sometimes even promoted and Jane is a typical young girl for her age
Jane is a typical young girl for her age
Jane is a typical young girl for her age she’s height lives in existence highly
she’s height lives in existence highly
she’s height lives in existence highly saturated by media influence she reads
saturated by media influence she reads
saturated by media influence she reads Beauty magazines she watches mainstream
Beauty magazines she watches mainstream
Beauty magazines she watches mainstream television she is constantly pressured
television she is constantly pressured
television she is constantly pressured to strive for thinness with the right
to strive for thinness with the right
to strive for thinness with the right event that exposes the individuals
event that exposes the individuals
event that exposes the individuals emotional vulnerability
emotional vulnerability
emotional vulnerability self-destructiveness can manifest and in
self-destructiveness can manifest and in
self-destructiveness can manifest and in different forms for John and may be
different forms for John and may be
different forms for John and may be substance abuse for Jane and eating
substance abuse for Jane and eating
substance abuse for Jane and eating disorder so that would mean that the
disorder so that would mean that the
disorder so that would mean that the social environment is really just
social environment is really just
social environment is really just serving as the means of experiment it
serving as the means of experiment it
serving as the means of experiment it determines the means of expression and
determines the means of expression and
determines the means of expression and while it and genetic factors are
while it and genetic factors are
while it and genetic factors are important this hypothesis has that we
important this hypothesis has that we
important this hypothesis has that we should focus on the mediating
should focus on the mediating
should focus on the mediating psychological factors and we can do this
psychological factors and we can do this
psychological factors and we can do this through cognitive behavioral therapy
through cognitive behavioral therapy
through cognitive behavioral therapy it’s what my favorite things so these
it’s what my favorite things so these
it’s what my favorite things so these ideas all work together for a few
ideas all work together for a few
ideas all work together for a few reasons and you’ll kind of get the gist
reasons and you’ll kind of get the gist
reasons and you’ll kind of get the gist of cognitive behavioral therapy as I go
of cognitive behavioral therapy as I go
of cognitive behavioral therapy as I go along
along
along first of all environment and social
first of all environment and social
first of all environment and social considerations and genetics alone are
considerations and genetics alone are
considerations and genetics alone are not enough many many people within
not enough many many people within
not enough many many people within society
society
society more than we’d like to admit experiment
more than we’d like to admit experiment
more than we’d like to admit experiment with drugs they live in a bio- culture
with drugs they live in a bio- culture
with drugs they live in a bio- culture they have access to objects which they
they have access to objects which they
they have access to objects which they could readily harm themselves but they
could readily harm themselves but they
could readily harm themselves but they never develop a disorder associated with
never develop a disorder associated with
never develop a disorder associated with any of these things and by the same
any of these things and by the same
any of these things and by the same token just because someone has a genetic
token just because someone has a genetic
token just because someone has a genetic predisposition does not mean it will
predisposition does not mean it will
predisposition does not mean it will ever express itself as an actual
ever express itself as an actual
ever express itself as an actual condition that’s important because I
condition that’s important because I
condition that’s important because I know a lot of people worry about that so
know a lot of people worry about that so
know a lot of people worry about that so let me resize that mutations associated
let me resize that mutations associated
let me resize that mutations associated with a disease does not directly
with a disease does not directly
with a disease does not directly translate into the development of that
translate into the development of that
translate into the development of that disease so genetics and environment
disease so genetics and environment
disease so genetics and environment alone are not enough they have to
alone are not enough they have to
alone are not enough they have to interact on the individual psychology
interact on the individual psychology
interact on the individual psychology making in my mind a person psychology
making in my mind a person psychology
making in my mind a person psychology the best point of attack for in future
the best point of attack for in future
the best point of attack for in future interventions a second point to consider
interventions a second point to consider
interventions a second point to consider is that this is a rican Sep xual ization
is that this is a rican Sep xual ization
is that this is a rican Sep xual ization of these disorders that might lead that
of these disorders that might lead that
of these disorders that might lead that there have therapeutic benefits
there have therapeutic benefits
there have therapeutic benefits therapeutic benefits being a higher real
therapeutic benefits being a higher real
therapeutic benefits being a higher real app are a higher recovery rate and a
app are a higher recovery rate and a
app are a higher recovery rate and a lower relapse rate this change in
lower relapse rate this change in
lower relapse rate this change in perception would lead someone to see
perception would lead someone to see
perception would lead someone to see self-destructiveness as the root
self-destructiveness as the root
self-destructiveness as the root disorder and the eating disorder or the
disorder and the eating disorder or the
disorder and the eating disorder or the self-harm or the substance abuse as a
self-harm or the substance abuse as a
self-harm or the substance abuse as a mere symptom it helped us focus in on
mere symptom it helped us focus in on
mere symptom it helped us focus in on the underlying psychological issues that
the underlying psychological issues that
the underlying psychological issues that are really driving the person to this
are really driving the person to this
are really driving the person to this action a third thing to consider is the
action a third thing to consider is the
action a third thing to consider is the fact that this approach is autonomy
fact that this approach is autonomy
fact that this approach is autonomy building versus autonomy crushing which
building versus autonomy crushing which
building versus autonomy crushing which I personally as I said before I felt I
I personally as I said before I felt I
I personally as I said before I felt I had no control in my life I think is
had no control in my life I think is
had no control in my life I think is essential because a lot of therapies
essential because a lot of therapies
essential because a lot of therapies nowadays they take away that person’s
nowadays they take away that person’s
nowadays they take away that person’s sense of autonomy and this the therapy
sense of autonomy and this the therapy
sense of autonomy and this the therapy that I would hope to develop would say
that I would hope to develop would say
that I would hope to develop would say you can reshape your entire mindset by
you can reshape your entire mindset by
you can reshape your entire mindset by reshaping your thoughts because that
reshaping your thoughts because that
reshaping your thoughts because that leads to an actual reshaping of your
leads to an actual reshaping of your
leads to an actual reshaping of your neural circuitry by changing your
neural circuitry by changing your
neural circuitry by changing your thoughts you actually can change your
thoughts you actually can change your
thoughts you actually can change your biology and that has been proven you can
biology and that has been proven you can
biology and that has been proven you can look that up
unless you would like to give references
unless you would like to give references but so anyway um and then a fourth thing
but so anyway um and then a fourth thing
but so anyway um and then a fourth thing to consider is the fact that comorbidity
to consider is the fact that comorbidity
to consider is the fact that comorbidity rates or how frequently two disorders
rates or how frequently two disorders
rates or how frequently two disorders occur is high between all three
occur is high between all three
occur is high between all three disorders so we could say that a person
disorders so we could say that a person
disorders so we could say that a person struggles with anorexia and alcoholism
struggles with anorexia and alcoholism
struggles with anorexia and alcoholism but wouldn’t it be worthwhile to
but wouldn’t it be worthwhile to
but wouldn’t it be worthwhile to consider that maybe they have the same
consider that maybe they have the same
consider that maybe they have the same disorder but that is just finding
disorder but that is just finding
disorder but that is just finding multiple ways to express itself now this
multiple ways to express itself now this
multiple ways to express itself now this approach doesn’t work with all mental
approach doesn’t work with all mental
approach doesn’t work with all mental disorders some really are more
disorders some really are more
disorders some really are more physiological some are the results of
physiological some are the results of
physiological some are the results of legitimate permanent chemical imbalances
legitimate permanent chemical imbalances
legitimate permanent chemical imbalances and or irreversible generation I’m not
and or irreversible generation I’m not
and or irreversible generation I’m not trying to argue here that you can you
trying to argue here that you can you
trying to argue here that you can you can think your way out of schizophrenia
can think your way out of schizophrenia
can think your way out of schizophrenia but with these trio of disorders I do
but with these trio of disorders I do
but with these trio of disorders I do think that is possible because I think
think that is possible because I think
think that is possible because I think they’re the results of cognitive
they’re the results of cognitive
they’re the results of cognitive distortions and that they’re used as a
distortions and that they’re used as a
distortions and that they’re used as a maladaptive coping mechanism which
maladaptive coping mechanism which
maladaptive coping mechanism which brings us to my second hypothesis though
brings us to my second hypothesis though
brings us to my second hypothesis though it’s are yet the researcher proposes
it’s are yet the researcher proposes
it’s are yet the researcher proposes that varying forms of
that varying forms of
that varying forms of self-destructiveness serve as an
self-destructiveness serve as an
self-destructiveness serve as an adaptive coping mechanism to the to the
adaptive coping mechanism to the to the
adaptive coping mechanism to the to the individual allowing them to blunt the
individual allowing them to blunt the
individual allowing them to blunt the pain of an unmet higher need by causing
pain of an unmet higher need by causing
pain of an unmet higher need by causing a deficit and a lower need now to break
a deficit and a lower need now to break
a deficit and a lower need now to break this down we need to talk about Maslow’s
this down we need to talk about Maslow’s
this down we need to talk about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs some of you might
hierarchy of needs some of you might
hierarchy of needs some of you might have already heard about this but I’ll
have already heard about this but I’ll
have already heard about this but I’ll go ahead over and go over it briefly the
go ahead over and go over it briefly the
go ahead over and go over it briefly the gist of it is is that you begin at the
gist of it is is that you begin at the
gist of it is is that you begin at the lowest level of needs satisfaction and
lowest level of needs satisfaction and
lowest level of needs satisfaction and then slowly progress upward throughout
then slowly progress upward throughout
then slowly progress upward throughout the lifespan
the lifespan
the lifespan until you saw self actualize so you
until you saw self actualize so you
until you saw self actualize so you begin with your base physical needs for
begin with your base physical needs for
begin with your base physical needs for food water sex and then your needs for
food water sex and then your needs for
food water sex and then your needs for safety and security
safety and security
safety and security once these basic needs are met you can
once these basic needs are met you can
once these basic needs are met you can move on to your need for love and
move on to your need for love and
move on to your need for love and belonging for esteem and finally for
belonging for esteem and finally for
belonging for esteem and finally for self-actualization
self-actualization
self-actualization now madethe focused on those who he saw
now madethe focused on those who he saw
now madethe focused on those who he saw as the best of society those who had
as the best of society those who had
as the best of society those who had self actualized already those who are
self actualized already those who are
self actualized already those who are happy healthy highly intrinsically
happy healthy highly intrinsically
happy healthy highly intrinsically motivated and bent on making a
motivated and bent on making a
motivated and bent on making a contribution to the world but and most
contribution to the world but and most
contribution to the world but and most of his followers who have come after him
of his followers who have come after him
of his followers who have come after him have also fallen this tradition but I
have also fallen this tradition but I
have also fallen this tradition but I think that we can spend this theory on
think that we can spend this theory on
think that we can spend this theory on its head and apply it to clinical
its head and apply it to clinical
its head and apply it to clinical psychology which could be said to be
psychology which could be said to be
psychology which could be said to be dealing with people who are struggling
dealing with people who are struggling
dealing with people who are struggling the most in society because a key
the most in society because a key
the most in society because a key concept of his theory
concept of his theory
concept of his theory is that one cannot advance to a higher
is that one cannot advance to a higher
is that one cannot advance to a higher level of need satisfaction or in other
level of need satisfaction or in other
level of need satisfaction or in other words cannot focus on advancing to a
words cannot focus on advancing to a
words cannot focus on advancing to a higher level of needs satisfaction until
higher level of needs satisfaction until
higher level of needs satisfaction until a lower need is met so what I’m
a lower need is met so what I’m
a lower need is met so what I’m suggesting is that maybe someone can
suggesting is that maybe someone can
suggesting is that maybe someone can intentionally begin these
intentionally begin these
intentionally begin these self-destructive behaviors and cause a
self-destructive behaviors and cause a
self-destructive behaviors and cause a need deficit on a lower level and by
need deficit on a lower level and by
need deficit on a lower level and by doing so they achieve emotional blunting
doing so they achieve emotional blunting
doing so they achieve emotional blunting of an unmet higher need I can tell you
of an unmet higher need I can tell you
of an unmet higher need I can tell you from personal experience it’s hard to
from personal experience it’s hard to
from personal experience it’s hard to contemplate much when you’re literally
contemplate much when you’re literally
contemplate much when you’re literally physiologically starving and every time
physiologically starving and every time
physiologically starving and every time that loss of control event comes into
that loss of control event comes into
that loss of control event comes into your mind that creeping sense of
your mind that creeping sense of
your mind that creeping sense of self-hatred that rejection from a loved
self-hatred that rejection from a loved
self-hatred that rejection from a loved one that’s when you work out for five
one that’s when you work out for five
one that’s when you work out for five hours when you count your calories for
hours when you count your calories for
hours when you count your calories for the tenth time that day when you purge
the tenth time that day when you purge
the tenth time that day when you purge and after a while all you really do feel
and after a while all you really do feel
and after a while all you really do feel is the pain in your legs and there’s
is the pain in your legs and there’s
is the pain in your legs and there’s pain in your stomach and the burning in
pain in your stomach and the burning in
pain in your stomach and the burning in your throat everything else really does
your throat everything else really does
your throat everything else really does go numb so what you have then is an
go numb so what you have then is an
go numb so what you have then is an extremely powerful albeit maladaptive
extremely powerful albeit maladaptive
extremely powerful albeit maladaptive coping mechanism that allows one to
coping mechanism that allows one to
coping mechanism that allows one to blunt the pain of an emotional need that
blunt the pain of an emotional need that
blunt the pain of an emotional need that has not been met well at the same time
has not been met well at the same time
has not been met well at the same time externalizing it and expressing it which
externalizing it and expressing it which
externalizing it and expressing it which is important to a lot of these people so
is important to a lot of these people so
is important to a lot of these people so to summarize this all up my research is
to summarize this all up my research is
to summarize this all up my research is attempting to take an Occam’s razor
attempting to take an Occam’s razor
attempting to take an Occam’s razor approach and create a unified simplified
approach and create a unified simplified
approach and create a unified simplified theory for the development maintenance
theory for the development maintenance
theory for the development maintenance and treatment of self harm substance
and treatment of self harm substance
and treatment of self harm substance abuse eating disorders and general needs
abuse eating disorders and general needs
abuse eating disorders and general needs wording behavior I’m not saying that we
wording behavior I’m not saying that we
wording behavior I’m not saying that we throughout genetic studies or discard
throughout genetic studies or discard
throughout genetic studies or discard environmental factors or get rid of the
environmental factors or get rid of the
environmental factors or get rid of the special considerations for each of these
special considerations for each of these
special considerations for each of these disorders such as the physiological
disorders such as the physiological
disorders such as the physiological addiction that does come with substance
addiction that does come with substance
addiction that does come with substance abuse I’m simply saying that we
abuse I’m simply saying that we
abuse I’m simply saying that we investigate into the psychological and
investigate into the psychological and
investigate into the psychological and really try to deal with the underlying
really try to deal with the underlying
really try to deal with the underlying needs that these people have and why
needs that these people have and why
needs that these people have and why they don’t feel like they’re being
they don’t feel like they’re being
they don’t feel like they’re being satisfied so that relapse is less likely
satisfied so that relapse is less likely
satisfied so that relapse is less likely manifestation of the disorder and
manifestation of the disorder and
manifestation of the disorder and different form is less likely and
different form is less likely and
different form is less likely and recovery is more likely for substance
recovery is more likely for substance
recovery is more likely for substance abuse they won’t even give you recovery
abuse they won’t even give you recovery
abuse they won’t even give you recovery rates all they have a real
rates all they have a real
rates all they have a real streets because it’s that common for
streets because it’s that common for
streets because it’s that common for every they differ depending on each
every they differ depending on each
every they differ depending on each disorder but for every statistic I’ve
disorder but for every statistic I’ve
disorder but for every statistic I’ve seen they generally run between 50%
seen they generally run between 50%
seen they generally run between 50% about the same odds as if you flipped a
about the same odds as if you flipped a
about the same odds as if you flipped a coin
coin
coin so I also propose that we consider the
so I also propose that we consider the
so I also propose that we consider the adaptiveness of self-destructiveness now
adaptiveness of self-destructiveness now
adaptiveness of self-destructiveness now as far as you people in the audience go
as far as you people in the audience go
as far as you people in the audience go and everyone watching goes all I want
and everyone watching goes all I want
and everyone watching goes all I want you to cook walk away from I want you to
you to cook walk away from I want you to
you to cook walk away from I want you to have what you walk away from this is I
have what you walk away from this is I
have what you walk away from this is I just want you to have some of your
just want you to have some of your
just want you to have some of your previous notions regarding this disorder
previous notions regarding this disorder
previous notions regarding this disorder these disorders challenged I want you to
these disorders challenged I want you to
these disorders challenged I want you to have some kind of insight until a loved
have some kind of insight until a loved
have some kind of insight until a loved one who might be struggling with
one who might be struggling with
one who might be struggling with alcoholism or might be struggling with
alcoholism or might be struggling with
alcoholism or might be struggling with self-harm or an eating disorder and
self-harm or an eating disorder and
self-harm or an eating disorder and maybe I’ll even give you insight into
maybe I’ll even give you insight into
maybe I’ll even give you insight into your own self harming behavior because
your own self harming behavior because
your own self harming behavior because even if you have a disorder you
even if you have a disorder you
even if you have a disorder you personally suffer from one it doesn’t
personally suffer from one it doesn’t
personally suffer from one it doesn’t mean you have complete understanding of
mean you have complete understanding of
mean you have complete understanding of self like I said I had no idea why for
self like I said I had no idea why for
self like I said I had no idea why for eight years I kept constantly tripping
eight years I kept constantly tripping
eight years I kept constantly tripping myself up and why one side weeded out
myself up and why one side weeded out
myself up and why one side weeded out the big issues I kept finding
the big issues I kept finding
the big issues I kept finding self-destructive tendencies in my
self-destructive tendencies in my
self-destructive tendencies in my platonic relationships my romantic
platonic relationships my romantic
platonic relationships my romantic relationships and even in my education
relationships and even in my education
relationships and even in my education and career it was devastating to my
and career it was devastating to my
and career it was devastating to my entire life up until the age of 22 and I
entire life up until the age of 22 and I
entire life up until the age of 22 and I was very lucky to have professors who
was very lucky to have professors who
was very lucky to have professors who put up with me and worked with me but
put up with me and worked with me but
put up with me and worked with me but I’m not saying that this research is
I’m not saying that this research is
I’m not saying that this research is even applicable to every self harming
even applicable to every self harming
even applicable to every self harming individual the research is still out on
individual the research is still out on
individual the research is still out on that I don’t know yet but what I’m
that I don’t know yet but what I’m
that I don’t know yet but what I’m talking about here today is the
talking about here today is the
talking about here today is the understanding myself that I came to and
understanding myself that I came to and
understanding myself that I came to and I hope that at least one person can
I hope that at least one person can
I hope that at least one person can benefit from it thank you
”
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