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Click Here to View This Week’s Activity Schedule
For more information about the HHS Activities Department – Click Here
Click Here for Spectator Guidelines
Click Here for Live Streaming through the Wright County Conference
By Carmen Morrow, Chemical Health Prevention Specialist
“One in every eight Americans suffers from an addiction”-World Health Organization, 2019 (WHO)
When most people hear the word addiction, they think of dependence on a substance such as alcohol or drugs. This makes sense as according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2019 an estimated 20.4 million Americans aged 12 years or older have a significant problem with alcohol or drugs. However, drugs are not the only things Americans abuse or to which they are addicted. Simply substitute the word “behavior” for “substance” and you open up the definition of addiction to many types of dependencies. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) describes addiction as, “a complex condition; a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive behaviors despite harmful consequences.” Whether it’s drugs, the internet, or gaming, the need to experience the desired effect becomes so strong that the individual loses the ability to control their behavior and seeks the activity in spite of all negative consequences. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), which is used to diagnose mental and chemical disorders, outlines a new definition of addiction. This definition includes a diagnosis for non-substance addictions, including internet use, as well as other behaviors over which an individual has lost power. According to Vertava Health article, The Most Common Behavioral Addictions, the following is a list of the common behavioral addictions for which people often seek professional support:
According to a Healthline article dated, Sept 28, 2020, general signs of a potential behavioral addiction include:
As with chemical addiction, many different factors can contribute to behavioral addictions. There are various treatment methods for a behavioral addiction that are similar to treating an alcohol or drug addiction. Treatment approaches can vary, but talk therapy is usually the first recommendation. A type of therapy known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often most helpful for behavioral addictions. This, combined with more productive coping skills, can reduce the need for addictive behaviors. Experts continue to learn about how and why addiction happens, but one thing is clear: Addiction is treatable.
Click Here to View This Week’s Activity Schedule
For more information about the HHS Activities Department – Click Here
Click Here for Spectator Guidelines
Click Here for Live Streaming through the Wright County Conference
Click Here to View This Week’s Activity Schedule
For more information about the HHS Activities Department – Click Here
Click Here for Spectator Guidelines
Click Here for Live Streaming through the Wright County Conference
Keri Buker, Licensed School Counselor, Hutchinson Middle School
As we approach the midpoint of what has undoubtedly been a very difficult school year for a multitude of reasons, power struggles with your children are sure to emerge. Stress levels have likely been running high for months, and patience for both parents and kids is low. It’s not uncommon for parents to make big threats when their child is not complying with their requests. These threats (sometimes empty) only perpetuate an on-going cycle of a parent/child power struggle.
What can you do? In 1977 Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D. founded Love and Logic. “Love and Logic is a philosophy of raising and teaching children which allows adults to be happier, empowered, and more skilled in the interactions with children. Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. Love and Logic is a way of working with children that puts parents and teachers back in control, teaches children to be responsible, and prepares young people to live in the real world, with its many choices and consequences.”
Using Love and Logic’s “enforceable statements” with your child is just one way to avoid power struggles. Enforceable statements follow an easy fill-in-the-blank formula. There are many versions, and if you use them enough you’ll find the one that rolls right off your tongue.
Enforceable statements tell kids what WE will do or allow rather than trying to tell THEM what to do. As a parent, you get to decide what you will provide and under what circumstances.
Here are a few examples:
Enforceable statements are not bribes. A bribe might sound something like this, “if you want to come on the fishing trip, you need to pass all of your classes.” It puts the child in complete control of the situation. An enforceable statement, however, gives power of their behavior to both parties. An enforceable statement in this scenario would sound like this, “I’d be happy to have you join us on the fishing trip when you have passing grades.”
When you phrase it in this manner, if your child makes a poor choice he/she has the opportunity to learn a valuable lesson. However, that is dependent on a parents follow-through with what they said they would or wouldn’t do. Setting and enforcing those limits can be really hard, but boundaries=love.
Keep a few of these phrases in mind the next time you feel yourself being sucked into a power struggle. Try one out and see how telling them what you will allow rather than telling them what to do shifts the dynamic in a positive direction.
Happy New Year!
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For more information about the HHS Activities Department – Click Here
Click Here for Spectator Guidelines