chapters

Strategy of Change Matching

Should you admit powerlessness over a disease
and turn responsibility for change over to an external agent?

OR

Should you invest your time to strengthen the cognitive skills
and mental faculties required to exercise your will?

Some individuals caught in an addictive trap have cognitive or personal attributes that render them powerless to change on their own. They require an external agent of change to pull them out and prevent relapse, and are best matched with a treatment approach based on the Disease Model such as a 12-Step rehab program. However, some individuals can develop the ability to act as intended, despite the influence of local stressors and temptations; they are best matched with a self-directed approach.

The goal is good long-term outcome. Given what you know about yourself, should you depend on an external agent of change [treatment provider, support group] or on the development of your own skills to cope with the crises you are bound to encounter? To gather some data on this critical question, consider each statement below and indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with it. Click the box at the bottom to see your score:

  1. I am a good problem solver.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  2. I have a religious orientation.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  3. I have college level reading ability
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  4. I like to attend AA meetings
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  5. I persevere even when the going gets tough
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  6. I am a non-conformist.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  7. I believe that my inability to control my addictive behavior shows that I have a disease over which I am powerless.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  8. I find AA meetings to be helpful to me.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  9. I want to develop the ability to cope with stress and temptation rather than depend on a support group or medication to help me cope.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  10. No matter how hard I try, things just don´t turn out the way I would like.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  11. If I perform well I expect to achieve successful outcome.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  12. Many problems I face are too complex for me to solve.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  13. Given access to the right tools, I believe I can solve my problems.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  14. Being a member of a group gives me direction and helps me know what the right thing to do is.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  15. I am physically dependent
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree

  16. My cognitive functioning [e.g., memory] has been getting worse lately.
    Strongly Agree
    Agree
    Neutral
    Disagree
    Strongly Disagree