Simple Guideline: Do I Have A Problem?

Happy Thursday, all!

In Canada, weed has just been legalized. After years of talk and bill passing, it finally happened. As a society, we now get to see how this little experiment plays out.

I had a friend message me, exploring the idea of “niche-ing” cannabis addiction coaching. Market wise, it would make a lot of sense. If the country has in increase in marijuana research, Canada could create some positive questions in other’s lives. Questions like: “How much is too much?” and “Do I have a problem?” Those questions could/will be served by someone.

This issue I have with the label of “cannabis addiction coach” is that it infers the drug is the problem, not the lifestyle surrounding the drug. There is so much shame in addiction, it’s palpable. That shame can create serious lifestyle issues for someone with a substance use disorder, like a lack of motivation, lack of willpower or lack of self-efficacy. As I have seen in my time at Psalm 23 Transition Society, feelings of anxiety and depression reduce when the lifestyle is changed for the better, leading to better outcomes for sobriety.

But for some, sobriety is not a desirable answer. And that’s okay.

The principle I live by is this: Everybody is using something to cope with something - all that matters is that your something works for you. This was my favourite line from the Netflix series Disjointed, and for good reason. The question, “Does this work for me?”, carries SO much less shame than “What’s wrong with me?”

Another good question to ask is: “Is ______ bringing me closer to who I want to be?” This is where the Top Three, Bottom Three Guideline becomes a great tool to use. As a note, there are many versions and many different names for this tool. This is not an original, but it works for me. With this guideline in mind, ask yourself:

-What are the three greatest thing about “me”?

-What are the three things I want to improve on?

-Which version of me is ______ influencing?

This tool can be used to help questions around troubling people, places and things. I use this for myself when I feel myself wearing shame. When I became aware of depression, I looked to my lifestyle and noticed I was getting all of my “happiness” from outside sources. This lifestyle I was living failed to bring satisfaction or enjoyment. When I ask myself these questions, I focus more on the tasks that bring me closer to where I want to be. Adding in things like good quality sleep, healthy food and lifestyle and a supportive squad created a positive, sustainable lifestyle. These positive patterns help to reduce the shame I feel and increase my feelings of gratification.

Putting a little bit of time into self-reflection can pay dividends in your life. You can choose to use this guideline at any time to help put your energy towards the tasks that bring you closest to your top three. By investing in the positive, the negative tends to fall away.

So, as we move forward as a country, don’t fear a drug; embrace your potential as a person! Experiences and lifestyle shape a person for disordered use, but patterns can be changed and pain can be healed. When we talk about stigmatized subjects like addiction in a loving, productive way, we can reduce the shame that so many of us feel.

If you’re looking for ways to improve your lifestyle, check out the other blog posts and podcasts on this site. If you want some help and support creating a healthy lifestyle, head over to the one-on-one coaching section.

Have a great week.