People get into Heroin or Morphine for all kinds of reasons. You can compare it to getting into boating. At first you are given free rides and you like it. Then you get your own boat and you enjoy your trips. But soon you find yourself adrift at sea attacked by pirates. You have to seek shelter in a shark infested archipelago, full of reefs, sandbanks, rocks and dangerous currents and things get really unpleasant and very scary.
The sensible thing to do now is to throw in your anchor (which is a good metaphor for the Methadone substitution program). You are still in the same territory but for now you steadied the boat and you are safe from running aground, drowning and beeing eaten by sharks.
Remember, at that point there is nothing wrong with that sea anchor (Methadone). Lifting it (reducing/stopping) will not by itself be of benefit to you. You are not making any progress by setting yourself adrift again in those dangerous waters. In this situation the anchor is not your problem, it is your salvation.
But over time you will want to move on. So you think about where to go from here, looking for a safe direction and a worthwhile goal.
Once you have made up your mind where you want to go, you plot a course out of the treacherous waters. Now your anchor has turned into a hindrance and lifting it (i.e. getting off the Methadone) will set you free to move towards the goals you have chosen according to your deeply held values.
Makes sense?
I have adapted this metaphor for clients with OSFED, BED & BN - Comment submitted by Maria Aleksandr... on December 8, 2018.
Hi,
I have adapted this metaphor for clients with eating disorders (OSFED, BED, and BN in particular) who doubt whether they have to start working with a dietitian. Here how it goes:
Dropping Anchor (Starting a Meal Plan)
People get into addiction to food and binge eating for all kinds of reasons. You can compare it to getting into boating. At first you are given free rides and you like it. Then you get your own boat and you enjoy your trips. But soon you find yourself adrift at sea attacked by pirates. You have to seek shelter in a shark infested archipelago, full of reefs, sandbanks, rocks and dangerous currents and things get really unpleasant and very scary.
The sensible thing to do now is to throw in your anchor (which is a good metaphor for the Meal Plan. You are still in the same territory but for now you steadied the boat and you are safe from running aground, drowning and being eaten by sharks.
Remember, at that point there is nothing wrong with that sea anchor (Meal Plan). Lifting it (not following/stopping) will not by itself be of benefit to you. You are not making any progress by setting yourself adrift again in those dangerous waters. In this situation the anchor is not your problem, it is your salvation.
But over time you will want to move on. So, you think about where to go from here, looking for a safe direction and a worthwhile goal.
Once you have made up your mind where you want to go, you plot a course out of the treacherous waters. Now your anchor has turned into a hindrance and lifting it (i.e. getting off the Meal Plan) will set you free to move towards the goals you have chosen according to your deeply held values.
Makes sense?