In 1996 I graduated from Minneapolis Community College with a degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling. An AA that covered a mainly behavioral modification approach to recovery but included a liberal introduction to the 12 step program of AA and other introspective approaches like Gestalt and Freudian psychoanalysis. Self efficacy was the buzzword of the day. According to Wikipedia the accepted definition of self efficacy is the extent or strength of one's belief in one's own ability to complete tasks and reach goals. In the modern world of self help books the buzzword is empowerment and sometimes self esteem. Most of my professional career as a counselor and then later as a peer counselor and priestess, it interests me that we as a culture continually dance with this issue of self efficacy, self esteem, and empowerment. I want to spend some time looking at each concept and relating them specifically to how they fit into the world of recovery whether it is from addiction issues to coping effectively with chronic illnesses.
Self esteem is usually defined as a personal subjective emotional evaluation of their own worth. (Wikipedia). Empowerment refers to measures designed to increase the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities in order to enable them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority. Empowerment refers both to the process of self-empowerment and to professional support of people, which enables them to overcome their sense of powerlessness and lack of influence, and to recognise and eventually to use their resources and chances.
In situations where an individual is dealing with recovery from addiction issues or with the ability to handle a chronic illness self worth becomes a mitigating factor in the quality of self efficacy unless there are additional entities empowering the one needing healing.
In the inpatient program I worked in, we spent a lot of time discussing with our clients Maslow's Hierarchy of needs and how they related to their ability to recover and keep from relapsing. To this day I include a discussion of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs in most of my wicca classes when we start discussing ethics. My personal view is that when most individuals are performing magic spells or workings it is because one of those needs are not being met.[Spells are typically used in the wiccan community to effect the outside world while workings are typically used to change the mindset/perception of the individual performing the ritual.]
For a very brief introduction on Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs Abraham Maslow postulated that there was a pyramid scheme of conditions that needed to be met before a person could be self actualized or fully realize one’s potential. The base of the pyramid is called physiological referring to food, clothing, shelter. The second layer called safety, the third love/belonging, the fourth esteem, then finally self actualization. The theory goes that if part of the foundation is missing or challenged then it is harder to have positive self esteem that leads to self actualization. There are several studies that back this information up. Including recent studies that showed most incarcerated individuals are in their predicament because they were attempting to fill the basic needs of food, clothing and safety.
When the individual is faced with rebuilding their life and coping with the chaos of addiction and chronic illness self efficacy/actualization can become ab daunting task even with the support of close and extended family. There is an emotional toll and real time consequences of lack of resources as well as adjusting to a new normal of what your body can physically and emotionally manage.
My intent over the next several articles is to share my research and practical experience on approaches to recovery. I will freely admit I struggle. I struggle with depression and not feeling good enough but it is my hope that by sharing what i have learned it will bring hope and light to someone else in need and give other therapists and supporters tools to use in the future.
Blessed Be.
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