How Psychological Scotoma Keeps You Trapped in Addiction
Topic at one glance
- What is Psychological Scotoma?
- The Dangers of Psychological Scotoma
- How to Avoid/Overcome Psychological Scotoma
By Paul G.
In Any Dispute with Reality, We Will Always Lose Eventually
The more our thinking is out of sync with reality, the more we suffer. The reverse is also true. The closer we can get our thoughts to reflect reality, the more inner peace we enjoy. This is why many rehabs now offer mindfulness (click here to find out more about mindfulness) and CBT training тАУ these therapies include tools to help us escape delusional thinking patterns.
Denial of reality is a battle we can never win┬атАУ so why do we do it? Unfortunately, it is usually not something we have decided consciously. It more often happens due to an unconscious effort by our ego to protect itself from parts of reality it finds threatening. One way it does this is through a process known as тАШpsychological scotomaтАЩ.
What is Psychological Scotoma?
The word тАШscotomaтАЩ is most commonly associated with vision, and it refers to a blind spot in the eye. A тАШpsychological scotomaтАЩ is another type of┬аblind spot┬аonly this one occurs┬аin the way we view reality. It means there is information in our experience that is inconvenient for our ego, and it responds by turning a тАШblind eyeтАЩ to it.
Psychological scotoma usually┬аarises as a response to cognitive dissonance. This refers to a situation where there is some type of conflict between our beliefs, opinions, and our behaviour. Our ego doesnтАЩt like there to be any obvious inconsistency in our thinking, and it responds to such a situation by using strategies such as psychological scotoma.
Dangers of Psychological Scotoma
- It may mean┬аwe fail to see solutions to our problems┬аbecause these options donтАЩt fit in nicely with our current beliefs and worldview.
- This blind spot can keep us┬аtrapped in maladaptive behaviour.
- It puts us in a┬аconflict with reality┬аthat we can never win.
- Our blind spot may be obvious to┬аother people, and this┬аmay┬аmean they┬аlose respect for us.
- If we resist attempts to shed light on these blind spots, it┬аcan make it hard for people┬а(e.g. therapists)┬аto help us.
How Can Psychological Scotoma Keep You Trapped in Self-Destructive Behaviours?
Those of us who are caught up in┬аaddiction (find out more about the neuroscience of addiction by clicking here)┬аare almost sure to have at least some psychological scotoma around our behaviour. It will be mixed in with other egoic strategies for ignoring reality such as denial, projection, intellectualisation, and repression.┬аIt is just not possible for our thoughts to accurately reflect reality, our ego wonтАЩt allow it, while we are abusing alcohol or drugs.
How to Avoid Psychological Scotoma
- Become more sceptical around your beliefs, opinions, and ideas тАУ┬аlearn to┬аthink critically.
- Develop the courage to face your psychological blind spots┬атАУ it is important to understand that these blind spots donтАЩt mean you are bad person.
- Listen to other people, especially those you respect, as they may be better able to see your blind spots.
- Practice mindfulness┬аas this will allow you to develop a much better understanding of your mind and how it is tricking you.
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Hope has been fortunate that author, Gabrielle Harris wrote this eye-opening book about her experienceтАЩs observing Hope RehabтАЩs program, including interviewing the staff & clients. On our library page you will find HopeтАЩs most pressures recourses, all developed by our team. We have decided to give these Workbooks away to anyone who needs them.┬а┬аfollow this link….
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