In this workshop we focus on understanding the human body as an open adaptive system responding intelligently to the environment in order to maintain the conditions for survival. We’ll explore how the body reacts adaptively to threats, and how addictions, in addition to being learned adaptive behaviors, are the result of physiological adaptations initiated by drug use. Further, we’ll explore how this results in the “hijack” of limbic functions, in particular the circuits related to motivation and threat. We’ll discuss escalating feedback loops and the dysfunction that leads to the pharmacological criteria of tolerance and withdrawal.
*This training is part of an 8 session series on co-occurring disorders and serious mental illness (COD/SMI) offered by Jeff Roskelley, LICSW. While there is benefit from attending an individual training & each session can stand on its own, each builds upon the previous and participants will gain maximum benefit from attending sessions 1-7 in succession.