Syllabus Psychology of Addiction and Addictive Behaviors Instructor Name: Instructor office hours:

Syllabus

Psychology of Addiction and Addictive Behaviors

Instructor Name:

Instructor office hours:

Contact information:

*all the expressive art multimedia for this is highlighted in yellow

Course Description and Objectives

This course gives you a thorough overview of psychological theories and methods for dealing with addictive behaviors. There are prominent models for conceptualizing addictive behaviors offered. Defining addiction psychology, behavioral addiction versus substance addiction, theories of motivation and addiction, the effect of addiction on families and friends, screening, interventions and group therapy, stages of change: transtheoretical model, and mindfulness-based treatment of addiction are just a few of the topics covered.

This course covers the brain mechanisms underlying motivated behaviors and the dysfunctions that lead to addictive behaviors. The course will also cover addictive behaviors that do not appear to have a pharmacological root, such as pathological social media addiction. A discussion will be made on whether these types of behaviors, such as excessive use of social media to perhaps overeating chocolate or other tasty food, would be considered an actual addiction or just a bad habit. The course will consist of readings that include articles on these topics, presentations and discussions by students of these articles, and writing short papers on specific topics of addiction.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

Demonstrate an understanding of addictive behaviors and practices of transpersonal recovery.

Ethically, respectfully, and effectively reflect on the recovery process with individuals and within groups.

Explore cross-cultural addictive behaviors and articulate how this has shaped their understanding of humans.

Gain, record, and share insights into personal addictive behaviors through journaling and creative exploration.

Participate in one 12-step group.

Demonstrate an understanding of discernment, mindfulness, compassion, and appreciation of differences.

Develop a lasting awareness and sensitivity to the host of emotional and physical impairments associated with addictions, and

Reflect on and share personal experiences, understandings, and attitudes related to the process of letting go of a habit or an addiction.

Instructor’s Philosophy of Teaching

Meaningful learning touches all aspects of our being: physical, social, intellectual, creative, emotional, and spiritual. Ideally, learning should be an active process of engaging with material in a way that is both challenging and personally rewarding. This course will facilitate learning that is relevant, meaningful, and practical to students through active, experiential and rooted in their practice. This course goal is to facilitate and support students in their progress and transpersonal transformation, and create safe spaces for collaborative and collective learning. A humanistic approach to teaching is student-centered and aims to support students as learners and individuals in all facets of their growth and development as human beings. Course material and discussions occur in an environment that is non-judgmental and sensitive to the human struggles reflected in psychopathology. The course strives to pluralism that values open minded inquiry with a spirit of mutual collaboration.

Time of Class
This course is offered Online in an asynchronous format.

Class Attendance/ Posting Requirements
The compact schedule for this course makes class attendance, posting, and active participation in discussions a priority. It is important to understand that this is NOT a self-paced course and that the window for class discussion is time-limited. Discussion material should be posted by Sunday of the week that the content is covered.

Confidentiality
Confidentiality of all case material and class discussions is to be respected and not shared outside of class unless you believe a person is potentially a danger to themselves or others, in which case you should speak to the instructor in accordance with XXX University administrative policies.

Course requirements

This is an interactive course. Students should therefore complete assigned readings available for each week and participate in discussions that will equally be posted. Students are expected to participate in reflecting assignments and addressing the weekly reflective assignments. At the end of the course, students are expected to submit a final paper as shall be instructed. In addition, students will work on an assigned 12-steps meeting reflection paper and submit on week 6, and letting go process final and prepare and present a multi-media presentation on their final paper at last week.

The final grade will be graded as follows:

Discussions 70 points

Reflection Paper 20

Final Paper 30 points

Multimedia Presentation 10 points

Total: 130 points for the course

A 125 – 130 points

A- 120 — 124
B 114 – 119 points

B- 110 – 113

No Pass = 109 or below

Long Term Assignments

Visit and Reflect on a 12- Step Meeting

Due week 6

Visit to one of the 12-steps programs of your choice, it can be via zoom or in person. If you attended a 12-step meeting before, please choose a different group of 12-step meeting. (For example, if you ever attended an AA meeting, choose an Alanon, or OA, or NA.)

You are encouraged to find a meeting by week 3 and visit in weeks 4-5.

You can find Alanon zoom meetings in this link.

By week 6, please write a reflection paper on your visit to 12-Step attendance & a reflection Paper about your experience. 3 pages double space

12-Step Attendance Reflection Paper- Guideline

1. Date, time, type of meeting
2. Describe each meeting. (format, atmosphere, etc.)
3. Describe the similarities and differences between the two meetings.
4. How many people attended the meeting? What are the demographics (average age, gender)?
5. Were there those in each meeting with whom you felt particularly comfortable? Why/why not?
6. What were the topics of each meeting? (What was the general discussion?)
7. List the emotions you felt in each meeting.
8. What was your overall emotional response to attending each of the meetings? What do you think triggered that response?
9. What was the one message you took from each meeting?

10. Did you identify, or were inspired by one of the speakers?

11. You may add any other thoughts.

Final Paper: Letting Go Journey

Due the last day of week 10

Everyone has habits, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with them. Some are pretty useful — maybe you lay out your clothes for work the night before or automatically turn off the lights when you leave a room. But other habits, such as biting your nails, drinking caffeine too late in the day, or hitting snooze too many times, might not be so beneficial.

Breaking unwanted habits can be difficult, especially if you’ve been engaging in them for a long time. But understanding how habits form in the first place can ease the process.

During the course you will be asked to give up one addiction or a habit which does not serve you well, or that you feel you would like to give up. For example, biting nails, surfing too long on social media, binging on Netflix instead of socializing, going to sleep late, procrastinating; or addiction like sugar, caffeine etc. You can always email me if you are not sure which habit to choose. Spend some time what can you be successful in the next ten weeks. What habit will you be comfortable to share with other students? Remember, this is a confidential process and is there to support each other.

Each week you will be asked to answer a few questions about your transformational process and post in our group discussion for peer feedback.

You will be asked to record the process with a visual media (a 20 seconds video, drawing, poem, slogan, taking an artistic photo etc.)

By week 10 you will be writing a final paper describing your journey, supported by the readings and the videos we covered in class. Your paper will also illustrate the theories of motivation in addiction and also transformational stage, transtheoretical model in your process. You will not have to write the paper from scratch, if you follow each week the assignment, your final paper will be almost completed. Enjoy the transformation journey.

Multi-Media Presentation:

Due week 9

By week 9 you will present your transformative letting go process by a creative multi-media.. Use your weekly a visual media you created each week (a 20 seconds vlog, video, tik-tok, reel, drawing, poem, slogan, taking an artistic photography, dance, etc.)

Course Schedule, Readings & Assignments Dates

Topics

Readings & Media

Deliverable/ Due Dates

Week 1

Oct 4

Introduction and Course Overview

Personal Introduction

Read Syllabus

What is addiction

Sign Confidentiality agreement

Plan 12-steps visit

Week 2

Oct 11

Defining Addiction Psychology

https://www.apa.org/topics/substance-use-abuse-addiction .

Griffiths, M. E. (2005). A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191-197.

Liese, B. S., & Reis, D. J. (2016). Failing to diagnose and failing to treat an addicted client: Two potentially life-threatening clinical errors. Psychotherapy, 53(3), 342-346.

Sellman, D. (2009). The 10 most important things known about addiction. Addiction, 105(1),
6-13.

Week 3

Oct 18

Behavioral Addiction Versus Substance Addiction

Alavi, S. S., Ferdosi, M., Jannatifard, F., Eslami, M., Alaghemandan, H., & Setare, M. (2012). Behavioral addiction versus substance addiction: Correspondence of psychiatric and psychological views. International journal of preventive medicine, 3(4), 290.

Holden, C. (2001). Behavioral addictions: Do they exist? Science, 294, 980-982.

Behavioral Addictions by the American Addiction Center https://americanaddictioncenters.org/behavioral-addictions

Leon de Kramer. Addiction is me. https://vimeo.com/562408221/ab4e48894c

Week 4

Oct 25

Theories of Motivation and Addiction

Sellman, D. (2009). The 10 most important things known about addiction. Addiction, 105(1),
6-13.

Shahnawaz, M., & Rehman, U. (2020). Social Networking Addiction Scale. Cogent Psychology, 7(1), 1832032. doi: 10.1080/23311908.2020

Walters, S. T., & Rotgers, F. (2013). Treating Substance Abuse, Third Edition: Theory and Technique (Third ed.). The Guilford Press. Chapter 1, pages 9-14

Week 5

Nov 1

The effect of Addiction on Families and Friends

Dayton, T. (2006). The set up: Living with addiction.

Alanon: Understanding ourselves https://www.al-anon-alateen-msp.org/pages/AboutAlcoholism.html

Ted Talk – Wasted: Exposing the family effect of addiction:

Week 6

Nov 8

Screening, Interventions and Group Therapy

12-steps visit paper

Week 7

Nov 15

Stages of Change: Transtheoretical Model

Prochaska & DiClemente (1982; 1986). Transtheoretical Model:

https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/drugtreat-pubs-front9-wk-toc~drugtreat-pubs-front9-wk-secb~drugtreat-pubs-front9-wk-secb-3~drugtreat-pubs-front9-wk-secb-3-3

PowerPoint Slide: Addiction and Stages of Change [attached]

Extra Materials:

Ted talk – Recovery: https://youtu.be/fOsjncIr6lE

Video link: https://youtu.be/M6klc_nSWrQ

Week 8

Nov 22

Mindfulness Based Treatment of Addiction

Garland, E.L., Howard, M.O. Mindfulness-based treatment of addiction: current state of the field and envisioning the next wave of research. Addict Sci Clin Pract 13, 14 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-018-0115-3

Extra Materials:

Ted talk – Change: https://youtu.be/qy7mwIDfNqk

Reflection and Discussion

View the video provided in the link: https://youtu.be/phecdaAVKto

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bj8k8GX6F50

Week 9

Nov 29

Work on your “Letting go Journey” Final Paper

Multi-Media Presentations

Multi Media Presentation Due 12/5

Week 10

Dec 6

Letting Go Journey: Final Paper

Letting Go Journey: Final paper

Due 12/12

Accommodations for Disabilities

If you need accommodations for a disability, please speak to the instructor before the course begins, or by the end of the first class. In order to receive accommodations for a disability in any course, a student must have already made previous arrangements through the Office of the Dean of Students, who is XXX University’s (formerly Institute of Transpersonal Psychology) disability officer. Students must contact the Dean of Student Services and have verification of disability on file prior to asking for special accommodations by the instructor.

All other information and materials related to the syllabus can be found in Canvas Portal under the XXX University Student Handbook:

https://portal.XXX.edu/ICS/Campus_Life/Campus_Life_Homepage.jnz?portlet=Handout s

This includes:

Academic Honesty/Integrity Statement

Information Literacy and Use of Library

Institutional Goals

Mid-Quarter Evaluation

Netiquette

Program Learning Objectives

Self-Disclosure

Writing Requirements

Week 1: Introduction and Course Overview

Discussion Post: Introduction

Please introduce yourself.

Then, share if you now anyone who struggles with an addiction, tell us more about this experience, what is the addiction, how did it influence the person and your relationship. You do not have to disclose personal details about the person or how do you know them if you choose not to. This can be a substance, caffeine, love, or a habit such as gaming, sleeping, smoking etc. Please maintain respectful environment and no judgment.

Do NOT respond to the shares of others, merely witness and hold sacred space.

Discussion Post:

Explain in your own words what is addiction. Share in your opinion without researching the definition.

Read syllabus

Sign confidentiality agreement

12- Step Meeting:

By week 6 you will have to write a short paper about your visit to one of the 12-steps programs. Please find a meeting. You can find zoom meetings in this link.

Reflection paper on a 12- step meeting

Due week 6

Visit to one of the 12-steps programs of your choice, it can via zoom or in person. If you attended a 12-step meeting before, please choose a different group of 12-step meeting. (For example, if you ever attended an AA meeting, choose an Alanon, or OA, or NA.)

You are encouraged to find a meeting by week 3 and visit in weeks 4-5.

You can find Alanon zoom meetings in this link.

By week 6, please write a reflection paper on your visit to 12-Step attendance & reflection Paper about your experience. 3 pages double space

12-Step Attendance Reflection Paper- Guideline

10. Did you identify, or were inspired by one of the speakers?

11. You may add any other thoughts.

Guidelines to weekly “Letting Go Journey” and long-term assignments:

Final Paper Directions: Letting Go Journey

Due the last day of week 10

Breaking unwanted habits can be difficult, especially if you’ve been engaging in them for a long time. But understanding how habits form in the first place can ease the process.

Each week you will be asked to answer a few questions about your transformational process and post in our group discussion for peer feedback.

You will be asked to record the process with a visual media (a 20 seconds video, drawing, poem, slogan, taking an artistic photo etc.)

Multi-Media Presentation:

Due week 9

Week 2: Defining Addiction Psychology

Discussion Post:

Readings:

The definition of addiction in the APA

https://www.apa.org/topics/substance-use-abuse-addiction .

Griffiths, M. E. (2005). A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191-197.

Liese, B. S., & Reis, D. J. (2016). Failing to diagnose and failing to treat an addicted client: Two potentially life-threatening clinical errors. Psychotherapy, 53(3), 342-346.

Sellman, D. (2009). The 10 most important things known about addiction. Addiction, 105(1),
6-13.

Video:

Ted talk on addiction:

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines addiction as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long lasting and can lead to many harmful, often self-destructive, behaviors.

Having a clear understanding of the Definition of Addiction can help the entire process of confronting, treating and recovering from one’s abuse and/or addiction to drugs or alcohol. It also helps break down personal and social stereotypes associated with addiction that can interfere with recovery.

Assignment: Addiction is a “transparent” disease, why is it hard to diagnose it?

What is the new information you learned about addiction from the reading this week? Any new facts you did not know before this week? Why did it surprise you? Please quote.

Write a paragraph of 250 words or less and respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once.

Weekly Reflection Questions:

Identify your triggers

Remember, triggers are the first step in developing a habit. Identifying the triggers behind your habitual behaviors is the first step in moving past them. Spend a few days tracking your habit to see whether it follows any patterns.

Briefly describe the unpleasant habit you are willing to abstain from.

Where does the habitual behavior happen?

What time of day?

How do you feel when it happens?

Are other people involved?

Does it happen right after something else?

Did you ever acknowledge that the problem existed?

Create a creative multimedia for this week’s experience.
Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once

Week 3: Behavioral Addiction Versus Substance Addiction

Plan 12-step meeting:

Find and write in your schedule a 12-step meeting, zoom or in-person.

If you attended a 12-step meeting before, please choose a different group of 12-step meeting. (For example, if you ever attended an AA meeting, choose an Alanon, or OA, or NA.)

Discussion Post:

Readings:

Holden, C. (2001). Behavioral addictions: Do they exist? Science, 294, 980-982.

Behavioral Addictions by the American Addiction Center https://americanaddictioncenters.org/behavioral-addictions

Video:

Leon de Kramer. Addiction is me. https://vimeo.com/562408221/ab4e48894c

Assignment:

What is the difference between behavioral addiction versus substance addiction? Watch the short animation by Leon de Kramer. Do you think computer gaming is a behavioral addiction or substance addiction? Support your answer with the readings and video for this week.

Write a paragraph of 250 words or less and respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once.

Weekly Reflection Questions:

Focus on the Change-

Why do you want to break or change a certain habit? Research by Gardner, 2012 suggests it may be easier to change your behavior when the change you want to make is valuable or beneficial to you.

Take a few minutes to consider why you want to break this habit?

Did you consider your habit interfering with your health? Your daily life?

What are benefits you see resulting from the change? Listing these reasons may help you think of a few that havn’t occurred to you yet.

Did you try to quit before? What sabotages the process?

*For added motivation, write your reasons down on a piece of paper and keep it on your fridge, bathroom mirror, or another place where you’ll see it regularly

Create a creative multimedia for this week’s experience.
Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once

Week 4: Theories of Motivation and Addiction

Discussion Post:

Readings:

Walters, S. T., & Rotgers, F. (2013). Treating Substance Abuse, Third Edition: Theory and Technique (Third ed.). The Guilford Press. Chapter 1, pages 9-14

Shahnawaz, M., & Rehman, U. (2020). Social Networking Addiction Scale. Cogent Psychology, 7(1), 1832032. doi: 10.1080/23311908.2020.1832032

There are three significant features of addictive behavior that need to be explained by any adequate theory of drug addiction. The first is drug craving, which is simply an intense ‘wanting’ of drugs. The second is: why drug craving often persists or can be reinstated, long after the discontinuation of drug use. The third is that: as craving for drugs increases the pleasure derived from drugs often decreases. Why is this? We will cover the various theories, and their biological models:

a. Negative reinforcement views of addiction (escape from distress):

b. A positive reinforcement view of addiction (pleasure-seeking):

c. The incentive-sensitization view of addiction:

Extra Materials- Video:

Ted talk – War on Drugs- Ethan Nadelmann

Ted Talk: Are we in control on our own decisions? Dan Ariely

Assignment:
Please write what are the negative reinforcement, the positive reinforcement, and the incentive-sensitization of social media addiction. Which one, of all current social media is most addictive in your opinion.

Then, please take the social networking addiction scale. You do not have to share the exact results, just the experience of taking this scale. Were the results surprising? Will you make a change after getting your score?

Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once.

12-step meeting:

Attend a 12-step meeting, zoom or in-person.

Weekly Reflection Questions:

Enlist a friend’s support-

Dealing with cravings on your own can be challaning. Finding a great support system can be curial. It can be a group, or an individual. It won’t make the cravings go away. But it might be easier to deal with when facing them with a solid support system.

Consider finding a support system or a trusted friend to help you with the habit you are trying to break. They can encourage you in times of doubt and gently remind you of your goal if they notice you slipping back into old habits.

Mention or describe any support system that helped you change behavior and quit the addiction/habit. What did you choose them?

Do you think there is anyone who can assist you? Mention them if possible.

Are these individuals reachable? Are they in your community in your social network?

Create a creative multimedia for this week’s experience.
Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once

Week 5: The Effect of Addiction on Families and Friends

Discussion Post:

Reading:

Dayton, T. (2006). The set up: Living with addiction.

Alanon: Understanding ourselves https://www.al-anon-alateen-msp.org/pages/AboutAlcoholism.html

Video:

Ted Talk – Wasted: Exposing the family effect of addiction:

Addiction is a family disease. Do you agree with this statement? Explain your approach. Support your answer with quotes and citations from the readings and video.

Assignment:

There are many possible ways that addiction can affect loved ones.

Write a short letter to your loved one who is battling addiction describing how you have been affected.

Parents

Best Friend

Romantic Partner

Coworker

Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once.

Extra Materials:

Ted talk – Breaking a bad habit: https://youtu.be/-moW9jvvMr4

12-step meeting:

If you did not in week 4, attend a 12-step meeting, zoom or in-person.

Weekly Reflection Questions:

Practice Mindfulness-

Mindfulness can help you develop awareness around your thoughts, feelings, and actions. This practice involves simply observing impulses that relate to your habit without judging them or reacting to them.

As you become more aware of these routine behaviors and the triggers that lead to them, you may find it easier to consider other options, such as avoiding reminder cues or not acting on the urges.

What was it like during your first week of trying to quit?

What did you feel during your first attempt to quit?

What did you do instead during your contemplation stage?

Create a creative multimedia for this week’s experience.
Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once.

Week 6: Screening, Interventions and Group Therapy

This week there are no assigned readings or discussions. Rather, you will work on your 12-step reflection paper described below.

12-Step Attendance & Reflection Paper:

Attend a minimum of two (different) 12-step program groups during the course of the semester and prepare a reaction paper summarizing, comparing, and contrasting your experiences at the meetings.

The 12-step groups you attend one of the meetings you attend must be an Alanon meetings. Here is the link to the Alanon Los Angeles Area zoom meetings:

12-Step Attendance Reaction Paper- Guidelines

1. 1. Date, time, type of meeting
2. Describe each meeting. (format, atmosphere, etc.)
3. Describe the similarities and differences between the two meetings.
4. How many people attended the meeting? What are the demographics (average age, gender)?
5. Were there those in each meeting with whom you felt particularly comfortable? Why/why not?
6. What were the topics of each meeting? (What was the general discussion?)
7. List the emotions you felt in each meeting.
8. What was your overall emotional response to attending each of the meetings? What do you think triggered that response?
9. What was the one message you took from each meeting?

10. Did you identify, or were inspired by one of the speakers?

11. You may add any other thoughts.

12. Conclusion.

Week 7: Stages of Change: Transtheoretical Model

Discussion Post:

PowerPoint Slide:

Addiction and Stages of Change [attached]

Reading:

Please read the stages of changes: https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/drugtreat-pubs-front9-wk-toc~drugtreat-pubs-front9-wk-secb~drugtreat-pubs-front9-wk-secb-3~drugtreat-pubs-front9-wk-secb-3-3

Videos:

How Our Weaknesses Can Become Our Strengths | David Rendall | TEDxZurich

Extra Materials:

Ted Talk: Six Steps to Life-Altering Change for Addicts and Convicts | Moe Egan & Tim Stay https://youtu.be/qy7mwIDfNqk

Assignment:

Quitting a habit or an addiction is not easy. It involves making commitments and changes by modifying the behaviors that are sometimes considered part of your life. Adopting a new way is not easy, but small incremental changes can help you through.

After reviewing the stages of change, what stage do you think is the most challenging to achieve? Why? Do you think once you overcome this stage you have more chances to stay away from the habit or addiction?

Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once.

Weekly Reflection Questions:

Replace the habit with a different one-

You might have an easier time breaking a habit if you replace the unwanted behavior with a new behavior, instead of simply trying to stop the unwanted behavior.

For example, if you want to stop reaching for candy when you are hungry at work. If you simply try to avoid the candy dish, you might fall back into the habit when you cannot resist hunger. But drinking water, or bringing in a Tupperware of dried fruit and nuts to keep at your desk gives you another snack option.

As you repeat the new behavior, the impulse to follow the new routine develops. Eventually, after you see rewards from the new habit — more energy and less of a sugar crash — the urge to keep doing this behavior might outweigh the desire to pursue the old habit.

Did you find any tool to help you with the habit/addiction in your attempt to quit?

Can you describe any experiences you felt during the various stages of change?

Did you experience any challenges during this past few weeks?

When you feel like engaging in the habit, what did you replace it with?

Create creative multimedia for this week’s experience.
Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once

Week 8: Mindfulness Based Treatment of Addiction

Discussion Post:

Readings:

Videos:

Listening to shame | Brené Brown https://youtu.be/psN1DORYYV0

10 AA Slogans and Their Deeper Meanings: https://youtu.be/phecdaAVKto

Assignment:

Brené Brown is abstaining from her addiction for over two decades. Her main work is about and vulnerability and courage. She claims that vulnerability is not a weakness. What is the connection between finding vulnerability and courage and breaking away from an addiction in your opinion?

Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once.

Weekly Reflection Questions:

Plan for slips-

Rather than beating yourself up over a mistake, plan for it. We all get off track, what separates top performers from everyone else is that they get back on track very quickly. Use the word “but” to overcome negative self–talk. When battling an unpleasant habit it is easy to judge ourselves for not acting better. Give it away and do not quit.

Did you experience any challenges during the process?

Did you develop any means to reduce the stress associated with the process?

Did you manage to keep it up all week?

Did you engage in any active forms of support to help you through? Mention examples of such active forms of support.

Create a creative multimedia for this week’s experience.
Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once

Week 9:

Final Paper Directions: Letting Go Journey

This week there are no assigned readings or discussions. Rather, you will work on your “Letting go Journey” paper described below.

These past few weeks have been a journey through a lot of material. I hope as a result of it that you have had much to consider on the subject of addictive behaviors. Perhaps you have been transformed in some ways as a result of the readings, activities, or reflections. I hope that if your journey involves any type of transformative experience, that this course has been helpful with your process. Besides being a tremendous learning experience for me, it has been a pleasure for me to witness so much investigation and growth.

Breaking unwanted habits can be difficult, especially if you’ve been engaging in them for a long time. But understanding how habits form in the first place can ease the process.

During the course you were asked to give up one addiction or a habit that does not serve you well, or that you feel you would like to give up. For example, biting nails, surfing too long on social media, binging on Netflix instead of socializing, going to sleep late, procrastinating; or addiction like sugar, caffeine etc. You can always email me if you are not sure which habit to choose. Spend some time what can you be successful in the next ten weeks. What habit will you be comfortable to share with other students? Remember, this is a confidential process and is there to support each other.

Each week you will be asked to answer a few questions about your transformational process and post in our group discussion for peer feedback.

Summarize the Process

How would you describe the experience in quitting the addiction/habit?

Were you successful in the process?

What motivated you in the process?

Did you have any doubts if the process will work?

What kept you from avoiding it?

Summarize the process for anyone wishing to quit from their habit/addiction.

Based on the challenges you encountered, what would you recommend to them?

How should the person approach the process?

Writing a final paper describing your journey, supported by the readings and the videos we covered in class. Your paper will also illustrate the theories of motivation in addiction and also transformational stage, transtheoretical model in your process. You do not not have to write the paper from scratch, if you follow each week the assignment, your final paper will be almost completed, add the answers to the questions below – ‘summarize the process’.

Please submit your final as a written paper and not answers to the questions.

10 pages double space. Due the last day of week 10

Week 10: Multi-Media Presentation + Farewell

Multi-media presentation:

Please prepare a brief, 6 minutes multi-media presentation of your “Letting go Journey” paper. The presentation should be no more than 6 minutes in length. It can be a PowerPoint, Tik-Tok, reel or a short movie. If a student needs guidance in preparing an effective PowerPoint presentation the Virtual Writing Lab will offer guidance in creating effective PowerPoint presentations.

I am particularly interested in how you use what they have learned in the course to support this journey.

Post your multi-media presentations.

Respond to one of your classmates. Feel free to respond to this item more than once

Feedback and Farewell:

Please post any feedback that you have about the course, and any farewells to your cohort. It has been a pleasure to learn from all of you and to witness so many transformative experiences.

Blessings and I hope you have a wonderful break.

Private Share – Submit:

Final Letting Go Journey Final Paper

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