The Definition of Insanity

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. - Albert Einstein

And what an insane world we live in. 

I'm sitting in my office today and a client walks in.

He has story that I've heard many times in my years as a front line worker in the Human Services field, and although his story is similar to many and it is still different than most.  

I sit and listen.

He has an addiction, something traumatic happened to him when he was younger and he couldn't cope with the tragedy and had turned to alcohol as a means to cope with his overwhelming emotions.  He had tried treatment many times.  Heck, he could even quote AA scripture to me and knew the "Big Book" inside out.  And yet, after years of treatment and relapsing, his longest run being sober was 18 months.

Sidenote - *This is not to say that AA doesn't work for everyone, it's actually been a successful approach for millions of now sober alcoholics.  My point is that repeating an approach that doesn't work for you is insanity within itself.

I listened to him talk a bit more about the reasons why he drank, and at some points in the conversation.  I found myself seeing his point.  He had burned bridges with friends and family, his health was failing and folks in the "street life" were constantly influencing him to do crime and drink with them.  

We even talked of his "triggers", such as things, people, events or emotions that initiate a craving for his addiction.

Now while you read this, you'd easily think that this guy might of pretty much made his own bed with the choices that he had made and now he should suffer the consequences of his choices and behavior.

But what if he didn't know that he had other choices?  What if this gentlemen was merely working off the knowledge he had grown up with and been trained in?

I asked him what he was seeking from me today and he stated that he would need help in finding housing, to be detoxed for a few days and then he'd be fine.  I asked him if this was what he usually did and he replied yes.  He sincerely wanted to be sober for good and out of the lifestyle he had become accustomed to.

I asked him if this was the way he usually "cleaned up" and he replied yes.  So then I replied with a question.  "If this plan hasn't worked for you in the past, what makes you think it will work this time after trying it many times over and failing at it?  This is insanity and you either need an  new idea or to add new tools to your arsenal so that when you do get overwhelmed with emotions, you can better deal with those emotions "hands on", and hopefully not turn to alcohol when triggered".

He agreed and asked how, so we talked about options and are now taking a step by step process so that we not only find him housing.  I will hopefully help him to successfully sustain that housing and not repeatedly become a victim of his addiction and misguided choices.

And this is a mere example of someone who has failed many times and a shadow of those who in turn have done the same.  Repeatedly doing the same thing over and over and yet expecting different results each time. 

If it doesn't work, why keep doing it?

How about we all try something new and today, even if it simply means doing something different in your routine.  If you're out of choices, then maybe ask someone else for their opinion.

You might not change the world today, but you could be taking a new step towards a better one.