"How to Change Perception and Prevent Relapse"

Excerpt:

"PREVENTING RELAPSE BY ADDICTS AND ALCOHOLICS THROUGH PERCEPTION THERAPY
by Alan Meyers, Ph.D., C.C.Ht., Diplomate in Clinical Hypnotherapy"

HOW TO CHANGE PERCEPTION AND PREVENT RELAPSE

1. Begin to open your mind to new concepts.

2. Question, rather than just accept what is being told.

3. Admit to new possibilities.

4. Acknowledge that not everything is either black or white, but may be
grey.

5. Understand that what you may believe to be true, may just be someone
else's truth.

6. Adapt new ways of viewing your own specific situation.

7. Recognize that you behave in the way that you think.

8. Explore philosophies and theories that may help to change the way you
perceive.

9. Realize that what works for one, may not work for all.

10. Show willingness to recognize a change in perception when it occurs.


PERCEPTION THERAPY WORKS BY CHANGING THINKING

Thinking begins with "Perception." We perceive in the way that we have
been taught to perceive. Our perceptions about ourselves, others, and
life around us, begin at birth and continue throughout life.

Perception for most is equal to truth. Whether the taught perception is
true or not, makes no difference. The only thing that matters is that,
"I was told or taught this, or read this, so it must be true. Therefore,
one perceives in a certain way, which causes one to think in a certain
way, then causing one to behave in a particular way. For the individual,
the resulting behavior may be positive or negative, productive or
unproductive, all depending on how he/she was taught to perceive and
think.

Recovery and relapse prevention must begin with a change in perception.
We must recognize that the perceptions that we are being taught are
actually someone else's, not our own, and these perceptions were taught
to them by someone else. Are their perceptions true, or are they just
perceptions that they have been taught, by well-meaning or misguided
individuals who have also been taught by others?"

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Meyers2.html