Parts of the Brain (Disease Part and Recovery Part)

We all have different parts of ourselves with different thoughts. Like the part of you that says: "Let's eat more ice cream." Then there's the part of you that says: "One serving is enough.'" Or the part that says: "Hit snooze again." And the part that says: "I know you want more sleep, but it's time to get up now." Or "it's ok to speed, the cops won't notice." And the part that says: “Don’t push it, you could get caught.” It’s completely normal to have different parts with different (sometimes opposing) ideas.

In Internal Family Systems1 (IFS), a powerful therapy modality started by Dr. Richard Schwartz in the 1990’s, and also in Adult Children of Alcoholics and Dysfunctional Families2 (ACA), a popular 12 step program, the focus is on getting to know these different parts of each of us. When a person is in Addiction Recovery, two of these parts are sometimes called The Disease Part and the Recovery Part.

The Disease Part is out to get you. It's your inner saboteur. It wants you to go down the long windy road back to using and abusing substances, or doing any other self-destructive behavior (anything to avoid your feelings, e.g. caretaking, perfectionism, workaholism, trying to fix/manage or control someone, etc.) The Disease Part is "cunning, baffling and powerful."3 It's very tricky. It will whisper to you (sometimes loudly, but often softly): "It's ok to do it (fill in your self-destructive behavior)... it's no big deal... you can handle it... you can have just one...or you Need to (force someone to do something)..." You may not notice that inner voice because it's so subtle or has been there for so long, but it's there.

On the other hand, the Recovery Part of you says things like: "Let's slow down and think first. Talk to your sponsor to get advice before making a big decision. Go to mtgs. Reach out to fellows. Read program literature (or other spiritual literature). Go for a walk or anything else healthy- listen to music, garden, play with pets, play with kids- if you don't have your own children, see about visiting a relative or someone who does have children, or just leave the room." A slogan is: 'Move a muscle, change a thought' which means just move, do something active, it can help change your thinking.

These parts can also be considered like a muscle. An important thing to know is that for most people, the Disease Part has been around for a lot longer, therefore it's a stronger muscle, than the Recovery Part. Imagine the big bully on the beach, kicking sand into the smaller, skinny guy on the beach. That big bully is your disease. They say the Disease is in the parking lot doing push-ups, just waiting. Waiting for you to give it an opening. Then it'll burst into your space and take over.

So what do you do about this? Start noticing. Start paying attention to your thoughts (or your ‘stinking thinking’). Listen for the voice that whispers: “do it, you can do it, it's no big deal.” Or maybe that part is anxious and says "you have to get them to do..." or "don't let them do...." in other words, "you need to fix or manage or control another person or situation." And when you notice it, say to yourself. "Ah that's my disease talking to me. It's trying to get me to do something unhealthy." Better yet, tell someone else in the program. Pick up the phone and call a fellow who gets it, who knows what it's like to have that part trying to get you to do self-destructive things. When you say out loud "My Disease is talking to me" it takes away some of its power. It's like taking the mask off the boogey-man or the zombie who's chasing you. Remember in the Scooby Doo or Batman TV shows, they always take off the mask at the end, and the bad guy isn't so powerful.

The more we notice, and name it, we can handle it better. With help. Sharing your thoughts with another fellow or a sponsor is helpful because the Disease thrives on secrecy. It will keep whispering in your ear and get more powerful... unless you name it and 'tell on it' to another fellow. When we say the Disease is ‘cunning, baffling and powerful,’ it means the Disease is sneaky, the Disease is the problem (not the person) and it's always there, just waiting. Warning: the minute you spot it, it'll find another way to slip back in. That can look like switching substance addictions. Or looking for a "geographic cure." Thinking: "If I change locations or move here, or if I switch jobs, or boy/girlfriends,.. then everything will be alright." The trouble is you, or more specifically your disease, is still there. Until it's acknowledged and addressed, one day at a time. Again, with help. There may be some people who can tackle this powerful disease by themselves, but most people can't do it alone.

1 The official Internal Family Systems (IFS) Institute website is https://IFS-Institute.com/

2 For more information on Adult Children of Alcoholic and Dysfunctional Families (ACA), visit www.adultchildren.org

3 Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th edition, page 58-59. www.aa.org