14. Sensitivity is an important factor in recovery

By Tom O'Connell

The word "sensitivity" is an important one in the world of health. And it has a great impact on the degree of recovery that's possible, whether from physical or mental health problems.

Sensitivity can be defined as "the capacity of an organism to respond to stimulation," and it also relates to "irritability." A person suffering from a hangover can be described as ultra sensitive, and so can a person recovering from a traumatic wound following an auto accident.

In Webster's New World Dictionary, one of the interpretations of the word sensitive is "easily offended, disturbed, shocked, irritated, etc., as by the actions of others; touchy." And still another relevant interpretation is "easily hurt; tender, raw."

Some people enter the world with very sensitive dispositions, and others become that way after experiencing difficult life experiences. And a high degree of sensitivity can easily lead a person to look for anesthesia in the form of just about any addiction that will  dull the effects of dealing with the inevitable challenges of life.

It has long been known that alcoholics tend to be very sensitive. And this was verified when the pioneers of Alcoholics Anonymous, after they had been sober a while, participated in an exhaustive study of "so-called problem drinkers." The conclusion was that these people "were still childish, emotionally sensitive, and grandiose." The very factors that helped lead them into troublesome drinking were also there to test their ability to find serenity in sobriety.  

The founders of AA were onto something when they saw that alcoholism combined mental obsession and physical allergy. And in the medical world, sensitivity is seen as a key factor in both allergies and obsessions.

When we keep thinking about something we are very sensitive about it. And when we are very allergic we are hypersensitive. And whether we were born with the sensitivity or developed it because of overexposure to a toxic situation or substance, that sensitivity has to be dealt with in recovery. Or there will be relapse.

In recovery from allergies, one method is desensitization. This is accomplished by  building up resistance to the offending substance. A similar concept is used in behavior therapy when the thing that is feared is gradually introduced to the patient, and the patient is taught to relax and reduce anxiety.

This sounds like the "harm reduction" approach to alcoholism. It may make sense for those who have not become full-fledged addicts. But for those whose consumption can escalate to deadly levels after taking one drink or one dose of a drug, the risks are high.

 If you're allergic to alcohol or another drug that may kill you or others, abstinence is the recommended approach. But abstinence is only the beginning. Then comes the adventure of healing the body, mind, and spirit. And that takes time.

It also takes help from others. So, to deal with the "childish, emotionally sensitive, and grandiose" traits, a program of character development is important. Mutual help groups enable people to deal with their sensitivities in healthy ways. And the most important remedy, at the heart of Twelve Step Programs, is spiritual growth.  

When one is committed to growing spiritually, sensitivity is needed. A positive meaning of "sensitive" is "having keen sensibilities, highly perceptive." So the very same sensitivity that can lead us into health problems can also lead to enhanced well-being.

Another interesting meaning of the word "sensitive" relates to radio and is "the degree to which a receiving set responds to incoming waves." It's also seen as the capability of "readily receiving very weak radio signals." In addition, "sensitive" can mean "operating readily in weak light, as certain television camera tubes."

So a close look at the meaning of sensitivity brings us in touch with powerful metaphors about the recovery process in various forms of disease, including the addictions. If a person commits to recovery and accepts the problems and pain of life along with the unexpected pleasures and the joy, awareness heightens and the comparison to a sensitive radio receiver is no exaggeration.

Recovery makes us receptive, gets us in touch with the unseen and unknown, and helps us to brighten the light of our own awareness. When the dark clouds leave the mind, new awareness and insight arrives, and the human receiver can become open to messages that make all the challenges of life worthwhile.

Life lived with a spiritual emphasis can take on new and vital meaning. Life, once seen as dreadful, can now be seen as good. Life, once seen as meaningless, can now be seen as full of wonders. And God, once seen as a tyrant, can now be seen as Love.

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