At first glance, the connection between movies and addiction seems a bit far-fetched; an entertaining one and a hell of a one. What connects them are the concepts of Cunning, Baffling, and Powerful. Every person in addiction recovery hears those words over and over again, often learning the terms by heart. But they are abstract concepts and are often unclear in a person’s mind. Movies, on the other hand, can offer an emotional and visual example of something that is otherwise lacking in true understanding. It is possible to learn from the movies; They offer a completely indirect experience, touching each of our senses.

Movies are more than just entertainment. They are an artistically designed product that you can teach indirectly. A really good movie, with a compelling story, interesting characters, and factual information woven into the plot, offers the perfect teacher by making a lasting impression. It attracts us, we feel something, we wake up to an experience and we remember. In movies, it is the story that first attracts us. For a short period of time, we are part of the experience that is happening right in front of us. We can see and hear what the characters do. Good characters and excellent acting remind us of the people we know, or of ourselves and our own experiences; we can relate. An actor’s facial expression or body language can make us feel the same; your touch becomes our touch. Paced action keeps us engaged and our attention focused on the moment. Time is suspended. Music brings the experience together and opens our emotions to literally feel the experience. And, if we add eating popcorn or candy, movies can give us a real experience that touches all of our physical senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. An experience that awakens all of our senses is an experience that can be used therapeutically for behavior change.

Crafty

Addiction means that it has taken over; a crazed jockey is riding us. We say and do things that we think we would never say or do. And yet we do. No matter what the consequences are, we do them. This brings up the first word of the addiction mantra: Cunning. Cunning means cunning, calculating, cunning, or cunning. After years of recovery, it can wait until you feel tired, hungry, or angry, and then it suddenly comes up like a thought out of nowhere … you may even feel it shooting up from behind and it suddenly pops into your head: ten years, I’m sure I could have a drink now. Or I haven’t missed it in all these years, so I can’t be an addict. “The cunning of addiction fools us into believing what isn’t true. For an example of cunning personified, watch the movie RIVER WILD with Kevin Bacon and Meryl Streep. Kevin Bacon’s character is cunning. He seduces others into believing him by acting friendly, helpful and harmless. Constantly observes and reads people, quickly getting to know them. Waits for the right moment to attack and take advantage of the others. Find his weak point and attack from that direction. At heart, he is cold-blooded, heartless and cruel. In addiction counseling, it is learning that we are in the grip of something very cunning until we become vigilant.

Baffling

Do you remember Bill Macy in FARGO? Give an excellent example of the confusion and denial that is perplexing. He doesn’t see his life falling apart before him. You may feel it physically, but that’s part of what drives you deeper and deeper. You lie to yourself and everyone else. Believe their lies. Everything will be fine. He tells a lie to cover up another. We see it compensate in front of our eyes, just as others can with us when we are in denial, until the moment we come face to face with the power of addiction. And that power is not loving and kind. It will destroy us.

Powerful

I am asking you now to imagine a power beyond your current imagination. Unless you have literally lived through an earthquake, tornado, hurricane, or other seismic rebellion of nature, you cannot truly embody the true meaning of powerful. Unless, of course, you’ve been consumed by addiction. Watch George Clooney in PERFECT STORM. Throughout the film, he battles the converging forces of nature one by one, going deeper and deeper into the maelstrom until he can’t get out. Suddenly, the realization dawns, with perfect clarity, the total awareness of the real power of nature that he faces as he stretches his head to see how the wall of water collapses on him. It is a visceral experience of utter helplessness. That is the power of addiction; So deep that you can’t get out alone

There is a reason people go to 12-step meetings. They are a reminder to be vigilant, to always remember that the predator, the Addiction, will seek our weak point and then attack. That is cunning. There is a reason to listen to friends, family, and the law when they tell us that our life has become unmanageable. And there is a reason to become aware of how deeply we are sinking into habits of destructive behavior before jumping off the cliff. The power of addiction can consume us. It’s just what it does.

There is a way to raise awareness and gain enlightenment that traditional addiction counseling can help. Go rent RIVER WILD, FARGO and PERFECT STORM. Really understand the concepts of Cunning, Baffling, and Powerful. Then go to a 12-step meeting or therapy session and really have an honest conversation. It’s amazing how honesty can speed up the recovery process.