MI in Addiction
Motivational Interviewing for AddictionHere you'll see a woman who is called to talk to a health psychologist, not in the context of addiction treatment. Because her doctor found some elevated liver tests and was a bit concerned and advised her to stop drinking. She comes in to talk about that, not wanting to be stigmatized, and yet concerned. Well, hello, Roberta. I'm really happy to see you. I'm happy you were able to make it in today, and I'm just wondering what it is you wanna talk about today?
Today, I guess what kinda brought me here was I-- I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago. And I've been having like some stomach pains. And she found out that there might be like liver damage. Oh, okay. So, also, my daughter just graduated from high school. And I-- I went to go see her, but she didn't wanna talk to me.
Oh, goodness. Okay. So you're having some concerning health problems, and then some, relationship problems with your daughter. Yeah. Okay. Tell me a little bit more about what's going on, I guess, with your daughter, what happened there? I haven't talked to her in about a year. Mhmm. I-- I got into a really bad car wreck a couple of years ago. And she hasn't talked to me since, since the car accident. Yeah.
Okay. What happened with the car accident? I got a DWI. Oh, okay. Yeah. So And that was related to your car accident? Yeah. Okay. And your daughter's unhappy with that. Her and her dad pretty much. And her dad. Okay. Alright. Well, what happened? Were you okay?
I ended up being okay. Ever since then, I've gotten divorced and pretty much her dad. By my ex-husband and my daughter don't really wanna have anything to do with me. So Okay. Which I can understand my ex-husband, but I just They're really important to you. Yeah. Okay. This is This has been terrible. One year of not talking with your daughter.
Yeah. Okay. And so then when you were getting closer to the time around the accident, what was your drinking like then? I was pretty much drinking as soon as I got up. Okay. Bill and I were having a lot of issues. He told me that he wanted to get a divorce, and I didn't want that. Mhmm. That's a very painful time. Yeah. Okay. So part of your drinking was dealing with all this negative stress and anxiety around not wanting a divorce.
Yeah. At that time. Okay. Alright. So right now, how what what are you getting from the alcohol? How is it helpful to you at this time? Well, when my daughter didn't wanna talk to me, I didn't really wanna think about that. So It's kind of an escape down, I guess. Okay. So when you're not wanting to feel something really powerful because that's really hurtful. Alcohol can sometimes help take away those feelings for a while.
Yeah. It just kinda helps me to not think about it. It's like I can't stop. I don't So do you feel like you start sometimes because something negative is going on, and then it's hard to stop? Feel kind of compelled to continue drinking. It's like this. It's like this cycle, you know, and it's like I know where it ends, but I just can't stop Even if you want to right now, it just feels like there's just no stopping.
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So it feels pretty out of control. Yeah. Mhmm. Maybe a little scary. A little bit. Mhmm. Okay. Yeah. I can see how that would be where you say. Yeah. And things are kind of getting compounded right now with your daughter not talking with you and then drinking and then seems like that's also another kind of cycle that's happening right now too for you. I'm sorry. Yeah, it's okay. It's a rough time. So while it's helpful to you, when you're struggling right now with these relationship issues, it's also, scary and maybe is also contributing to this relationship problem with your daughter.
Yeah. I mean, when most of your memories about your mom are of her being drunk, or I I I get it. I get why she doesn't wanna talk to me. I just don't know how to fix it. Yeah. So So you love her a lot, and it's-- you're really even being a mom right now, saying I understand why she wouldn't wanna talk to me no matter how hurtful that is to you. Yeah. And maybe that's part of what brings you in today. That you wanna repair that relationship and build that relationship back up.