Page 25 - Animals to Atlantis

PARENT NOTES: INTRODUCTION WHY READ THESE STORIES
The road to behavior problems, school failure, substance abuse, etc., is paved with common irrational beliefs that form
a perception of our world so difficult to modify, that we will endure significant discomfort and failure prior to addressing them. Many of these beliefs are with us in childhood and remain in their unmodified version through adolescence and into adulthood. There is little in our society, education or culture to help us identify these beliefs and determine if they are rational or irrational.
Unfortunately, many of us must wait until we experience life failures and unhappiness before there is any possibility of evaluating of our belief system. This lack of understanding that our beliefs are the basis of our emotions and behaviors and lack emphases on learning effective, rational beliefs is at the core of many of the frustrations of parents, educators, therapists and law enforcement. Teaching our society, its children, adolescents and adults to manage their thinking and take responsibility for their lives is the challenge of the 21st Century.
Regarding Substance abuse, Jeanne Tschann in her 1994 article in Health Psychology wrote, One current scientific theory is
that those who stay with the habit (substance abuse), become increasingly dependent on alcohol or drugs, are using these substances as a medication of sorts, a way to soothe feelings of anxiety, anger, or depression.
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