MIND MAP

My mind map beings at the bottom of the tree, or the roots which are buried deep into the group. These roots represent the determinants of health - the factors which determine the amount of positive or negative health we encounter in out lives. The trunk of the tree stands for the main bulk of addiction related issues being substance use/abuse, process based addictions and mental health. All of these are influences by the determinants of health and furthermore, go one to impact the branches of the tree, or the dimensions of wellness. There are seven branches, each representing a dimension of health (emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual). At the end of each branch we find old, colour leafs which represent the negative impacts of addiction and mental illness which can be experienced as a result of poor wellness across the dimensions. However, on other branches there are new leaf buds which represent the positive wellness  possible when behaviours are changed. 

My mind map focuses on the different elements involved in the occurrence and the recovery of substance abuse. I think these are vitally important to how I view addictions as I belief that there is not only on theory for addiction but rather many different roots that lead to the same circumstance. I believe that how the individual believes they have gotten to the situation they are in, should be the only focus when asking why this has happened to them rather than classifying it as a disease, genetics, or any other specific mechanism. Essentially, I think that an individual experiences is the key to both the onset and they treatment of substance or process based addictions and that each individual needs to be assessed and treated accordingly. Similarly, I believe that the individual differences between individuals is the motivating factor in how they go about seeking treatment (i.e. where on the continuum of services), what approaches work best (i.e. group counselling, self help), and which areas of wellness need to be improved (i.e. emotional, social, occupational). Basically, everyone had their own story and they is the only one which should matter to the intervener.