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Compulsive behaviors can serve an idiosyncratic function in a person's life by filling a void, becoming a means of escape from stress, creating an illusion of power and control and/or providing relief from difficult aspects of life. Some common features of compulsive behaviors include the following:
A sense of powerlessness
Use of distorted thinking (i.e. denial, rationalization and minimization)
Impaired relationships with other adults (fear of intimacy)
A faulty, impaired sense of self
Leading a double life and feeling like an impostor
Continued acting out despite consequences and repeated attempts at control
Escalating behaviors involving increased risk
Time mismanagement and faulty resource allocation
A highly nurturing milieu creates a safe environment in which individuals can acknowledge destructive behaviors with full ownership while exploring influences from the past. Patients are protected from daily stressors and responsibilities in order to focus attention on the healing process. The clinical staff provides both the necessary support and confrontation to challenge each patient to maximize their healing potential. Patients learn to identify, modify and control behavior patterns that have negatively ruled their lives.
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