Stroop Effect Using Stroop Charts

Stroop Charts producing the Stroop Effect, are shown and taught in Recovery 2-Day (R2D).

 

The Stroop Effect interrupts cravings when a person’s brain experiences withdrawals from drugs or alcohol i.e., substance dependence and or obsessive thought. Recovery 2-Day has not only introduced an effective tool, it also provides a valuable lesson in future neuroscience research. To experience the Stroop Effect the Stroop Chart must be introduced.  With R2D this is done as soon as a person entered treatment, even if a person is not using a facility to rehabilitate in, Stroop is safe to use at home or under any condition, or after finishing a facility treatment, Stroop Charts can be introduced at any stage, the sooner the better.  Once introduced to Stroop, then the tool becomes a daily practice, repeated three or four times a day, with or without associated cravings, since the brain needs to be shown a memory process interrupted. “Teaching an old dog (old brain) new tricks (new brain)” is the method behind the scene. Simply put, Stroop gives your brain the ability to “unfreeze” a thought, memory, or emotion, while it is active.  Once that is experienced, then the same process can be and is applied to other issues and those issues do not have to be problem driven.

 

For conflict resolution to happen, we need the ability to see sides of the conflict without needing to pick one.

 

 

With this physiological (functional) tool, cravings experienced with substance withdrawals or stress related issues, cravings are felt psychosomatically (mentally induced) or driven by the dysregulated brain damage seen in later stages of substance dependence, in either case, craving can be interrupted and that is critical in the first hours and minutes for a person attempting to quit substance misuse, substance abuse and substance dependence.

Stroop Effect is effective, for the duration of craving windows, each substance seems to supply different times lines in craving occurrences. We know for example people experience “using” dreams or “using thoughts” months or years after the substance is absent in the physical sense. This tells us, the memory associated with substance use, remains, memory. Euphoric recall, “romancing” the stone, has to be addressed. If this “thought” is entertained, it can reproduce the “old brain” to consider revisiting a past event. Stress will and often does cause a person to old tools, or old habits.

 

 

 

If we consider co-occurring disorders and R2D does, then we have multiple issues that can create the cravings. Depending on if the disorders are active, diagnosed or undiagnosed, and going untreated while a person attempts quitting a substance used in the past to treat the “other disorders.”

 

The Stroop Chart, Stroop Effect is not limited to substance cravings and has multiple uses. To be clear, Stroop Chart tools can be shown during detoxification and after, with higher success after a person is medically detoxed. Stroop can be safely shown to persons with co-occurring disorders. For such a simple looking chart, its reach is wide.  Note: We know of one individual that used the Stroop Chart while actively using crack-cocaine to interrupt his lapse and called for help, while he still had crack in his possession and high. Obviously that cannot be seen as Stroop Effect, the more likely scenario was the visual reminder that he wanted to quit and since he had previous success, with R2D, he called for help in that call he did admit to using the Stroop Chart, to stop, long enough to call. This does show however, that his brain, even while high could see the value of Stroop, and knowing he could get well, once more. (See article Who Killed Bob)

 

Notice we said “when a person’s brain experiences withdrawals.” Before we attempt to explain that, the Stroop Effect has its limits.  There are three limiting factors with the Stroop Chart/ Stroop Effect/ Stroop experiment; in the way R2D is using the Stroop Chart it only works for men and women that can read, that are not color blind and are not sight impaired.  That does limit using the Stroop Chart efficiency, so we cannot say it will work 100% of the time due to those restrictions.

 

 

 

However, if you are not color blind, sight impaired with basic reading skills this tool can help you overcome cravings experienced at any stage of the recovery process from Substance Use Disorders (SUD).

 

SUD, is going to become the term used in medical circles describing persons with substance problems, this allows inclusivity instead of isolated or isolating substance problems. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) have designated substance problems in the past by substance, this cuts down on repeating information.

Alcohol Use Disorder, Cocaine Use Disorder, Opioid Use Disorder, or “something Use Disorder” is Use Disorder.

 

Where R2D prepared for this upcoming change, was moving to the inclusive term of Substance Problem, again to be inclusive, not exclusive in the treatment of men and women with substance problems, allows for a melting pot to form, that allows us to move away from “how much” a person “used” and what substance they used, all collected under the umbrella of “substance” and anyone having a problem with a substance is also inclusive, since not only the person using the substance is affected. Family, friends, loved ones are all affected. This also allows us to avoid the ego of war stories. This also allows for a safer entrance for any disorder, since the competition of “who is the sickest” is removed. The competition needs to be “who is getting better, not sicker.” This creates an environment for a smoother transition to not using stigmatized industry labels such as alcoholic, addict or the hybrid addict-alcoholic, each have negative stigma, and delays treatment and there is zero common ground as to what is the medical description of each. The problem with stigmatized labels, they never allow a person to get better and lock them to a negative self image always associated with their past, and never allows for the freedom of a now, or future of better mental health.  Substance Problem or problems caused by substances, does describe all conditions, without the harshness or need any of stigma.

 

 

 

 

Once the Stroop Chart is introduced and the Stroop Effect is experienced, R2D then moves quickly to keeping the cravings from taking a person “out” from the help they originally sought. In the treatment of substance problems the objective is really about lapse or full relapse prevention, when a person is trying to quit.  Lapse or full relapse can be avoided, with the proper tools and attitude towards using them.  Learning to live after detox if recovery is needed, this is how R2D defines recovery:  the period of time needed to move from life with a substance problem, to the new life without it. We know life is complicated or more so, if a person has depended on substances as a method to treat their past and present life conditions.

 

Quitting will take all your effort, but it gets “easier” as you build confidence in what you are attempting to do. R2D is experiential; you gain confidence from “doing” not to be confused with “service” type works,  “keeping busy” can have its advantages, it is a distraction but people need more than staying busy to treat the silent brain. The silent brain is the chemical reaction that is under severe stress. The stress of a dysregulated neurosystem, one of many terms used to describe brain disease.

 

 

 

 

A simple way of looking at, or understanding how dysregulation occurs, and avoiding all the Latin or medically correct terms/ names for the brains parts, need to be laid out so anyone can understand the brain disorders moving to brain disease.  If we move and used the analogy of a computer without any previous computer skills the image will be close to what happens in our brain.

 

First we need to understand that all computers are designed originally to operate at an optimum performance if it was feed by electricity. A power system that feeds the computer has a variance of plus or minus levels but it prefers a constant voltage to operate at its designed intent.  For simplicity, we will use 10 volts in this example, in the daily usage, its components  can withstand drops in its optimum power range, it can operate sluggishly at the under voltage of  5 volts, you could consider your computer “depressed,” if it runs at the lower voltage.   If it can operate at an overvoltage,  12 volts you could view it as hyperactive,  but the components at the higher voltages burn out quickly if they can operate at all,  the electrical components wear out much faster, one could say “it was abusing” its system in either condition other than optimal.

 

Then, our once perfect power supply has a physical problem it could be a manufacturing problem (i.e. genetics, predisposed), an external problem or internal problem, and instead of filtering out the excess power, it increased the power to 13 volts. The computer is “overheating” all of the components, while some components with safety features, try to reduce the overvoltage and do so, until they cannot. Eventually the components “adjust” to the higher power levels. It is dysregulated the moment, the component instead of shutting down, adjusts.

 

Now, due to dysregulation, the component will not work on its normal 10 volts as originally designed. To fall below 13 volts, once adapted to is seen as “I am in danger, Scotty we need more power!” Our once perfect computer due to a prolonged exposure to the higher voltage adapted to the higher levels and senses any drop, as dangerous. In essence we moved from normal 10 to abnormal 13 to normal 13 whereby going back to 10 would be abnormal, even if the standard is 10.  The stress produced on all the components reduces the actual life span of each part. Where it was sluggish at 5 volts, would appear as complete failure (severe depression) to the dysregulated system. Also due to “over working” or over voltage conditions, the 13 volts (13v), starts to “bleed” down, 12.9v, 12.8v, v12.7v never reaching the once “top voltage”, this slight reduction, from 13v to 12.Xv is seen (felt) now as a loss or not being optimum, to complete failure, trying to attain a level once experienced but unable to attain, the power supply, cannot reach its mistake, 13 volts now is registered as “normal” where originally 10 volts was its optimal normal condition. To return to 10 volts will make everything run smoothly, the system fights to go to the higher voltage. The brain “computer” is permanently altered.

 

Here is the good news, we are not computers, and your brain does not function entirely like electronic components. We have something called “neuroplasticity” our brains “adapt” in the case of dependence to the degree of disease, but if the brain is given a “break” from the over exposure, it will readjust “IF” it is not too severely damaged, there are cases where the damage from long term exposure is too much to overcome, luckily this is the latter stages and seen in only the most severe cases, about ten percent of the time. That means ninety percent can and do, get better.  However due to the previously substance exposure, that “memory” will forever be a part of that brains “experience.” More importantly, the part that stored the memory is developed prior to our capacity to think about it. Our “thought” area developed last. That means our memory is stored by senses, against our emotions. And how we “feel” is then thought about. In a conscious brain, is where our “thought” area is fully developed, it however has less “attachments” back to our “feelings” so our feeling or feelings will often conflict with our thoughts. Each produce a chemical reaction, chemicals release in to our brain, causing an explosion of sorts, imagine a nonstop daily fireworks display, a burst of energy, shooting out in every direction,  excitement, fear, joy, pleasure, pain, anger and then, imagine, which one we like the best? That prompted the “let me think about that” response for those that can “think,” cognition the front of the brain, is the last portion that fully develops around the age of twenty-five or twenty-six.

 

This also somewhat explains the “overdose” levels of tolerance “over voltage” are driven down, during detoxification processes,  while away from the exposure, when a “craving” happens and the person returns to the “memory” of what dose was needed, we have a problem. If the person “remembers” how much they “used” to dose, and acts on the “old” over voltage, a sudden increase can blow all the circuits, we have an overdose. Since the brain had, in a short period of time “readjusted” to a zero level, or lesser value, suddenly shoots to a high voltage, something has to happen. The brain will revolt.

 

 

The really good news, we can “retrain” the brain, but it needs help. First we have to get the brains attention. That simple looking chart, The Stroop Chart does this perfectly.  To do that we must show it a mundane (base) process and conflict that base experience. Think of the brain as lower and higher intelligence. The parts that develop first are the “lower sections, the higher sections, finish last, in development. Some refer to the brain as lower function or “old brain” and “new brain.” The Stroop Effect reaches the “old brain” stored under our “sight” sense to memory.

 

Then, as we “develop” (age) we associate “memory” to each lesson we learn. Sight is our first experience combined with touch. “Learning to do something” is a matter of seeing something done, and doing it our self. We “imitate” our teachers. Being visual, makes Stroop an easy tool to show a process, we learn “our colors” at birth. Then, we associate symbols; words to represent the color, the symbols we call an alphabet, form words,  ”Red” the alphabet, symbols represents the color red. We “saw” the color before we learned the symbols. Cognition, or thought, develops last. “I remember that” is a process of storing information and then we can attach emotions to the memory. “I like Red” or I like Blue” expresses our “feelings” associated with simple daily visions, colors. We can hear someone say the color makes me feel warm, or feel cold. Darker colors absorb heat, lighter colors reflect. We know this from touching dark objects on sunny hot days.

 

Stroop Charts “mix up” what we see to what we remember and perhaps “feel strongly about.” Strong emotions, or words used to emphasis such as love and hate, are stored or emotionally “charged,” to the degree we love and hate.  I love the color blue, I love the color yellow or I hate the color lime and I hate the color gray. Each emotion causes a chemical release in the neurotransmitters in our brains. “Love” equals pleasure, joy or the absence of pain, Hate equals pain or displeasure or the absence of joy. Both emotions cause chemical releases in our brains, and it is completely silent, you cannot “hear” a chemical reaction you feel it. As you feel the Stroop Effect.  We intentionally want the person experiencing the Stroop Effect to feel and visualize a mental process, by confusing the process, it is easy to recognize. And since it is a very old memory, and very old sense, to have them conflicted makes us laugh, our cognitive, thought part of our brain laughs at its self, it senses the misinformation. A mental wakeup call is taking place that is completely non invasive and safe.  What you see, or think, or remember may not be what is happening. That conflict the value, what we think, feel or remember, could be false.

 

Now we project “craving” is it a memory, is it a sense, is it the brain raising a dangerous chemical level, of a level once required, is off, or seems out of balance,  and your brain remembers (from repeated exposure)  it being set at a higher level. That is one area of concern, what about the “unseen” stress. What about all the “things” seen while under the influence of a substance, those were registered as memory that we did not intentionally store?

 

How do you store “anger?” what is the difference in “anger levels” is it really bad, really, really bad, or really, really, really bad? That would depend on the emotional charge associated with the “explosion” of chemicals released in the brain. Here we had to sense something that provoked a memory, or create a new memory. “That makes me angry, and the more I think about it, I am really really angry.” Now an emotion is releasing chemicals into the brain, “keep it alive” substance problems are much like keeping heightened levels “dysregulated” in the brain. R2D later on in a tool called Short-Listing will ask a valid question, “Do you like feeling that way?” Some people seek “thrills”, horror movies for example, produce terror, “Do you like Feeling that way?” The chemicals released under fear are different then the chemicals released under stress, or anger, or joy and pleasure, “Do you like feeling that way?” and what about “craving?”

 

 

Do you like Feeling that way? “How do I turn it off?” if I feel this way, but I no longer want to enjoy it?

 

Use the Stroop Chart, Feel its effects and then, regroup.

 

 

R2D is not a “service” oriented tool set, busy work, is good for treating boredom, or meeting people perhaps,  but if it is used for avoidance purposes, it has its obvious limits, if “service work” is driven as a guilt waiver; it too has its obvious faults.  What happens when craving happens when you do not have access to a Stroop Chart? One man bounced a ball. Recently, one man while craving, bounced a basketball, that one “action” was all it took to divert his attention from that moment of craving. The problem is “how” to distract your brain from its request/order to use.

 

Craving comes on “strong,” it is your brain, and you listen to it. Stress related incidents, no matter how trivial to someone else, will cause the internal clock to tick.

 

The question “Do you want to quit?” is not a simple question, “Really?” While it may sound like a good idea, it can be quite difficult if you have crossed in to true substance dependence. Substance dependence unlike simply using at high levels created brain dysregulation.

 

To experience the Stroop Effect requires you to read it first as quickly as you can, and then by saying out loud the ink color of each word as quickly as you can.

 

This memory test actually causes conflict with your existing memory and your visual sense.

 

 

Where does this fit in the treatment process?

 

 

Can Stroop help you in anything you “think about?” Yes.

 

 

Stroop Charts can be used effectively for gaining someone’s trust. The chances are Very Good that someone entering a recovery facility for the first time will have never seen or heard of the Stroop Chart. Since it has been used in many studies, it is safe and non invasive. Historically, Stroop Charts are used for the Stroop Effect, as simply a measurement tool. But instead of using it for measurements, R2D also used as an “ice breaker” or attention “getter.”

 

The world of therapy understands completely the value of therapeutic alliance. Trust, is an absolute, alliance is the transfer of trust that happens in all human interactions. If that does not exist, there is little hope of a knowledge transfer of the type that is required with helping someone see if they need help with a substance problem, if a substance problem exists.

 

R2D does not want to limit the use of the Stroop Effect, to simply interrupting craving, but it is our “best” first tool. Later on, it can be reintroduced for the other values it brings, basically the ability to “unlock” a frozen thought, similar to the effects of simple EMDR practices  produces but can be used in daily activities such as reading a text book.

 

 

Where has it been introduce and to what effect did it produce? Ask Bill.

 

For example, a Friend to R2D is a Lutheran Minister and teaches in a liturgical calendar, his work requires him to provide a sermon each Sunday of the liturgical calendar. Each liturgical year has a section of the bible he is ordained to follow. The Christian bible is taught over a three year cycle in the liturgical Church, it repeats itself in an ABC calendar:  A=year 1, B=year 2, C= year 3, and year 4 returns to the same text as year 1 or A. over a twenty or thirty year career, our friend faces looking at the cycle multiple times, seen here ABC,ABC,ABC,ABC,ABC,ABC, ABC, ABC, ABC, ABC, symbolized thirty years of researching the same text or  ABC X 10 (3 X 10 =30).

 

Now imagine the stress or professional pressure related to “finding new” in a single verse or section of text, read and studied by millions, offered in a fixed calendar year, how do you come up with a new thought or way to convey that new thought.

 

Our friend Bill, mentioned many times in R2D, was introduced to the Stroop Chart. This simple tool, allowed him to “refrain” from stored memory and see with fresh eyes.

One woman introduced to Stroop suffered severe migraine headaches. Since being introduced to Stroop, she still “gets headaches” but the migraine has not returned in over twelve months.

 

Stroop shows you, you can change your mind.

About the Author

Learn it in a day, practice it for a lifetime at www.recovery2day.org

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