After reading the abstinence experience assignment, giving up the daytime show “The Young and the Restless” came to mind. However, my immediate response was “no way”. I tried to think of something else that would be more difficult. I find it strange that dieting didn't occur to me during my pre-contemplation phase. I kept trying to find something other than giving up on my favorite show. I tried to minimize the impact that missing the show would have on me by telling myself that Young and the Restless really wasn't a big deal; I needed to find something else that would give me a real sense of what it would be like for someone trying to abstain from drugs. However, I decided that it would be very difficult for me to give up The Young and the Restless Show. After all, I've been watching The Young and the Restless since I was in 6th grade. I remember lying on the hallway floor and hiding next to my grandparents' couch to secretly watch the show. My parents and grandparents did not allow children to watch these kinds of shows. I debated for several days and changed my start date twice. Finally, I started the abstinence experiment on July 10, 2010. July 10, 2010 is a Saturday; I usually watch shows I missed during the week on Saturday. I woke up on July 10, 2010 with thoughts of The Young and the Restless on my mind. I was clearly not in the action phase of change; I was probably somewhere between the precontemplation stage and the contemplation stage. I was constantly looking for something else as important to me as watching The Young and the Restless. I spoke to a coworker in hopes that she could help me determine something else to let go of...... middle of paper ......tion of this experience This experience helped me recognize the internal struggle that an addict faces on an ongoing basis. Additionally, I know that an individual can have difficulty changing their behavior even if they have a strong desire to change; the slightest thing can cause a relapse. Therefore, when working with addicts, I empathize, encourage and validate their successes and their feelings about any failures. In addiction, I will help the person learn from their failures and normalize the situation. Additionally, I would try to ensure that the person has several coping strategies in place, to help them when they find themselves in a difficult situation. Additionally, I intend to ensure the client has all the tools they need to be successful while getting to the root of their problem through counseling..