• Home
  • Treatment Areas
    • Treatment Areas
    • OCD Resources
    • ERP for OCD Group
    • Addiction Resources
  • About
    • About
    • Hours & Rates
    • Professional Training
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Make Appointment
Justin K. Hughes, Licensed Professional Counselor: Dallas CBT and Exposure Therapy for OCD, Anxiety, Addictions & More
  • Home
  • Treatment Areas
    • Treatment Areas
    • OCD Resources
    • ERP for OCD Group
    • Addiction Resources
  • About
    • About
    • Hours & Rates
    • Professional Training
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Make Appointment

Justin's Blog

Setpoints- Why Being Negative Will Make You Stable

5/26/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Thomas Plets on Pexels
This post was originally published on 05/26/2016 on my wordpress and is newly updated.
You’re surrounded by setpoints every day.  They literally keep you alive.  One of them is your set body temperature.  If your body drops or rises a mere 15% beyond your core temperature, death occurs.  Think of a setpoint like a reference point, a sort of boundary.  Medically, it’s called homeostasis.  The body regulates internal functioning (temperature, blood flow, oxygen) despite external circumstances.  The body is always seeking homeostasis.  So is the brain.  And you can intentionally take charge for your mental, emotional, and relational health.

Examples

In our bodies, we break out in a fever when something is wrong- which is one way the body makes conditions unfavorable to viruses and bacteria- because they are temperature sensitive.  In addicts, their brains have faced an onslaught of dopamine rushes- and the brain counters it by producing less dopamine to balance out- even sometimes ELIMINATING dopamine receptors.  This is the brain naturally seeking to turn down a party that’s gotten too loud.

The system

Balanced functioning (homeostasis), whether biological, technological, or psychological, will involve three interdependent elements that help reach homeostasis- all centered on a setpoint:
  1. Receptor– A sensing component that observes changes in the environment. The receptor then sends information to the Control Center.
  2. Control Center– determines an appropriate response, having a set range in place (setpoint).  Then the control center sends this information to an effector.
  3. Effector– Structures that receive signals from the control center and correct deviation by negative feedback, thus putting a system back into its normal range.
Remember from above how dopamine in the brain works with substance abuse?  But we can actually gain the upper hand by being active in our decisions- including making setpoints for ourselves.

Get negative

In order to bring a system back to normal, negative feedback is used to regulate it.  So when I say, “get negative,” or course I’m not telling you to have a negative outlook on life.  What I AM saying is that a system that is out of control will only be put back in control/order by it being regulated by setpoints, carried out by either an internal or external force- and this is negative feedback.
Okay, have I been sufficiently nerdy?  Let’s get practical!!

Sample exercises  
Check out how William uses all three processes of homeostasis as a married entrepreneur with children, who is also dealing with some alcohol abuse (#2 in each is the setpoint).

Entrepreneur-
1) Financial accounts are reconciled daily by William (outside help oversees them weekly).  2) The business plan was developed with a setpoint of no greater than $100,000 debt.  Crossing $50,000 debt signals a problem and requires meeting with the board.  3) If the setpoints are not honored, the board has full power and autonomy to enact established strategies.

Temperature-
1) William’s two year old, Thomas, is running a fever- revealed by his behavior, and then it was gauged with a thermometer.  2)  If 24 hours pass with a fever over 100 F- or at any point it goes beyond 103 F- the setpoint has been crossed.  3) Visit the doctor immediately.

Remodeling-
1) Extra money was left over- discovered in the budget by William’s wife, Katie.  2)  They determine no more than $10,000 will be spent on a kitchen remodel.  The goal is $8,500; beyond the goal is a warning flag.  3) At the $8,500 mark, a conversation will be held with the contractor to hold to the budget.

Alcohol Use-
1) After running into various troubles with alcohol, William considered his personal/family values and health recommendations.  2) A setpoint was made: only 2 drinks or less daily.  3) If this line is crossed, the commitment is to have an entire month sober.  If this cannot be done, it is agreed on with his support team to increase treatment (e.g., go to a group, go to counseling).
​
Got the hang of it?  These steps can be applied to about anything, though I mostly use the Setpoints Exercise (click on the link below to access!) to help increase ownership and boundaries with addictions.  It’s a straightforward way to get honest with anything you are facing, the amount of help you need, and what supports can get you there.  This concept has helped assist many of my clients to face problems squarely, and in turn, to be more successful and realistic in addressing life challenges.  Give it a try!
Free Setpoints Worksheet
Picture
Will Malott on Unsplash
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Jog:

    A Psychotherapists' thoughts on healthy living.  

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    December 2017
    June 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2015
    July 2013

    Categories

    All
    ACT
    Addiction
    Advocacy
    Anxiety Disorders
    Assertiveness/Boundaries
    Bible / Scripture
    Busyness
    Christian
    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
    Cognitive Distortions
    Cognitive Restructuring
    Communication
    Counseling
    Couples
    Emotional Health
    ERP (Exposure And Response Prevention)
    Exercise
    Exposure Therapy
    Fear
    Finances
    Food & Nutrition
    Friendship
    Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
    Gratitude
    Health
    Holidays
    Hope
    Imaginal Exposure
    Interoceptive Exposure
    Intolerance Of Uncertainty
    Intrusive Thoughts
    In Vivo Exposure
    Marriage
    Medication
    Mental Health
    Mindfulness
    Money
    Motivational Interviewing (MI)
    OCD
    Personality
    Phobias
    Psychology
    PTSD
    Reason
    Relationships
    Rest
    Social Anxiety Disorder
    Spirituality/Faith
    Stress Resilience
    Substance Abuse
    Supplements
    Support
    Technology
    The OCD Stories
    Virtual Reality Exposure

    Disclaimer:

    All Content on this Site, justinkhughes.com, was created for informational purposes only. Content is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, treatment, or diagnosis.  Always seek the advice of your own personal health provider who is qualified to treat you, along with asking them any questions you may have regarding medical or other conditions. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have viewed on justinkhughes.com. Also, due to the sensitive nature of topics and material covered through this Site, which contains very descriptive and/or advanced content, you may not want to use justinkhughes.com. The Site and its Content are provided on an "as is" basis.  Some posts are written for specific populations (OCD, Christians, Professionals)- with the intent to remain respectful to all- some content may not fit or go counter to your beliefs, perspectives, and what is explored for you in a professional counseling session with Justin K. Hughes, MA, LPC.  The posts are intended solely for the population they are written to and can be designated by their titles and tags.
    Links to external educational content are taken at your own risk. Justin K. Hughes, MA, LPC is not responsible for external content.  

    Affiliate Disclosure:

    Justin K. Hughes, MA, LPC of Dallas Counseling, PLLC participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  This means that some links on this site will produce a small commission from Amazon.com and affiliated sites.  I NEVER link products I don't use or clinically find benefit in.  Many of them have been recommended for years inside and outside therapy sessions.  You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service recommended on this site.  However, they are provided on this site only educationally and are not meant to be interpreted as treatment or therapy in any way.  I am not responsible for the quality or experience of any items purchased through affiliate links, as they are entities completely separate of myself.  

Subscribe

* indicates required
Fresh Counseling Insights

View previous campaigns.

​Justin K. Hughes, MA, LPC
Owner, Dallas Counseling, PLLC 

justin@dallascounseling.com
P: 469-490-2002

17330 Preston Road, Suite 102D
Dallas, TX 75252
 
Picture
©2019 Dallas Counseling, PLLC
View our Privacy Policy here.
  • Home
  • Treatment Areas
    • Treatment Areas
    • OCD Resources
    • ERP for OCD Group
    • Addiction Resources
  • About
    • About
    • Hours & Rates
    • Professional Training
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Make Appointment