David Oshman has worn many hats over the span of his illustrious career. Not only is Oshman a U.S. based author and former therapist with a background in treating people with addictions, but he is also an ordained minister. He has worn the robes of a Buddhist monk in Thailand, was a professional personal trainer and was even host of a television show in Cape Cod.
Throughout his personal and professional life, Oshman has always been proud of his work as a therapist and helping people overcome addictions. His decision to focus on addictions stemmed from an innate desire to better the lives of others. Having experienced his own personal hardships, he decided to break the stigma and help people in need – not just at home, but internationally.
By championing the rights of neurodivergent communities and spending additional time understanding people with addictions, Oshman aims to bring a validating and thoughtful approach to treatment.
Specifically, David Oshman has taken a holistic approach to treating addiction, which he says is the most natural approach. His approach considers not just the average person seeking rehab services, but people who are neurodivergent as well. The holistic approach takes into account more than just the person and their environment, but all the various factors in the mind and body that might factor into addictions and substance abuse.
The U.S Addiction Center cited that while over 21 million people in the U.S. have addictions, only about 10 percent of them ever seek help. Part of this is due to the fact that stigma exists, and there aren’t many people who empathize with those who experience addiction and substance abuse.
Another factor is that neurodiverse people aren’t always accounted for in treatment, and it’s certainly a factor that can increase the propensity for addiction. Harvard Health defines neurodiversity as the idea that people think in different ways and no one specific way of thinking should be thought of as ‘better’ or ‘more normal’.
It goes on to say the following: “The word neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all people, but it is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as other neurological or developmental conditions such as ADHD or learning disabilities. The neurodiversity movement emerged during the 1990s, aiming to increase acceptance and inclusion of all people while embracing neurological differences.”
While neurodiversity has been deeply explored in medical literature and has continued to gain traction in the 1990s. It’s rarely understood by people in everyday walks of life, in the workplace, and even by some therapists who only understand the phenomenon on a cognitive level rather than a truly in-depth emotional level.
The truth is, you sometimes need to live it to understand it.
“For instance, even the term alcoholic or addict is a label,” says Oshman.
“It assumes that one part of functioning is an error and needs to be corrected. In my experience, this approach is totally untrue and ineffective in treating people.”
Oshman often uses the analogy of looking at nature: a tree or a bird – everything is interconnected and part of a system.
“Really for the human mind, that system is incomprehensible,” says Oshman.
This is why people should reconsider what they think of as dysfunction. Often hunger for drugs, alcohol, computers or a cell phone are part of the cravings experienced by a person within the human system.
Oshman still makes a case for intervention, but says that it should be about rehabilitation on a holistic level. Understanding what drives the craving and allows the addiction to continuously get reinforced is one of the first steps to solving addiction, and it needs to be done in a supportive environment without judgment.
By viewing the human condition in relation to addiction on a holistic level, it allows you to look at all the components and factors that might underpin the addiction. It allows you to slowly make progress and help people.
“It’s a system of hunger and desire which are manifested and responded to with the person doing something in order to fulfill the demands of the system.”
Oshman provides a light at the end of the tunnel.
“What one has to do is look deeper inside and see the actual root and the source of the distress and the subsequent behavior,” says Oshman.
“This to me is the most reasonable and effective way to approach any kind of disorder that causes pain and distress to the person and those around them.”
To learn more about David Oshman, you can visit his personal website, check out his latest books and learn more about breaking the stigma surrounding addictions and substance abuse.
