As we delve into OPTIMAL problem solving and creativity—a full week's focus of thriving training in the Optimal Response Initiative (ORI) Intensive Track Thriving Training (ITTT)—it's crucial to recognize that all addictions, whether to alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, shopping, or even workaholism, function fundamentally as a form of gambling. This perspective extends beyond the superficial thrill of risk; it reveals a deeper, subconscious drive to perpetuate a cycle of shame that reinforces feelings of worthlessness, doubt, disbelief, poverty (emotional or financial), and the conviction that one is simply not good enough or worth the effort to change. Trauma, particularly in veterans, often serves as the catalyst for this cycle, where unresolved experiences from combat, military sexual trauma (MST), or moral injury amplify shame, leading to addictive behaviors as maladaptive coping mechanisms (Held & Owens, 2015; Saraiya & Lopez-Castro, 2016). In my extensive clinical experience as a resiliency psychologist working with veterans navigating their healing journey through Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and addictions (or any extreme behavior that throws one’s health and quality of life off balance—as a form of coping), I have observed how this shame cycle traps individuals in a perpetual loop of self-sabotage.
Veterans dealing with PTS frequently find themselves ensnared in this vicious loop, where addictive behaviors serve as a high stakes bet against oneself. Each indulgence represents a gamble that the temporary relief—often through numbing or escape—will outweigh the inevitable fallout, such as intensified guilt, relational breakdowns, or physical health deterioration. However, as research on trauma-related shame indicates, the "house" always wins, pulling the individual closer to the "WORST" end of the ORI Continuum Response Line (Forkus et al., 2024). This movement toward negativity enables autopilot self-defeating thoughts and emotions to run rampant, feeding distorted beliefs like "I suck," "I'm not good enough," "I'm unlovable," "I'm broken," or "I'm a lost cause." These cognitive distortions, deeply rooted in unresolved trauma, create a self-fulfilling prophetic prison. The brain's reward system, hijacked by addiction, prioritizes short-term numbing over long-term thriving, as evidenced by alterations in dopamine pathways that reinforce compulsive behaviors (Volkow et al., 2017). Moreover, studies on veterans highlight how shame exacerbates PTS outcomes, increasing suicidal ideation and substance misuse by maintaining a feedback loop of avoidance and self-punishment (Cunningham et al., 2019; Forkus et al., 2023).
The true addiction here isn't solely to the substance or behavior; it's to the shame that underpins it all. Shame acts as the elephant in the room, a core wound often amplified by combat experiences, MST, or the guilt of survival. This shame cycle thrives in secrecy, compelling individuals to subconsciously seek out actions that reaffirm their negative self-beliefs, much like a gambler chasing losses to regain a sense of control. In ORI terms, these "less than optimal" choices skew the continuum toward WORST, hijacking neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to reorganize synaptic connections—to wire pathways for defeat rather than resilience (Mychasiuk & Metz, 2013; Walker et al., 2024). Neuroscientific research underscores how chronic shame and addiction erode neural flexibility, strengthening maladaptive circuits in areas like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex, which govern fear and decision-making (Nutt et al., 2007). For veterans, this is particularly pronounced, as trauma-related shame predicts increased non-medical prescription opioid use and daily substance cravings, perpetuating the cycle (Forkus et al., 2024; Sarfan et al., 2023).
However, creativity and problem solving offer a powerful counter to this entrenched pattern. By channeling restless energy into constructive outlets—like journaling extreme thoughts, reframing them through the SIT Report, or engaging in ORI group tasks such as The Pen Collaborative Exercise—we begin to disrupt the shame cycle and foster neuroplastic changes toward healing. I've had veterans share breakthrough moments when they creatively visualize their "shame bets" as rigged games, then pivot to optimal actions that build self-compassion and dopamine through small wins, such as Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) or music synchronization (Neff, 2011; King, 2016). Music, in particular, emerges as a potent tool in ORI, leveraging rhythm and lyrics to synchronize heart rates and release oxytocin, thereby directing one's movement toward OPTIMAL on the continuum (Vickhoff et al., 2013). Art therapy and creative interventions have been shown to engage brain networks impaired by trauma and addiction, promoting enduring recovery by enhancing emotional regulation and reducing shame (King & Kaimal, 2019; Lusebrink & Hinz, 2016). These approaches align with evidence that creativity supports addiction recovery by providing pathways through shame, vicarious healing, and emotion regulation (Valley Oaks Health, 2019).
Awareness is the key to escaping this vicious cycle. Once you shine a light on the shame—acknowledging it not as an immutable truth but as outdated intel from past traumas—you blow the cover off the root cause. It is this deep-rooted addiction to chasing the shame cycle that constitutes the core issue, often manifesting in surface-level addictions as secondary symptoms. Therefore, by addressing shame directly through ORI tools like the Self-Compassion Heart Exercise, CY-ACT (Capitalize on Your Ability to Catastrophize Tool), or daily fueling of ORI Health Tanks in creative ways, one is empowered to redirect that energy toward thriving. Self-compassion interventions, tailored for veterans, have demonstrated efficacy in attenuating PTS severity and suicidal ideation, fostering resilience by countering internalized shame (Dahm et al., 2015; Scoglio et al., 2022). In my clinical work, I've seen how confronting shame reduces the grip of surface addictions (alcohol, drugs, shopping, sex, work, etc.); these activities begin to "behave themselves" or exert less pull because the underlying drive to partake in them loses its fuel, as supported by studies on mindful self-compassion reducing PTS symptoms and substance use in veterans (Eaton et al., 2025; Serpa et al., 2020).
This process isn't about achieving perfection but embracing progress—reframing the gamble from self-sabotage to self-investment. In ORI, we train individuals to creatively solve for shame, serving as a catalyst to move along the ORI Continuum toward OPTIMAL. As a result, one begins to rewrite their narrative from prisoner of the shame cycle to pioneer of one's own recovery, harnessing neuroplasticity for sustained change (Parks-Savage et al., 2024).
Dr. Kristina Seymour USAF Veteran, Clinical Psychologist Author of the Optimal Response Initiative (ORI)
References
Cunningham, K. C., LoSavio, S. T., Dennis, P. A., Farmer, C., Clancy, C. P., Hertzberg, M. A., Collie, C. F., & Beckham, J. C. (2019). Shame as a mediator between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and suicidal ideation among veterans. Journal of Affective Disorders, 243, 216–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.040
Dahm, K. A., Meyer, E. C., Neff, K. D., Kimbrel, N. A., Gulliver, S. B., & Morissette, S. B. (2015). Mindfulness, self-compassion, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and functional disability in U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 28(5), 460–464. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22045
Eaton, E., Forkus, S. R., Macke, H. R., Resick, P. A., & Forkus, S. R. (2025). Mindful self-compassion for veterans with morally injurious experiences and co-occurring PTSD and SUD: A pilot study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 38(2), 241–252. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.23000
Forkus, S. R., Breland, E., Schick, M. R., Lucke, H. R., & Weiss, N. H. (2024). Trauma-related shame predicts daily non-medical prescription opioid use among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 169, 325–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.11.032
Forkus, S. R., Weiss, N. H., Goncharenko, S., Mammarella, L., & Witt, D. (2023). Examining the daily relationship between guilt, shame, and substance use among trauma-exposed heavy drinkers. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 250, Article 110890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110890
Held, P., & Owens, G. P. (2015). Effects of self-compassion workbook training on trauma-related guilt in a sample of homeless veterans: A pilot study. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 71(6), 513–526. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22170
King, J. L. (2016). Art therapy, trauma, and neuroscience: Theoretical and practical perspectives. Routledge.
King, J. L., & Kaimal, G. (2019). Approaches to research in art therapy using imaging technologies. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 13, Article 159. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2019.00159
Lusebrink, V. B., & Hinz, L. D. (2016). Ethical considerations and guidelines for the use of safe and appropriate imagery in art therapy. Art Therapy, 33(3), 114–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2016.1199247
Mychasiuk, R., & Metz, G. A. (2013). Epigenetic and gene expression changes in the adolescent brain: What the new science of developmental psychopathology may mean for social work. Social Work in Mental Health, 11(2), 135–145. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2012.759560
Neff, K. D. (2011). Self-compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself. William Morrow.
Nutt, D., Robbins, T. W., Stimson, G. V., & Ince, M. (2007). Drugs and the future: Brain science, addiction and society. Academic Press.
Parks-Savage, A., Archer, E., Helmich, E., & Hoggard, L. (2024). Strengthening neuroplasticity in substance use recovery through lifestyle intervention. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 18(3), 342–349. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276241241285
Saraiya, T., & Lopez-Castro, T. (2016). Ashamed and afraid: A scoping review of the role of shame in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Journal of Clinical Psychology, 72(8), 795–813. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22304
Sarfan, L. D., Hilmoe, H. E., Gumport, N. B., & Zalta, A. K. (2023). Outcomes of positive psychology intervention among veterans: Potential mechanisms of change. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 79(3), 710–726. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23425
Scoglio, A. A. J., Held, P., Karnik, N. S., Reinhardt, K. M., & King, A. J. (2022). Self-compassion and veteran's health: A scoping review. Journal of Veterans Studies, 7(1), 86–104. https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v7i1.219
Serpa, J. G., Taylor, S. L., & Tillisch, K. (2020). Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) reduces anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in veterans. Medical Care, 58(Suppl 2 9S), S104–S109. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000001352
Valley Oaks Health. (2019, December 3). 7 ways creativity supports addiction recovery. https://www.valleyoaks.org/health-hub/7-ways-creativity-supports-addiction-recovery/
Vickhoff, B., Malmgren, H., Åström, R., Nyberg, G., Ekström, S.-R., Engwall, M., Snygg, J., Nilsson, M., & Jörnsten, R. (2013). Music structure determines heart rate variability of singers. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, Article 334. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00334
Volkow, N. D., Wise, R. A., & Baler, R. (2017). The dopamine motive system: Implications for drug and food addiction. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 18(12), 741–752. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn.2017.130
Walker, D. F., McCarthy, E. F., Witte, T. K., Garrison, L. B., & Aalsma, M. C. (2024). Shame and guilt in the aftermath of trauma: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(1), 405–420. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231155505
