Here’s a controversial topic I have delayed dealing with in a long time: Is there a possibility to incorporate AI into the therapeutic approach to sobriety and ADHD (yes) and/or creativity (also yes, but…)

Well, I know that AI as such is a very hot iron to discuss and I won’t discuss the trade-offs concerning ecological drawbacks or the effects on labor. It’s simply not the right blog and I am not professional enough to discuss these topics. Go to social media if you are looking for a wild discussion with little to no professional knowledge.

Concerning the use of AI in the therapeutic context, I can say with a forceful YES that is actually a helpful tool. I have, in the past, already touched upon this topic, but I want to go a little more into this subject, but less because of sobriety but more because of ADHD:

I find it helpful to get some things off my mind to (re-)structure problems or overwhelming thought clouds and mindstorms that otherwise would keep me from making progress in my efforts to deal with ADHD. For example, it gives me some good answers regarding structural visualizations in terms of organizing stuff. Like an excel table, a CMS or a calendar. It helps me make decision lists, to-do lists, evaluating certain choices. It’s not too sophisticated, of course, and since AI makes a lot of mistakes and is not to be trusted regarding its truthfulness, you always need to double check. But as far as yielding results from good prompts and doublechecking the results is way less effort and energy than trying to force my unmotivated mind through overwhelming topics ahead, I will make use of it.

The problem that may arise is the morale question of making use of AI in a more creative context. As you may have realized, the images I create for the blog posts all come from the “hands” of the AI. Could I draw images myself? Probably yes, but not in this quality or time. If you condemn me for this kind of use of AI, I won’t even object. There are a lot of creative people who might gnash their teeth at this prospect, but I don’t have the time to draw each and every image I post. And I don’t have time and money to engage an artist for this artwork.

The question I could deal with (which I won’t) is if it is sensible to try to condemn a technology which you can’t push back. We all embraced the internet. We all embraced social media. We all embraced throwing data in the void of Silicon Valley. But we condemn it also. Where is the line to draw?

I don’t know. As long as it suits my needs for Recovery, I will make use of these technologies.

Until next time, keep up the faith in yourself and take one step at a time.