Are You a Wound Person or a Void Person?
Addiction recovery hangs in the balance.
In Chinese Medicine, we have a saying: “Same disease, different treatment.” Meaning, rather than look to a specific condition or symptom to determine the best, most effective treatment, we look at the overall pattern presenting in the patient.
Let’s take two people suffering from headaches as an example:
One person—we’ll call him Patrick—is seeking relief from splitting headaches. Patrick’s headaches are intense, feel like “lightning bolts,” and get worse when he’s angry—and he’s often angry. Patrick also has bloodshot eyes, is overheated easily, drinks heavily, talks loudly, and is frequently engaged in arguments. Cold plunges help; spending time in the hot sun during Florida summers makes everything worse.
Another person—we’ll call her Nicole—is seeking relief from chronic headaches. Nicole’s headaches are dull but constant, making it hard to concentrate or find joy in daily life. They’ve been going on for years but became significantly worse over the past six months, after resuming long work days postpartum while trying to care for her first child as a single mom. Nicole also feels exhausted, gets scant sleep, and is frequently cold. Rest and warm, nourishing soups help; worry, overwork, and strenuous exercise make everything worse.
Good news is, just by coming in for acupuncture, both Patrick and Nicole are going to get some relief.
Acupuncture, by its very nature, tends to move the body and mind towards homeostasis, balance, and healing. However, to see the biggest, most lasting outcomes, we’ve got to get specific.
We have literally hundreds of acupuncture points. Depending on the presenting pattern, the best combination of points will vary—even for the same disease or symptom. In other words, Patrick and Nicole’s point formulas will look totally different.
We’re talking acupuncture here, but with Chinese herbal medicine, this is even more paramount. The herbal remedy that works for Patrick’s headache will make Nicole’s headache worse (and likely cause more damage over time). The herbal remedy that works for Nicole’s headache will make Patrick even more overheated and angrier (without relieving his headache).
When it comes to supporting relief and recovery:
One person’s medicine is another’s poison (and vice versa). Choosing YOUR best medicine is the difference between staying sick…and healing.
Now let’s talk addiction.
The universal principles underlying Chinese Medicine apply to far more than clinic and headaches. They also apply to far more than Chinese Medicine.
In my own addiction recovery and in my work with clients, it’s been clear from the outset that what will resonate with and work for some people will not work for others. It’s also been clear that different medicines are needed to help different people break out of addiction or their own “bad cycle on repeat.”
This is true even when folks have already accepted that there is an addiction to begin with. Meaning, if we recall last week’s post, they’ve already identified with the following definition:
Addiction is the patterned and repetitive use of any substance or action that attempts to fill a Void / fix a Wound, but instead makes things worse by reinforcing the whole pattern.
That acknowledgement—like coming in for acupuncture—is intrinsically helpful and healing. That acknowledgement and invitation is the first, universal layer of medicine.
And, to get optimal results, we’ve got to get specific. Same condition, different treatment.
There are various aspects and layers to this, but today I want to focus on two types of people (I’m generalizing here; there’s of course a spectrum between these clarifying poles):
Wound People: These folks prefer the language of “Wound” rather than “Void” in the above definition. They are focused on personal stories of trauma, abuse, heartbreak, and loss and prefer to tell and retell the details. Conversely, they have trouble accessing or talking about objective, impersonal energetics at play in painful cycles on repeat.
Void People: These folks prefer the language of “Void” rather than “Wound” in the above definition. They resonate most with logical, rational, objective discussion of concepts and energetics. Conversely, they have trouble accessing or talking about their heart, feelings, and deepest wounds.
First thing’s first.
Wherever someone lands between those poles is important and valid. It’s all encompassed within that definition of addiction. Similar to coming in for acupuncture treatment, the first, most essential medicine is simply showing up and naming what is true.
And…for optimal relief and results, we need to choose your best medicine.
If you’re a Wound Person, your medicine in recovery is going to be stepping back from replaying and rehearsing personal stories and beliefs…and taking a dose of impersonal perspective, energetics, and accountability.
If you’re a Void Person, your medicine in recovery is going to be loosening the hold of rational thought and concept…and touching into a dose of personal story and feeling.
In either case, we’re not discounting or throwing away what you bring to the table. Chances are, it’s what got you there! We’re simply balancing that out with your best medicine.
How do you know what recovery medicine is best for you?
Big question! If you get really honest, I’ll bet you already know the answer. If you’re unsure, these scenarios might help:
Wound People have trouble getting clear on how and why they keep repeating the same story with different details over time and in various contexts. Rather than identify patterns with objectivity, they default to retelling (and rehearsing) the same stories on repeat. When asked to set stories and feelings aside for a moment, they tend to respond: “I’m confused. I feel…”
Void People have trouble feeling or expressing sadness or grief. They also feel great resistance to bringing up what happened to them as kids, their first heartbreak, the loss of a pet or parent, etc. When asked how they feel, they tend to respond: “I think…”
Well? Are you more of a Wound Person…or a Void Person? Do you feel most comfortable sharing your personal story? Or speaking in energetics, abstraction, and concepts?
Whatever “your answer,” your answer is to do more of the opposite!
Knowing how to do this in a helpful, healing way is a whole other thing. But even just getting clear already changes the trajectory.
If you want more, make sure to keep following along in this series. If you’re ready for more right now, head here.
Are you a Wound Person or a Void Person? If you feel called, let us know (or ask questions or disagree!) in the comments.
Copywriting and editing by my wife and partner, Dr.
(whom you can also find at )
Love this. Very clear writing!🥰