Fighting Addictions

Mornin'

I would like to briefly discuss addiction this morning. Most, if not all, people in this world suffer from some form of addiction. Whether it is drugs, alcohol, gambling, shopping, or any of the other limitless ways addiction can manifest itself in the lives of human beings, addiction is a reality we simply cannot avoid forever.Some addictions seem to be harmless while others take individuals to a life of dereliction, jails, institutions, and quite possibly death.

At the core of all addictions seems to be a propensity for the victims of addiction to avoid self. They seem to be unwilling and almost incapable at facing the very issues that keep them caught up in their addictive cycle. They are usually the last one's to realize that what they are engaged in is unhealthy in some way. It is usually when their addiction paints them in a corner with no other alternatives but to face their issues do folks get better.

Addiction has another component that is usually present in all forms of it. It is called self-centered fear; fear which has at its center the individual and their anxious and worrisome thoughts about self. Their every waking moment seems to be about themselves and how they can do things to avoid losing control of themselves and their environment. They are wounded and try desperately to hide from the issues that threaten the subconscious beliefs that keep them in a state of insecurity, depression, resentment, and many more emotions tied to the various diseases of addiction.

The addict seems to be cold and calculating in their pursuit of self. They may seem to be unfazed by what they do to fulfill their selfish desires. It is important to remember that there is a human being at the core of all this activity and, this being the case, most addicts tend to also feel the effects of what they do. In fact, the reason why they engage more in the activities that created the problem in the beginning is to alleviate the pain of having to face the consequences of their actions. There is nothing personal about how an addict behaves. It may seem so. However, the last thing an addict is concerned about is deliberately damaging the relationships with the people who love him. He simply does what he needs to do to fill the ever increasing void in his soul. He most definitely feels the feelings when he comes down from the drugs or loses the elation and rush a shopping spree provides.

Every form of addiction has its devastating qualities. Some seem to be worse than others but are all damaging to varying degrees. The important thing to remember if you do, in fact, suffer from some form of addiction is that help is available. Significant others like family need to also remember the concept of tough love. It is okay to say no to the addict without feeling guilty for doing so. If you look at how you handle the addict from the standpoint of saving their life, the footwork seems to be a little easier.

Peace