Coping With Addiction

There are many roads that lead to addiction, but no road in or out of addiction is easy. Whether an addiction stems from a misguided path; from unresolved trauma; or from a form of psychosis, one's addiction deals pain and suffering in its wake. The addiction BECOMES trauma.

In education for various forms of massage therapy and treatments that are used for addiction recovery, one learns that a huge chunk of Healthcare practitioners are addicts. We experience massive amounts of pain, depression, insomnia, and peer pressure- the chosen coping mechanism for which is often some form of addiction. Addiction is common in EVERY walk. To best understand an addiction, one must recognize WHAT addiction looks like.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.

I appreciate the bredth of this definition since it leaves open-ended what one might be addicted to. All that matters, in the end, is that said addiction is the chronic attachment to a thing or behavior that one can no longer control, and which is often harmful. I would go so far as to say that 95% of people are uncontrollably attached to a thing, idea, or behavior.

You see, an addiction is not just being bound to the physiological and psychological affects of drugs, alcohol, or gambling. One can also be addicted to an emotional need for completion or fulfillment brought by immediate gratification such as earning approval; receiving affection; buying things; and even completing projects. These are all a form of codependency in which a person is addicted to being needed or completed.

It is not a wonder, then, that those who work the hardest to fulfill the needs of others might become in need of a savior. Although it comes at a growing price, meeting the requirement of that addiction is a self-fulfilling prophecy. One creates such a problem in their life and psyche that one often uses the addictive entity to escape it. It becomes the escape from guilt and pain, only to increase the wound delivered upon those who love the addicted and the addict himself. The behavior is often so habitual that one does not even recognize that they are in danger or that others around them are losing their security and a healthy environment.

Although it can become quite lengthy, I'd like to shape some form of various addictions that I personally have seen; and I will do my best to explain, as objectively as possible, what I believe the reason might have been for said addictions. I don't have a psychiatry degree, but between college level psychology classes and a wealth of reading, I might have a semblance of opinion that isn't totally out there.

Shopping Addiction:

It is no lie that "Confessions of a Shopaholic" is a comedic but insightful portrayal of what retail therapy gone overboard looks like. It starts as cumpulsive buying and grows into an addiction. Spending money on pleasures such as name brands when one doesn't have the money is not the only manifestation, though. Even something as simple as clicking "buy" on TEMU every time you get a text or freebie might be a sign that one is vulnerable to a shopping addiction. Let's face it: the invention of online shopping and even online dating has made "instant gratification" easier to access than ever. This leads me to my next example.

Sex Addiction:

In this category I would also put in addiction to porn and exhibitionism, not just the enjoyment of intercourse. There are hormones released during all of the above that can be highly addicting- especially if one has been deprived of normal, natural affection in a current or past life. Like any addiction, however, the beastly appetite is ever growing and seldom fulfilled. We as humans crave fulfillment and don't always have a healthy outlet for the meeting of emotional needs. Arguably this type of chemical need stems from a lack of hormone balance and environmental stability.

Codependency:

Sometimes defined as the addiction to being needed, codependency can be in any relationship- even at work or in a church setting. Yes, you read that right. If your position in an organization becomes so enveloping in your life that you are unable to put it down and meet other needs, even your job or church life can be an ADDICTION. It can become a means of escaping or ignoring the outside world to the point of neglecting outside relationships and even prioritizing your health and mental stability. If you can't even prioritize time with your family once in a while over that work or church obligation, it is an addiction. It isn't a wonder that relationships are often supplemented by affairs or porn.

Behavioral/Process Addiction:

While this is usually a term that also encompasses a few of the following addictions (ie food, sex, etc), I am giving it a separate category to show that it is more conceptual and verbal than simply an action. If you look it up in the NLM you will see what I mean. In this age of verbal sparring, road rage, political dysfunction, and social media exploitation, one invariably rubs shoulders with this type of addiction. Being a "influencer" means you can even get paid for the verbal vomit as long as someone with money can pay you to advertise for them as you bask in an online following. Sensationalism is the new tamber that shapes the music of WWW communication. Now, instead of a person, thing, or idea being judged based on the merit of truth, one is judged based on the volume of rumor and libel. A perfect example was this past election where unsubstantiated allegations of criminal activity with a minor tainted the opinion of a political candidate and permanently damaged his image. Might it have been true? Maybe. Did the person who posted the allegations on social media turn out to be a hoaxster from a foreign country? Yes! Yet even I readily believed the accusation even without substantial proof. A few typed notes from an alleged victim is not what I would call proof.

What about the many instances where political and religious dissonance causes a falling out between loved ones? Is any political stance worth permanent division (excluding that which is life or death)? Some might argue that one's religion is worth sacrificing ones life, and that is between you and God. However, arguing free-will salvation vs. election or drums in a church band vs. orchestra ARE NOT worth the division of a family. As the Bible says, it is not what you put into your mouth but what comes out that is most important. Sometimes people need to let the spirit of the law government before the letter of the law gets shoved up their.... ANYWAY. MOVING ON!

Food Addiction:

This is a tough one for many to address including myself, because there are some valid REASONS for craving the instant gratification of food. It is a coping mechanism that is especially prevalent in America where so many chemicals are used to trigger instant gratification. If football was created to sell food (yes, I'm joking), then television was invented to sell food. Why are we so vulnerable, though?

I point to the rise in autoimmune disorders and depression in the US. The USA is the highest ranking in depression in the world and is also highest ranking in obesity. Look it up. These spiked around the 60s and 70s TOGETHER, glaringly pointing out to me that the increase in processed foods and higher sugar is a direct corelation to the epidemic of depression and food addiction. If a body does not get proper nutrients and enough fluids, one will have an irritable craving that manifests itself in other needs. Don't get me started on the resulting ADHD.

Alcoholism:

This is a raw one for anyone who has been touched by alcohol addiction. In truth, there is such a fine line between alcohol addiction and simply self-medicating that it is a point I both sympathize with and condemn. It is a very personal subject for anyone who has been touched by it. In small amounts, alcohol is a liberating stimulant. Past a certain level, though, it becomes a depressant- and depression manifests either in sorrow or defensiveness. One who is drunk is not always self deprecating. They can also be verbally or physically agressive- like a dog that barks or bites when it is afraid. Is it acceptable? Absolutely not. Some have speculated that specific blood types are most susceptible to alcoholism, not to mention the statistic likelihood of history repeting itself if one was raised by an alcoholic. It is very likely a hereditary vulnerability. Regardless, when alcohol consumption negatively affects ones relationships or work performance, it is obvious that the self-medicating is past its usefulness.

Drug Addiction:

Also one of the most commonplace forms of addiction, substance abuse is down to a science. For some drugs there are chemical cures. For others it is a tough row to hoe that does not always end. Some drugs kill you by making you lose reality. Others kill you by overdose or organ failure. And some drugs never fully release you from their affect on your body since, at any moment, you can flashback. In one such case, a gentleman who had used LSD 20 years prior was driving down the road when, piece-by-piece, elements of his surroundings AND the road began to disappear in his field of vision. Thankfully he made it to the side of the road until the flashback passed. The imprint of drugs on the brain is NEVER harmless. Some drugs- even legal ones- can have a negative effect. The question is often, "Is the drug worse than going without?" Weed is a common example since it is growing in legality by the day and is allegedly non-habit-forming. In its various forms it can be for pain or just for kicks, and it doesn't usually have lasting side affects unless the munchies afterwards send you into a diabetic coma. ALL inhailants, however, have carcinogens which increase the risk of lung cancer.

The biggest repercussions to substance abuse are in the cost of the substance and the the societal impact. If you have to spend rent or food money to get your fix, or if you lose your job from a random drug test, you are screwing yourself and those who depend on you. THAT is the definition of an addiction.

I guess one could say ANYTHING can become an addiction if it becomes disproportionately important. Marginal utility is a general term (usually used in finance) to describe the point at which something good becomes quantitatively bad, and ,therefore, less useful. If one continues to pursue it to the point of its having a negative affect on your health and wellness or on that those around you, one is addicted and should seek help. There are many resources out there for the various types of addiction. The first thing one should do, though, is see oneself as loveableand worth fighting for. You are not alone, and no situation and addiction deserves to rob you of your health and happiness. Go for a walk. Do something with someone that has a positive impact on your life. Talk to a friend or even your pet cat. Take up Thai Chi. Eat more veggies. Most of all- find positive things about you and your situation so that you are no longer sinking under the weight of your pain and depression. If that doesn't work, consider seeing a psychiatrist about it all. One of the most humbling things I had to do as an adult from a super-conservative "God can fix it all" family was to seek professional psychiatric help for my issues. I was always anxious; I was distracted with racing thoughts; I was always argumentative; I was self sabotaging; I was crazy happy one minute and crazy depressed and self loathing the next. My husband of the time swore it was ADHD, as had my parents when I was younger. After 3 visits of psychosis testing and evaluation by a psychologist and talking with a psychiatrist, they determined I had CPTSD and cyclothymic disorder that were being exasperated by the lack of sleep and the emotional,physical, and psychological abuse that I had endured during childhood and throughout my first two marriages. Alcoholism plays a huge part in relationships since it changes a person with each drink, and I for one anticipated the negative affects. Scars run deep, so get help if you or a loved one are struggling with the affect that a current or past addiction(s) have had. If you read all of this, I'm betting that avoiding it isn't an option and you know someone who needs help. Just ask. Finding a positive life is what you need and what you deserve. Massage therapy- specifically modalities such as Manual Lymph Drainage, EMF Balancing, and Craniosacral Therapy, are used to help recover from addictions because they boost endorphines in a very special way that cleanse the body and help your mind to see more clearly and your body to feel more authentically. What are you waiting for?