Recovery Sunday: What Do You Enjoy? Are You Sure You’re Not an Addict?
Kimberly Bock According to Wikipedia, as well as many other references, “addiction is a term that was once used to describe a devotion, attachment, dedication, inclination, etc..Nowadays the term addiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity despite harmful consequences to health, mental state or social life.”
The photo shows the cycle of an addicts thinking patterns.
It begins as a fantasy. A thought.
It becomes an obsessive thought that soon grows too strong to fight. (compulsion to act upon the thought / fantasy)
Leads to action. The drink. The shopping spree. The sex. The ‘Twitter’ and so on..
Then comes the shame that is felt once we act out.
The shame is a bad feeling. When faced with this bad feeling, we do what then makes us feel good all over again.
Known Addictions
- shopping
- gambling
- sex
- food
- computer (yes, work related counts)
- relationships (co dependency)
- exercise
- work
- television
- drugs (yes alcohol is a drug)
- to name only a few
web4health is a site I found today that offers info about addictions (non-drug / drug related)
“When you are addicted, for example, to the use of alcohol, drugs, smoking, sex or gambling, you are (physically or mentally) dependent on this use or behavior…They neglect important activities like work, school or social contacts, or completely stop these activities…”
If you think your lifes quality could be improved if you eased off on some of the above mentioned things (or anything else) then there’s a possibility that it could very well be an addiction for you.
You no longer have to leave your bills unpaid in exchange for that shopping spree.
You no longer have to trade self respect for sex or risk unwanted sexual diseases to fill a void you may have within yourself.
You no longer have to let your online life surpass the quality of your family life.
If you think you may have a problem. Please seek professional help.
It’s avoidance and denial keeps you deprived of more enriching experiences in life. Don’t make excuses for your behavior while everyone else, including yourself suffers the consequences.
Empower yourself with recovery blogs and association with others of like mind who have also been there done that but have found more fulfilling ways to live.
Recovery blogs resources can be found here.
Keep in mind that what may be frequently referred to in these blogs seem relative to substance abuse. But do not let that run you off. It applies to your addiction as well. It is a behavior problem. Drug abuse just so happens to be a symptom of the same disease that you may have…as difficult as it is to believe.
The quality of your future depends on your ability to be open minded and honest at all cost.
if you ever want to email me confidentially with questions or concerns that I may be able to help with or just as a friend, you can do so at spostareduro@gmail.com.
Until later, live well.
| 2.5 |
Nature Conservancy feed
I appreciate what you’re saying here, and agree. I don’t think enough is being said about getting off the crap, and I write about it too. It is one of the hardest things in the world to do, but if you want to truly enjoy everything there is to enjoy about life, you gotta be free of all addictions. Be the best YOU you can be. I’m new to this, check out my site. I’ll definitely be back!