What makes an addiction?
Physically addictive substances used daily can bring these uncomfortable physical symptoms.
Withdrawal
Alcohol.
We make dozens if not hundreds of these per day with our mind and one of the best ways to improve our lives is to practice making good ones.
Decisions/Choices
We experience these in our mind, heart and gut and it is important to learn how to manage our reaction to them.
Feelings/emotions
The essential inner drive, focus and desire that brings out positive change and attainment of goals.
Motivation.
A strong addictive urge that can pull you in a way you may not want to go if oyu are not careful.
Cravings
(2000's) This artist was referred to as the King of Pop, died due to compliactions from prescription drugs in 2009.
Michael Jackson
It takes more and more of a substance to get the same effect which often fuels the desire and need for using larger amounts.
Tolerance
Class of drugs used medicinally for thousands of years to relieve physical pain but nowadays often abused to relieve emotional pain.
Opioids
This describes overall the way we present and express ourselves. If we have a negative one we should want to change it to be grateful and positive.
Attitude.
It is important to learn to manage this uncomfortable mental experience that can occur when we worry or stress over things.
Anxiety.
The ability to look inside yourself honestly and truthfully or self awareness
insight.
You may have went backwards a little bit but still did not completely relapse.
Slip/Setback
(1990s) Singer of one of the most popular grunge bands in the 1990's committed suicide at the age of 27 addicted to heroin.
Failure to recognize the truth about a problem, particularly an addiction, is often referred to as this.
Denial
Even though life may be spiraling out of control with dependency clearly increasing, some people may believe that they are not addicted just because they may be obtaining drugs this legal medical way.
This categorizes and includes all that is most important in your life, what you care about most and what has the most worth to you.
Values.
These changing temporary states of mind can make us feel high, low and everything in between so it is important to be able to regulate these.
Moods.
Something just about everyone needs when overcoming a difficult challenge because it is so difficult to do it alone.
support
This term means chooising not to use alcohol or other drugs to support your recovery.
Abstienence/sobriety
(1980s) John Belushi was a legendary actor and comedian who socked the world when he overdosed and died from mixing cocaine and heroin in 1982at the height of his fame. He was on the original lineup of what long standing TV show.
Saturday Night Live
Every bad choice we make can mean we have to face these later. Addiction can cause people to foolishly ignore these repeatedly.
Consequences.
The vast majority of people who use this legal plant use it as often as 10 or 20 times a day despite knowing it is the numer one killer of all addictive substances in the world.
Tobacco
You can have ups and downs along the way but what matters most is that you keep moving forward. If that is true then you are steadily making this.
Progress.
It is essential to learn to eliminate this negative emotion which stems from holding on to anger and grudges.
Resentment.
Building inight and motivation lead to this powerful experience defined by a strong sense of positive mental stimulation to try and make things better.
Inspiration
Some people need this if withdrawal or cravings are overwhelming.
Medication/MAT (Medications Assisted Treatment)
(1970s) This iconic musician is one of the top earning dead celebrities today, still earning over 50 million a year for his music despite dying of complications of prescription drug addiction back in 1977
When you spend too much, use too much or too often and life problems are steadily piling up, it is a good sign you have lost this.
Control.
Psychosis
This involves all the people, places and things that you surround yourself with and that you choose to be connected to.
Associations.
Sometimes addiction can be directly linked to deeply disturbing or distressing experiences that occurred earlier in life all of which is referred to as
Trauma/PTSD
If you find and discover this it can help you define your goals and add meaning and direction in your life.
Purpose.
They say relapse doesn't suddenly happen out of nowhere- it is not an event, it is often much more gradual of a what.
Process
(1960s) This world famous movie star shocked the world in 1962 from a barbituate overdose.
Marilyn Monroe