Addiction at its Finest

I think it comes as no surprise that addiction is a bad thing. It leads to family and financial conflict and disrupts community life. Addiction occurs when we become reliant on a substance or action to bring us some sort of satisfaction. Addictions come from many different substances, some of which are actually legal. It's not always an illegal substance that can kick-start our addictions. Alcoholism and tobacco, fast food and junk food from the stores, gambling (in designated spaces) are all legal forms of where an individuals addiction can begin. Some women, maybe even men too, get addicted to shopping, online or in stores. The thrill of throwing money away just to satiate whatever need or desire we have, is so appealing in the heat of the moment. Self-harm can become addicting or can be the result of an addiction.

So, how does an addiction begin? At what point does our addiction go from something we do from time to time, to becoming called an "addiction"? Is it based on the number of instances we consume or repeat something? Is it based on how much we over do it in isolated instances? Is it, or does it, become just another habit that we do daily or multiple times a day to satisfy that need or desire? How do we define addiction? Why do our addictions bother other people if we are supporting a business and harming no one other than ourselves in the process? How do we avoid addictions that seem to get passed down from one generation to the next?

Addiction begins when we make choices that negatively impact a part of our lives, just to enjoy something else. We start choosing things that are inherently bad for us because in our minds it's easier to give up and let something like alcohol and drugs take over. Alcoholics may rarely think of the long term effects their choices have on their liver, while smokers probably don't think of the myriad of cancer cells just waiting for an excuse to be activated or the toll smoking takes on your lungs, throat, and overall health. Taking drugs or prescriptions not written for you can lead to dependencies on substances you were never supposed to of had. Friends and family are quick to throw around the word addiction when they notice a shift in your behavior. While it's usually from a place of concern, it's more of a projection of what's to come than "how can I help this person avoid getting to a place of dependency on this substance."

While online or retail therapy may not lead to thoughts of suicide, like in alcoholism, gambling, and drugs, it can lead to financial hardships all the same. Credit card debt and family conflict are they height of concern. People spend money they don't necessarily have for a reason. And who knows, they could actually just be spending their own money but it still causes rifts at home. Women often choose retail therapy to get over a break-up, in mourning of a loved one, to satiate their anger or get back at their parents or spouse for some argument they had. While it's not a serious health concern to max out your credit cards because you're throwing a fit, long-term effects can be a sever decline in positive relationships with loved ones.

Some addiction can be brought on by traumatic life events and taken on as coping mechanisms. People get addicted to their own prescriptions after car accidents or hospital stays and become reliant on those medications to function without pain. This is something to consider when throwing the word addiction around, simply because addiction is like religious faith, in that it's intangible and mostly mental. It's easier, in a moment of emotional indifference, anger, and depression, to resort to an "all hope is lost," mentality. Some people give in to their addictions because it makes them feel nothing when they feel too much, or makes them feel something when they normally feel nothing at all. In these moments, suicidal thoughts and tendencies are important to look for in loved ones. "According to studies, over fifty percent of all suicides are associated with alcohol and drug dependence and at least 25% of alcoholics and drug addicts commit suicide. Over 70% of adolescent suicides may be complicated by drug and alcohol use and dependence." Sometimes it feels like we don't even make the choice, it feels like addiction is choosing you and dragging you wherever it wants you. My sister once said to me "you know you're addicted, or that there is a problem, when you truly have nothing left, and still find a way to satisfy your desire to drink or smoke or gamble or whatever."

Look out for your friends and family when you notice behavior shifts. Interventions or talking with them one on one may be difficult for you because addiction is not an easy thing to address. The person you are concerned with, may not even realize there is a problem. It's important that when you finally do sit down with them to discuss their behavior that you come from a place of love and understanding, more than likely they will feel like they are being judged, so if possible try to create an environment where that is not the case and be genuine. Provide resources for them to seek help, based on your city and state, some people do know and understand that what they are doing is getting out of hand, but do not know how to find the resources they need to recover.