Addiction, The Way Out
Addiction, The Way Out What Causes Addiction?The addictive mind is stuck in a mental loop, a merry go round that never stops. Addiction is like a rollercoaster that slowly picks up speed, gliding downward, and at a slight incline.By the time a person realizes what’s going on, and wants to get off, sadly, it’s usually too late.Statistically most addicts never make it out alive. They may die different ways, overdose, suicide, or any other number of ways. Their death is always related to their addiction in some way.There are many theory’s as to what makes a person an addict, most are of the psycho/social variety. Most of the theory’s are right and wrong at the same time in my opinion. My opinion is an informed one in that I have actually experienced the addiction and recovery process.I’m not going to argue with PhD’s on the causes of addiction, I couldn’t be bothered, they have there models and theory’s, I have my practical experience.Addiction is a physical disease first, then a psycho/social, and also spiritual.I once had a psychologist ask me which came first, the screwed up life….then drugs. Or the drugs…then the screwed up life? My answer was…..both. I mentioned that mental loop earlier. The more I used, the more screwed up my life became. The more screwed up my life became, the more I used.There is something physically different at a genetic level in an addict’s makeup, hence the “Disease Concept”This is also the reason addiction is no respecter of persons, regardless of race, creed, or upbringing.Poor people are addicts, rich people too, coming from good and bad homes.Addiction is an actual physical disease first and foremost, there is no doubt in my mind, I have seen the proof repeatedly in others as well as my self.I am not an expert on addiction; I am an expert on my own personal recovery.The cause of addiction is not what’s important. The question “Why”…am I an addict? Is the wrong one to be asking and the wrong mindset to be in. The question “How”…. the hell do I get out? Is the right one. The Way OutThe addict is a self-deceiver, a liar. The addict has no grip on reality whatsoever. Their perception of themselves and the world around them is warped. This is why they rarely succeed in recovery for any length of time.They constantly trust their own perceptions. Most will never make it over the long term; their illness is terminal and fatal.If you are new in recovery and you are scared, good, you should be. There is no cure for addiction, only remission.I do not mince words with fellow addicts, especially newcomers, I never have and never will.There are two models of recovery I am familiar with. One is the “Twelve Step”. The other is the ‘Holistic”.I have seen the twelve-step model work for numerous people long term, I have never seen the holistic model work long term ever.The holistic model addresses the psycho/social issues mostly. The twelve steps address the physical first, the spiritual, and then the psycho/social.The holistic model approaches the disease as a mental/emotional disorder, believing that once those issues are addressed the addict will no longer use. This is naive.The twelve-step model addresses the physical aspect of the disease first, Step One deals with total abstinence first before anything else. The other steps deal with the spiritual and then the psycho/social.This is as it should be since the disease works in that order. Alcoholics who are also addicts developed the twelve-step model. The psycho/social community developed the holistic model.The model that actually works long term was developed by people with practical experience, the other by those with models and theories. The proof is in the pudding. If I want to make a million dollars who do I want to teach me? A millionaire? Or someone who read a book on how to make a million dollars? The answer is simple, and so is the answer to getting clean and sober.We are defined by what we do first, then what we think. James Sterling
About the Author
James Sterling is a recovered addict/alcoholic and advice columnist.He uses his experience as a counselor to help others.In addition to writing for other advice column sites he has his own website at http://www.dearjames.net.
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