Addiction By Definition

Though we(I) have discussed behavioral addiction before, I wanted to start a new topic on this societal phenomenon and share what I have learned the past few years.In this topic, any addiction is fair game for discussion. Some of the more common addictions facing society today are drinking, legal and illegal drug abuse, gambling, pornography, overeating, obsessive/compulsive disorders,and social media..such as we are on now.First, lets define addiction. Dr. Patrick Carnes, well known sex addictions expert, states that he believes that our society is becoming more and more trapped in addictions and addictive behavior and that this fact is important.Does anyone here dare be honest and say they struggle with addiction?(You need not name it or get too personal with us)Does anyone think that addiction is not a definite societal problem and that one mans sin is another mans leisure?Does anyone have anything to add to get this discussion rolling? (Larni I eagerly await your participation!)Edited by Phat, : No reason given.Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

Critics might suggest that you don't much care what bad habits you have either. Which leads us to the definition again.

Critics would suggest that vaping is a rationalization(excuse) to avoid the problem. One could argue, however, that the damage caused by vaping is small compared to inhaling nicotine directly...or is that what vaping is? Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

I had a day off today and found myself looking at all sorts of old threads. Straggler and I had been discussing demons and whatnot over at Do We Need God and it quite naturally occurred to me to discuss whether any synthesis exists between an addicted brain and a "demon-possessed" brain. What we do know is that an addicted brain appears markedly different from a "healthy" brain under microscopic analysis.Sobriety causes the pathways to "dry up" and lose active status towards channeling the addictive behavior. It is almost analogous to the brain being allowed to reboot itself...given enough rest and time away from the addiction.The full healing process achieved through sobriety usually involves a minimum of six months and an expected duration of two years.As far as not caring, the first model of the Stages Of Change is pre-contemplation. People in this stage don't care either. (and i'm not your mother...just sayin) How to Move through the Stages of Change1. PRECONTEMPLATION
To get to the next stage you will need to:
- Consider new information about yourself and the problem.
- Know the benefits of changing. Express your feelings about the demands on you and about potential solutions.
- Understand others' demands on you to change and how your behavior affects the environment or others.Example Techniques:
- Have a professional, or someone you trust, give you feedback on your behavior and how it may be affecting you and others.
- Monitor the behavior to see when, where and how much you do it. Note your feelings before, during and afterwards.
- Do some reading to learn more about this behavior.
- Tell someone your feelings about the demands on you to change and about what you believe your choices are.
- Look for ways that society and others will help you to change.
- Notice how your behavior affects the environment or others.Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

Of course, I understand. And perhaps I should stop trying so much to define addiction so much for everybody else and let each of us settle on a definition that suits ourselves. In our Theological debates, truth is absolute in my mind and relative to the individual in many of my opponents minds---the same could be said of knowledge.I will share this much. I went to my counselor last week. He is accredited--he is on the state board for problem gamblers and he is acquainted with all of the latest research on addictive behaviors. In our session, he shared two nuggets of truth with me that stand out in my thinking.

When I say that gambling hurts nobody else besides myself, it is a lie. Simply not true, in his mind. He mentions that by crippling myself with addictive behavior, I am depriving others of the help that I could give them.(He thinks I am a leader! )

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IF I can get this addiction cured, all of my other minor addictions of any severity or consequence will also get resolved. It has been his experience that compulsive problem gambling is as hard to cure as a methamphetamine or even a heroin addiction.

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Jon has mentioned that I am the only member at EvC who routinely starts topics to discuss himself. Guilty.

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And I need your prayers and advice. On my end of the deal, I will try and do my best. This is officially day 4 of sobriety.

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Saying, "I don't know," is the same as saying, "Maybe."~ZombieRingo

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It's easy to see the speck in somebody else's ideas - unless it's blocked by the beam in your own.~Ringo

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If a savage stops believing in his wooden god, it does not mean that there is no God only that God is not wooden. (Leo Tolstoy)

Lets do some research on this one. Assuming EvC (and us) are still here in six months, let me get back to you on this one.

Perhaps we should discuss various definitions of what constitutes an addiction.Here is one such definition for consideration and to fuel further topic discussion: Vitamin C can be taken or not taken...at least by me...without any compulsion or physically or psychological need to take it. Perhaps a health freak could become obsessed with taking C religiously, however, and it could theoretically then be classified as an addiction...but the addiction would not be to the substance itself would it?Edited by Phat, : spellingEdited by Phat, : added NoNukes

I tend to believe that addiction by definition is defined as an altered brain.A maladaptive response to stress.As of today, I am on day 17 of sobriety. Noted, among other things, is an increased capacity for emotion.Also am reconnecting with my past belief(ten years ago or so) and feel I am improving in some ways and stagnant in other ways.The experts claim it will take 6 months of sobriety before I will even experience a full flood of emotions from the healing process.I plan on sticking it out that long---so we may get some subjective feedback from my narcissistic ass. Stay tuned.

Dr.Patrick CarnesLets define addiction, for starters.

I posted this in another topic, but will repost it here---which is where it belongs!

quote:

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I have a licensed counselor. He is on the state board of problem gambling.
Through talking with him in sessions, I learn much of the research done and the methods such as The Stages Of Change Model and Rational Recovery.

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He is a good therapist, but I am a stubborn old coot. I often go around the same mountain several dozen times before I realize that i'm not getting anywhere. My therapist explained the addictive pattern in the brain and much of the stuff that I share here at EvC. He even suggested medications, which I have tried in the past but reject overall--they cause harm as well as good.

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Addiction is quite definable and observable within me. As I achieve a longer and longer time with sobriety, I will note the reactions and emotions and will talk of them here. Thats the plan.

satan could hypothetically be an addiction. He essentially is a counterfeit need yet is only a problem for some. Personally, I know in my mind that I better stick with real needs and avoid counterfeit ones---if only for my mental health and conscience.

Religion can be an addiction, I think. Of course I'M NOT addicted!

This is only my 25th day of full sobriety from my addiction. I can report that I already feel a resensitivity to my feelings, as I find that I laugh and cry easier than before. Subjectively I can confirm the fact that my addiction served to numb and/or minimize pain and awareness.The experts claim that a "flood of feelings" won't appear evident until after 180 days of sobriety has passed so I await that event as I move forward one day at a time.

I have recently been studying the philosophy of the group known as Rational Recovery. They make a lot of sense! Thus, we have met the "enemy" and he is us! Our primitive mind will never see any problem with any sort of self indulgence. Thus...Rational Recovery uses logic and an acknowledgement towards personal responsibility found only in our higher brain.
They have a system known as AVRT. (Addictive Voice Recognition Therapy) Basically, however...they agree with you in that The point is that we are responsible for our addictions and bad habits and we also have the power within us to cease any addiction...provided we are honest with ourselves and ready.Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

This observation further supports the RR hypothesis. An addiction by definition is actively courted and desired by our primitive brain.