addiction

i have absolutely no pleasure in the stimulants in which i sometimes so madly indulge.it has not been in the pursuit of pleasure that i have periled life and reputation and reason.it has been the desperate attempt to escape from torturing memories,from a sense of unsupportable lonliness and a dread of some impending doom.
edgar allan poe.

there is nothing worse than the feeling that you have lost control of your own life.addiction has the power to completely run the life of the addicted.once in motion it has the power to take over any rational reasoning and thinking as well as influencing the direction of the addicteds life.when one is addicted,many different scenarios may set in.one thing is guaranteed,the addiction will in fact become the most important part of the addicteds life.the addiction gains priority over every thing else.an addicts brain functions on a different level of priority that may be hard to understand for non addicts.since the mind will crave the addiction at levels that are not controllable.the mind becomes so use to the addiction that it overwhelms their entire system ruining their health and overall functioning.addiction is a entity that will without fail take on a life of its own if left untreated.
by marrissa f.

amy reed on addiction.

imagine trying to live without air,now imagine something worse.

treating addiction can seem like the hardest task in the world,every direction you turn can turn into a steep cliff,and there are no easy choices.take heart,many others have trodden this path and made it through alive and sane and reclaimed there lives from addiction.

1-take an assessment of your life,admit you have a problem.
2-get the addiction out of your life.
3-join a support group/councelling for help and support.
4-let family and friends know about your decision,peer pressure can help in your recovery.
5-commit to change,addiction is not defeated over night.treatment takes time to be effective.
6-find the cause of your addiction.addictions often begin as a way of dealing with problems.develop new life skills.
7-remember relapses happen,brush your self off and start again.

i would like to add that addiction does not just refer to drugs sex alcholo,how many obese people are there in the world,how many people spend hours after hours watching tv or staring at a computer screen.addiction can take many forms.

this is a good thread as it is often one of those subjects avoided and yet here at bmindful we could be the people someone turns to for help in overcoming their addiction,without us even knowing .

There is usually an empty space inside or a need to block things out which various addictions often seem to help with .

Is addiction the same as habit ?

I smoked for years ,then stopped when I was pregnant .Then about 12 years ago I was drinking wine alone every evening and decided to stop ,and have never smoked or drank alcohol since

The hardest part for me was actually deciding to stop ,once I made that decision the determination kicked in .

I am now cutting out a habit that I have had for years ,forcing down emotions with sugar binges in bed early morning and last thing at night .
This is my hardest one to give up for some reason .I am replacing it with self care ,journalling ,lavender baths ,affirmations,meditating ,reiki,listening to lovely music and being kind to myself instead of being mean to me .

I don’t know if mine were addictions or habits but they all were part of my life and gave me the empathy and understanding to care about and for anyone who is struggling with an addiction or caring for someone with one .
They can be beaten once you make that decision .

Love and peace Flowergirl

...admiration for those who dedicate their energy into giving themselves a life that works well. ...prayers for those who are still struggling.

i would suggest any thing we do on a regular basis knowing it will in the long run have a negative effect on our lives is addiction.good topic

addiction.
there is a pyschological/physical component,the person is unable to control the aspects of the addiction without help because of the mental or physical conditions involved.
habit.
it is done by choice,the person with the habit can choose to stop,and will subsequently do so if they want to,the pyschological/physical component is not an issue as it is with addiction.
put simply with a habit you are in control of you choices with a addiction you are not in control of your choices. by better health

in response to flower girl.what a wonderfully honest post,you are truely an inspiration.blessings mara.

Thank you mara ,it is not always easy to give things up .

I’m looking at how I desire my life to be ,especially as today I stop the bed binges .

Do I want to stuff my feelings down or do I want to step up to life as the Goddess,Queen ( Maiden ,Mother ,Queen ,Crone ) wise woman, earthmother ,peacemaker ,and creative ,peacefull,soul that I am inside

I wish to become more spiritual and learn and grow as “a child of the universe “.

As I learn about Great Father Spirit and Mother Earth I am drawn into a place of looking backwards with compassion ,forwards with joy and hope and being in the present with gratitude and awe

As I let go of years of inner blockages there is space for so much to come into me .

Love and peace ,flowergirl

My name is Arnold I am an alcoholic and an addict. oh wait wrong site…
lol. This is very true for me and I respect my nature as a human being. I do understand that feeling of lack of control. I also understand that the FEELING of control is an illusion. We believe we are in control but actually we are just going with the flow. When you decide to turn against the flow is when you FEEL the absence of control. I no longer need drugs or alcohol to help with this feeling. Instead of focusing on my use and abuse, I focus on what FEELS good. This will then multiply exponentially, no exceptions.

i read recently that the biggest cause of accidential death in the usa is prescription overdosing.prescription pills must be if not the biggest certainly one of the biggest addictions in modern society.

compulsive gambling.

compulsive gambling is a type of impulse control disorder.compulsive gamblers can not control the impulse to gamble.even when they know their gambling is hurting them selves or others.gambling is all they can think of what ever the consequences.stress,depression,loniness,boredom can all trigger compulsive gambling.when gamblers are feeling hopeless,the risk of suicide is high.

help guide org.

the safest way to double your money is to fold it over once,and place it in your pocket.

kin hubbard.

i think many gamblers also get hooked on the adrenalin rush.i think any one who has ever gambled will have felt the excitement of their winning bet coming in.

i think many addictions proberly start off as something that brings enjoyment to the person,but then can spiral out of control.
blessings.

i have been through the 12 step progam but not for gambling,but i believe it can be very affective in helping compulsive gamblers.by far the most useful step i found was getting a sponsor,basically a former addict,someone who had been through what i was still going through.i found this a great help.i cant under estimate the importance of having someone who knew exactly what i was going through and the differculties i was going to have to face.