We face addictions as a part of every day life. Surrounding us are multiple temptations, waiting to suck us in and wreak havoc on our lives. Many people believe that addictions manifest themselves only as the inability to walk away from using harmful substances like drugs and alcohol, but in reality, it is possible to become addicted to nearly any substance or action. At its simplest form, an addiction is the inability to react to a situation in moderation.
We all know that drinking alcohol in reasonable quantities is not necessarily considered a bad behavior. But failing to do so in moderation may mean that an addiction is fueling poor choices. Similarly, many people can enjoy social activities such as engaging in poker games. But when an individual does so compulsively and without regard to the impact it may have on other aspects of their life, they have passed outside of the realm of moderation and into the land of addiction.
One of the most important things to understand about addiction is that it is not a choice. Addiction is fueled psychologically by a perceived lack or need. When an individual becomes compelled to use a certain substance or engage in a certain activity, they may readily believe that they are making appropriate decisions or making moderate choices. In reality, those who are around them can see that they are being engaged by an addiction. It is usually not so easy for an individual to see that about themselves.
Addictions are so harmful because they can impact so many different realms of an individual’s life. A person’s addiction to alcohol does not stop affecting their life during the times when they are not drinking. The impact of their drinking may affect their family interactions, their ability to hold a job, and their interest in engaging in any other activities, because as the addiction takes hold, they can begin to mold the entire rest of their life around when they will take their next sip of alcohol. This is a pattern that can play out in nearly every addiction cycle.
When an addiction has begun to affect your life or when you can see that a friend or loved one may be in the powerful grips of an addiction, it is important to take action as early as possible. Addictions spiral and it is not often that the person who is in the grips of an addiction will be able to break the hold of their compulsion without any outside help. One of the biggest stumbling blocks to solving addictions is the perceived shame involved in having an addiction. That shame must be disregarded, however, so that professional help can be sought to help find a solution to the addiction that, left unchallenged, can ruin lives.
