|
2.
Addiction is complicated: a closer look By
Tom O'Connell About
20 years ago when I began to write about the addictions for health agencies,
I learned that there are at least 50 different theories about addiction. And
there are probably just as many theories about alcoholism alone. In an
attempt to explain the key elements of addiction and recovery, I have
carefully avoided oversimplifying the addiction process. Yet there are a
number of basics that can help concerned people to gain a better
understanding of it. And this column contains a brief overview of those
basics. Addiction
is about devotion to love objects, and it relates to the restless
dissatisfaction that comes with the human condition. It includes such
factors as attachment hunger and separation anxiety. And it may also involve
genetics, biochemistry, the emotions, the thinking process, the influence of
peers, family factors, environmental considerations, levels of stress, the
spiritual quest, and much more. Addiction
is unhealthy Dependence with a Capital "D." It starts with
experimentation, becomes habit, and escalates to unhealthy dependence.
Instead of the right balance of self-reliance and interdependence, we get
hooked into extreme independence or co-dependence, lose our freedom of
choice, and enter a state of suspense. Addiction affects us physically,
mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. It's holistic. Addiction
is characterized by craving, compulsion, loss of control despite efforts to
control, and continuation of the behavior despite life-damaging
consequences. When we are obsessed by our love object, we are preoccupied
with thoughts about our addictive behavior, and compulsion drives us to
satisfy our persistent or periodic craving. Other
factors are defense, denial, tolerance, and withdrawal. We defend or deny
our behavior, need more and more to get the originally desired effect, and
if we stop we trigger painful withdrawal symptoms that attract us back to
the addiction cycle for relief. Addiction
also tends to be chronic, progressive, and potentially fatal. It is
habitual,
gets steadily worse with time, and can lead to death. This is true
whether we are talking about alcoholism, drug addiction, compulsive
gambling, overeating, or addictive relating. The
"ISM" of addiction is the "condition," as in alcoholism,
but in recovery the "ISM" can be an acronym for "insecure,
supersensitive, and moody." Actually,
addiction can be described in a variety of ways. It's a condition of
unhealthy dependence. It's a substitute for healthy relating. It's a
continuing attempt to fill inner emptiness or relieve inner discomfort by
turning to habit-forming behaviors that bring temporary relief yet damage
our lives and the lives of others. Of
all the definitions of addiction, I am most impressed by the thoughtful one
devised by Dr. Stanley Gitlow of Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. This
alcoholism pioneer said, "Addiction is a disease in which any technique
for adapting to life is used other than interpersonal relating."
Addiction is a primary relationship, and a very unhealthy one. The remedy is
learning how to develop healthy relationships with self, others, and God. The remedy is not simple, and it's not easy. But it's worth the self-discipline. |
|
- Back - |