28. A close look at the words used to describe addiction   

By Tom O'Connell

Addiction is so complicated that no narrow view of it is valid. It's as complicated as the human condition itself. And the experts are still arguing whether or not addiction should be classified as a disease. The catch is that all the words mean basically the same thing, whether you say "disease" or "disorder" or "condition."

What is a "disease"? A medical dictionary says it's "a disorder with a specific cause and recognizable signs and symptoms." So the word "disorder" is synonymous with the word "disease" which is also defined as "any failure to function properly." By definition, addiction qualifies as a disease or disorder. What about the word "condition"? That means  a "state of being" and can be applied to addiction and every other health problem.

A definition I've been using for many years goes like this: "Addiction is a condition of unhealthy dependence on behaviors that impair a person's ability to function to full potential." Also, Doctor Stanley Gitlow's definition, which I find appealing, describes addiction as "a disease in which any technique for adapting to life is used other than interpersonal relating." Addiction can be viewed as a fundamental inability to relate.

Also, the word "addiction" is worth examining carefully. It's about "devotion" and its about "bondage." It's about love objects that we desire and chase.

Addiction is about the restless dissatisfaction that comes with being human, and the desire to change how we feel. It's about separation anxiety, attachment hunger, fear, doubt, and insecurity. It's about isolation, alienation, genetics, brain chemistry, the influence of peers, family and cultural factors, environmental factors, and levels of stress.

Because addiction is so pervasive and so complicated, and is a factor that all of us have to deal with as we work our way through life, I don't have to worry about running out of material to explore. But here are a few basics to think about--

* When we're addicted, we're affected physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. And our whole being is engaged in the process.

* When we're addicted, we are haunted by our obsessions and driven by our compulsions. So we get hooked by extremes and excesses, and we lose freedom of choice.

* When we're addicted we are in bondage to our own craving. Despite efforts to control our behavior we lose control of it anyhow. And even though there are life-damaging consequences we continue the behavior until we have to stop it or modify it.

* When we're addicted we tend to defend, minimize, or deny our behavior; we build tolerance for the behavior; and we suffer withdrawal symptoms when we try to quit.

* When we're addicted, regardless of which behavior we're involved in, we have a chronic condition that tends to worsen over time and can lead to serious disease or death.

Addiction can be described in many ways. In simple terms, it is a continuing attempt to fill inner emptiness or relieve inner discomfort by turning to habit-forming behaviors that bring temporary relief but damage our lives and the lives of others. From a relationship viewpoint, addiction is a substitute for healthy relating. And no matter which definition we choose to use, the key to recovery is learning how to relate to self, others, and God. Whether we call addiction a disease, disorder, or condition, addiction is the world's most widespread health problem. And it deserves our concentrated attention.

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