Posted By Steve Wolf<\/p>\n
TAMING YOUR ADDICTION<\/strong><\/p>\n We live in stressful times and for many of us the pleasure from distraction or relief sounds pretty good every now and then, unless we get out of control. Food, sex, chocolate, the internet, TV, video games, work, love, Dust Off, Haagen Dazs, anger, jealousy, obsession: you name it, someone is addicted to it.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not the \u201csubstance\u201d that creates the problem; it\u2019s the addictive relationship to the substance that creates the problem. I define addiction as any pattern of behavior which causes your life to go out of balance.<\/p>\n Addictive behaviors are dysfunctional, out-of-balance patterns of behavior designed to protect one from re-experiencing \u00a0old, often unconscious, painful emotional memories. The additional bad news is those painful emotions don\u2019t disappear, they are just hidden from view.<\/p>\n Who gets to decide whether a particular behavior pattern is dysfunctional and addictive or not? You do.\u00a0 While you may be quite clear about an others\u2019 addiction, they don\u2019t necessarily agree with you, and vice versa. Too often our own addictions are least obvious to ourselves.\u00a0 Obviously, when the behavior results in getting caught breaking the law, you\u2019ve allowed society to make that decision for you.<\/p>\n Regardless, if your behavior is going to change, it\u2019s because you have decided to change it. The bottom line is each one of us has to decide if the consequences for continuing the addictive behaviors are worth paying the price for the pleasure, distraction or relief.<\/p>\n Breaking addictive patterns is so difficult because, not only must the brain get over its initial withdrawal from the over production of various neurotransmitters, but we must also re-train the brain to contain its desire to repeat the euphoric experience.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard enough to tame an addiction even once you have a clear intention to do so; it\u2019s impossible without that intention. So, first clarify your reasons and your intention to change \u2013 for yourself. Next, write down your goals and include your plan for action if you don\u2019t succeed.<\/p>\n Then, sign it, and, if you\u2019re really serious, email your intentions to family or friends. Next, identify some inevitable addictive cravings and impulses.<\/p>\n Pick a date and go for it. If you are successful then your addiction\u2019s protective shield against hidden emotion will be removed so be prepared to feel more anxious, depressed, lonely, etc. Therefore, Plan B should include ways to integrate previously hidden emotional memories your addiction had originally been designed to suppress.<\/p>\n I agree with Jungian analyst Marion Woodman, who views addiction as a substitute for blocked creativity. Creative expression can therefore be of great help, as well as talking with friends, journaling, the 12-step community, therapy, etc. Finally, prepare to celebrate. It feels great to gain control over those out of control behaviors.<\/p>\n