Balancing Life
In the recent news, we have witnessed great talents succumb to an early
death because of addiction: Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson,
Philip Seymour Hoffman, and the latest casualty is Peaches Geldof who overdosed
at the young age of 25.
Addiction is a widespread problem, not only amongst the rich and famous but also with people just like you and I.
In this blog, I’m going to attempt to explain the different types of addiction in general terms and also to provide some clarity as to what causes and sustains addiction.
There are two types of addiction, one that we call ‘substance addiction’ and another that we call ‘process addiction’.
Substance addiction includes:
Addiction is a widespread problem, not only amongst the rich and famous but also with people just like you and I.
In this blog, I’m going to attempt to explain the different types of addiction in general terms and also to provide some clarity as to what causes and sustains addiction.
There are two types of addiction, one that we call ‘substance addiction’ and another that we call ‘process addiction’.
Substance addiction includes:
· Illegal drugs
· Prescription drugs
· Nicotine
· Alcohol
· Food
· Sugar
Process addiction includes:
Process addiction includes:
· Gambling
· Sex
· Shopping
· Porn
· Internet
· Video gaming
· Why do people get addicted?
Of course, the subject of addiction is very broad, and I won’t be able to give a detailed answer to this question. But I will attempt to give a broad answer to a broad question:
People get addicted to regulate their moods and achieve homeostasis: to remain stable and constant with their brain chemicals. The function of addiction is to either arouse feelings and emotions or to numb them.
Substances and behaviours that are arousing include:
Of course, the subject of addiction is very broad, and I won’t be able to give a detailed answer to this question. But I will attempt to give a broad answer to a broad question:
People get addicted to regulate their moods and achieve homeostasis: to remain stable and constant with their brain chemicals. The function of addiction is to either arouse feelings and emotions or to numb them.
Substances and behaviours that are arousing include:
· Cocaine
· Over-exercising
· Pornography
· Nicotine
· High stakes gambling: poker games,
roulette, horse racing
· Video games (especially those that are
either sexual or violent)
· Seeing prostitutes
· Sexualisation of strangers
· Caffeine
Substances and behaviours that are numbing include:
Substances and behaviours that are numbing include:
· Opiates
· Benzos
· Narcotics
· Over eating
· Masturbation
· Alcohol
· Gambling to achieve a trance-state like:
slot machines or lottery
· Heroin
Ecstasy
and MDMA are substance commonly used in Britain. They can be both arousing and
numbing in rapid succession which creates an imbalance in the brain chemicals.
People who are addicted to a substance or a behaviour in order to achieve homeostasis through the arousal or the numbing of emotions, activate a neural pathway of fantasy. I hear addicted clients say that they want to ‘escape the world’ because they find the stresses of life difficult to cope with.
Of course, having fantasies is healthy. We all have an ability to fantasize for a good reason: it gives us purpose. It gives us coping strategies. It cultivates our creativity. It can make sex meaningful and fun.
But some people can get stuck in the fantasy cycle because the addiction blocks the exit. Exiting means to return to reality, which is often a state that can be perceived as ‘dangerous’ for the addict.
This is because what they are trying to avoid is a much deeper, more painful state: shame.
Shame feeds the addiction and it is the motor that keeps the addiction going round and round in the cycle of fantasy.
All addiction can be fatal. Substance addiction can be fatal when someone takes an overdose. Process addiction can lead to someone losing everything: marriage, children, house, job, etc… When some people hit ‘rock bottom’, they feel so desperate and depressed that they often commit suicide or self-harm.
All addiction can make people feel isolated; they engage in behaviours that are deceitful to protect their addiction (lies, rationalisation, etc…).They protect their addiction because it is very important to them: it is their primary way of regulating their moods. Without it, they feel they would fall apart.
People who are addicted to a substance or a behaviour in order to achieve homeostasis through the arousal or the numbing of emotions, activate a neural pathway of fantasy. I hear addicted clients say that they want to ‘escape the world’ because they find the stresses of life difficult to cope with.
Of course, having fantasies is healthy. We all have an ability to fantasize for a good reason: it gives us purpose. It gives us coping strategies. It cultivates our creativity. It can make sex meaningful and fun.
But some people can get stuck in the fantasy cycle because the addiction blocks the exit. Exiting means to return to reality, which is often a state that can be perceived as ‘dangerous’ for the addict.
This is because what they are trying to avoid is a much deeper, more painful state: shame.
Shame feeds the addiction and it is the motor that keeps the addiction going round and round in the cycle of fantasy.
All addiction can be fatal. Substance addiction can be fatal when someone takes an overdose. Process addiction can lead to someone losing everything: marriage, children, house, job, etc… When some people hit ‘rock bottom’, they feel so desperate and depressed that they often commit suicide or self-harm.
All addiction can make people feel isolated; they engage in behaviours that are deceitful to protect their addiction (lies, rationalisation, etc…).They protect their addiction because it is very important to them: it is their primary way of regulating their moods. Without it, they feel they would fall apart.
Part of
the therapy is to find ways to regulate moods in a healthy way to replace the
addiction. It is often a long and bumpy road, but recovery through the
therapeutic process is good and permanent. The client learns how to balance
life with a new lifestyle, whilst learning how to tolerate the uncertainty of
life (anxiety reduction).
Towards the end of the process, clients start to feel grateful for themselves and those around them. They start to love themselves and are willing to be seen as imperfect, vulnerable and worthy people.
If you or a loved one has an addiction, contact a therapist specialised in addictions. Remember, there is help and there is hope.
Originally published by Silva Neves in June 2014
Towards the end of the process, clients start to feel grateful for themselves and those around them. They start to love themselves and are willing to be seen as imperfect, vulnerable and worthy people.
If you or a loved one has an addiction, contact a therapist specialised in addictions. Remember, there is help and there is hope.
Originally published by Silva Neves in June 2014
