A word I've heard and applied many times. When I hear the word Addiction several things come to mind. Generally the chart-toppers are drugs, alcohol, gambling. When I come across a website or pamphlets thematically oriented to addiction, I usually see these bullets.
Alcohol
Drugs
Pornography
Eating Disorders
Workaholic
shopaholic
Rageaholic
Sneakerhead
sex aholic
binge drinker
A lot of unappealing titles there. I don't feel great bearing any of those titles but I suppose that's the point. Where did the term Addiction come from anyhow?
Definition of addiction
: a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects and typically causing well-defined symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, tremors, or nausea) upon withdrawal or abstinence : the state of being addicted
Such a sordid routine. The dependency and overuse of something suggest a remedial action. An action toward something to soothe the existing pain giving way to addiction. I don’t recall anyone I’ve met wanting to hear that their life is out of sorts and needs repair. I guess it’s hard to deny when addictive behaviour is apparently noticeable. Labels are harmful towards others' efforts to help. Let’s look at what people really are.The wonderfully amazing people before addiction while remaining so after . OUr loved ones often wonder how it all started.
1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.
James 1:12-15 ESV
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.
I don't feel any sensible attachment to the notion that addiction in a general sense is biologically implemented at birth. There are some situational cases that demonstrate otherwise, such as fetal alcohol syndrome or applicable facets of the disease model. For today I'd like to take a hopeful glance at the psycho/ spiritual emotional pain leading to the gridlock world of addiction. My heart is filled with love and prayer for all of those out there who are labelled as addicts.
From my personal experience with addiction, I've grudgingly learned the importance of unpacking the root causes. This is often a fearful approach as the underlying emotions that led me to a dark path were unpleasant and painful in themselves. I suppose being a diagnosed anxiety disorder patient and a candidate elect for all of the therapeutic approaches to such illnesses would validate my roster of medication/ therapy. That doesn’t mean I liked it , a new addiction of its own. Psychology is simplified by its own definition. The scientific study of the human mind and its functions.
“Today, as never before, people are interested in psychology and what it has to say to mankind. The study of psychology deals with the mind, its senses and human behavior. Since our mind controls our behavior and our behavior influences and is influenced in many ways, it becomes a challenging study. Along with this are the ever-increasing problems of the mind, social relations in a complex world today, mental and moral break-downs, the increase of the occult (e.g. astrology, etc.), and the desire to know the future and the things of the non-physical world. Satanic influence is increasing as never before as I Timothy 4:1, and II Timothy 3:2 state: "Now the spirit speaketh plainly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" and "evil men and deceivers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."Since man is constantly trying to explore the mind in human behavior, it seems logical to the Christian that his source of knowledge can best come through an understanding of the One who created the mind of mankind, as well as looking at the textbook He has written on the mind and human behavior. The most authoritative textbook on the subject of human behavior is the Bible. Not only is it authoritative, it is objective, and is the final word on the subject. And whether people accept the principles of God's Word and agree with them or not, all are subject to the principles found in the Bible. Therefore, it behooves us to consider seriously what god has to say on this matter of Biblical psychology. The Bible is not a textbook on psychology, rather it is a text on God and His relationship to mankind, whom He has created. However, in the context there is much stated in the Bible on human behavior, and where the Bible speaks on the subject of psychology it speaks with final authority.
John H. Stoll, Ph.D. Executive Director, ASK
I'm quite certain that my behaviour already existed before I sought help to correct it. Here lies the necessity to address the underlying elements contributing to an addictive behavioral pattern before they bloom into disaster. Where medicines are concerned, I'll speak on a personal note. My first substance addiction primarily involved benzodiazepines.
In my case it was clonazepam otherwise known as Klonopin. These medicines mask or Band-Aid the core feelings needing attention, calming the vitality of the normal spiritual alarm system. Anxiety. Under these anxious feelings are a host of contributors. Modern life in all its secular state of confusion adjacent to God’s design seems to stir anxious emotions. Emotions unmet will continue to solicit recognition. A continuous state of sedation teaches the neural system to perceive this medicated false comfort as normality. The survival state of being consistently satiated is an unrealistic mindset. Certainly not one to adopt as a necessity because when this comfort is deprived, the brain responds more vigorously conjuring ideas of how to replace the safety feeling. In my case, when I was weaned off of the benzos, alcohol became its chemical substitute.
Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium) and clonazepam (Rivotril) are anxiolytics that can also have hypnotic or amnesia-inducing effects. Like alcohol, these drugs increase the efficiency of synaptic transmission of the neurotransmitter GABA by acting on its receptors.
“The Brain” McGill.ca
The rest are stories of failures and self-esteem killers all leading to treatment facilities and more therapy. Why?... because the root emotions left unattended were still in the battle arena of my mind. Of the thousands of other various types of addicts I've met through these times, I find a solid few prominent common denominators. Anxiety with depression, abuse of all types and mental illness. Most of which lead to, what is referred to by professionals as a concurrent disorder. In my case “anxiety disorder with alcoholism”. What a horrible moniker. Although Some of these emotions and feelings may become enhanced or amplified by the action of addiction itself, I firmly believe they were formed and manifested long before the remedial choice of substance use or so-called negative behavioral patterns occurred.
A good life.
In my opinion all addiction meets with a negative outcome.See my article on “chemical addiction and process addiction” Let's toss aside the fictional notions that these approaches are fun, healthy, enjoyable or sure footedly loyal. The source of addiction is more my intention for this article, not a war story journal. I have other pieces in that type of personal narrative. This, in contrast, is to provide a hopeful insight about the natural, loving repair the once healthy emotions in all of us need. Emotions created and nurtured by our loving Heavenly Father. Firstly everyone is equal in diverse ways. Biologically, emotionally and spiritually equal in God.
“ God, who is our Creator, has an answer for all these problems. There are four sets of emotions common to all---whether we accept by faith the principles in God's Word or reject them---that plague us, and unless we get relief from them they will ultimately destroy us.
The first is the fear-anxiety-apprehension syndrome. The world is caught up in this to a great degree because it says, "There is no help for mankind---this is a meaningless universe." The world cares nothing for the individual who is only a number, and though each individual is a unique person there is really no help for that person. Each individual is just one of billions of other people. We live in an amoral world that is hostile to the individual. Therefore, because of this we have fears, anxieties, and apprehensions, as to what is coming.
The second set of emotions that bothers us is the anger-hostility-hated syndrome, since basically we are afraid. This is a cover up, and thus we exhibit our fears which come out through anger, hostility, and hatred. And hostility is the direct action to powerlessness in one's life because of what he fears. This bothers the Christian as well as the non-Christian.
The third set of emotions that we are plagued with is that of the depression-guilt-psychic pain syndrome. It is interesting to note that the majority of people that occupy hospital beds are there not because of physical illness, but because of emotional, mental and psychological problems. If as human beings we could be rid of these, there would be plenty of beds in all hospitals today. It is an abiding sorrow that bothers every individual. For the non-Christian, it is an unconscious sense of guilt, though that person may not acknowledge or recognize it. For the Christian it may be unconfessed sin which therefore leads to depression and guilt feelings.
The fourth set of emotions that bothers us is what may be termed as destructive egotism. This is another form of fear; "I am myself, I have an ego, and I have desire to have it built up to a certain degree. And yet in my desires to have my ego built up, there is also a certain amount of fear, and so I am trying to balance my fears with my ego as an individual," and that gives everyone problems.”
John H. Stoll, Ph.D. Executive Director, ASK
We are all born with five senses designed for good with the emotional response attached. All deciphered by our brains to produce feelings, emotions and actions. This cohesive mechanism was designed grandly by God for our good. When one area of the machine is compromised the system shuts down. Eventually we have to call in the mechanic. I know the ultimate repair man, the ultimate Chef for the recipes of life. I eat from his cookbook daily, the Bible. I'll tell you a story about food.
My son Jonah likes pancakes. When he was a toddler he would climb out of bed early in the morning and go over to my bedside tapping my shoulder saying “ Daddy, pancakes”. I’d rub my eyes and respond with Jonah it’s 5 a.m.! Pancakes? How about porridge, that makes daddy strong. After he told me that porridge was yucky.I couldn't really disagree with him, porridge is kind of yucky. I figured that the first day would sort of end this whole 6 a.m. pancake request but next morning at 5:45 a.m... Daddy pancakes. I then knew that this was going to be a recurring thing. So I started to be grateful about the request. I realized that Jonah knew in his little world where to get pancakes. He didn't quite understand where they came nor did he understand or really care about the whole theory of pancake relativity.Certainly not the labour involved in putting pancakes together. He knew that for whatever reason, Daddy was the person to ask for pancakes. He was really more interested in how yummy they tasted. So I would take my little guy to the kitchen and we would make pancakes. Now, Jonah at the age of four, wasn't really in the right mindset to understand the assembly line of pancakes. He wasn’t overly interested in reading cookbooks yet so the recipe seemed incoherent to him. Also, each of the ingredients looked kind of yucky on their own. Nobody wants to eat a spoonful of baking soda. Nobody wants to eat a raw egg..(some might but he didn't). I had to remind him that when everything was mixed together it will make the batter for awesome pancakes.
Each and every ingredient had to be just right. It was delightful for me to have his little pudgy hands adding a dash of salt and pouring a little more milk.Then he was happy to watch me mix everything in the bowl standing back far enough from the stove so that he didn't get burned. He was interested in seeing how big the frying pan was that I picked. Then he’d watch me ladle everything together into a circle giggling as it crackled and formed into his delicious breakfast.
The coolest part was when he got to pick out what he put on his pancakes. Sometimes butter and syrup. Sometimes jam just like Daddy. He marvelled at all the wonderful things that went into pancakes. When Jonah got old enough, I tried to show him a little bit of what went into pancakes. How to mix and stir in the ingredients he remembered. The yucky with the good.
Eventually he got to the point where he was curious enough to try to not wake daddy up so he could make his own pancakes. A couple times this met with broken eggs on the kitchen floor only to have him toddle down the hall and tell me what happened saying “ daddy, pancakes” I would get up, show him how to clean up egg mess and we’d make the pancakes together. One morning during his potty training days he came to get his pancakes with an unappetizing odor around him. I assured him that his daddy loved him and not to feel embarrassed or ashamed. We cleaned up and then went to the kitchen to get started. On another occasion,mustard was added to the pancake mix, which he realized was “yucky”. I took this opportunity to teach him that there are always going to be extra ingredients in the kitchen that aren’t really good to make pancakes. Fortunately he never turned on the stove and burned the kitchen down. That would have been the harshest lesson to undergo for both of us.
Eventually Jonah learned how to make his own pancakes. The odd time he would ask me which thing I thought he should put in or which was the better butter. He used the same life skills to make other things, meeting with good results when followed.If he needed advice, he’d ask.
My experience with Jonah illustrates my relationship with God. Our Daddy. I know where he never sleeps and that's where I go to get pancakes from Him. Jonah reminded me that was the only place in the world pancakes existed. The source of all pancakes. I followed Him to the kitchen of life and watched him miraculously add ingredients, helped Him stir bowls of mysterious things together while feeling comfort from the heat as He cooked them into delicious circles. We ate them together and bonded in Fellowship. Eventually I thought I’d caught on how to make pancakes. I could even read the recipe. Sometimes I thought I needed help understanding it but I was sure I'd figure it out. There were a couple times I tried to make them on my own not following the recipe. They didn't turn out as tasty as I remembered. The mustard of life didn't blend well with eggs and milk. When I forgot the baking powder, they turned out flat but I asked Him for help and learned the essential parts some of these things have in making pancakes. There were a few odd times that I asked someone else for their recipe. I found the pancakes different and not filling. I also learned what not to add. I wouldn't be a proud or recommended instructor if Jonah continued to add mustard to his pancakes and start to enjoy them only to get sick from too much mustard. Even worse, teaching someone else that mustard cakes are yummy and good for you.
Many times in my life, I've made some horrible Pancakes. There were times when I almost burned the kitchen down in doing so. I have a father who has always been there to improve the culinary skills of my life. Emotions and feelings are natural and god-given. They are like ingredients. Sometimes on their own they may not taste or feel good but they are essential components to the big picture. With over a decade of therapy models under my belt I can guarantee that there is no recovery from any addiction without God. Psychology is this Study of something that already exists. Like pancakes. Go to the source of pancakes and learn how to make them properly. Going to a different source and buying substitute toaster pancakes may lead to instant gratification but always end in sore stomachs and cholesterol.
Most importantly, always share your pancakes with someone who’s hungry or doesn't know how to make them yet. Someone who never had a daddy to teach them.
Love and Blessings to all,
Through Christ
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