An Addiction Conversation … BY DAN JENKINS on December 28th, 2015
… For those who have never known addiction
There aren’t as many people as you think, who can honestly say that they have never struggled with an addiction. It’s just that only some addictions are more socially acceptable than others. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and even food can become an addiction. When viewed in that light, addiction is less mysterious, less “them” and more “we.” If you want to understand what an addict is going through, try giving up something for a period of time. Fasting is a great experience that closely resembles the feelings of addiction. To a lesser degree, giving up meat for lent or foregoing your daily coffee will give you some insight into the struggles of addiction.
“Struggling with Addiction” It’s a phrase we’ve all heard but what does it mean, exactly? I mean you either use or you don’t right? Wrong. Addiction means that there is a genuine struggle with that decision. Here, let’s see if we can clarify this. In the terms of inner monologue, an addiction conversation is an argument with yourself. Do it No Come on, do it No You know you want to No The fact that you know full well that the person you are arguing with is yourself doesn’t help at all. An addict is the Ruling King Supreme when it comes to the irrational rationalizations. And because you know yourself so well, you know what will work. The argument takes on a new tone and unfortunately, it’s too often convincing. You need the pick-me-up to get through work No Just one last time man, a goodbye hit… No There’s only a little bit here. Then it will all be gone… No It doesn’t really hurt you to use… No Something that isn’t often talked about is the obsession an addict experiences over their drug of choice. It dominates their inner monologue; it drives their actions. The obsession is there when they wake up. It’s there in their dreams. This is what drives addicts to behave rashly in their quest to get a fix. Quieting the voice that drives them and quenching that desire to use becomes all consuming. The monologue changes again to something more frantic as the prospect of using again becomes the main focus. I do need it.
Yes I have to find some Yes I will do anything to have just a taste Yes, Yes, YES! The addict already knows that he is his own worst enemy. He’s had these arguments repeatedly over the course of his addiction. Sometimes he’s held on longer than other times but the very definition of addiction is the “compulsive need” to use. Understanding that addiction is a compulsion is important when trying to understand the addict. Only in the beginning is using a free choice made for pleasures sake. After the addiction takes hold, it becomes something much more sinister and it takes a monumental commitment from the addict and a good support system along with treatment to come to terms with addiction.