We are all addicts of something

Ad-dict (adikt) To be or cause to be, a devotee, to do or use something habitually.

      Ad-dict-ed (a-dik-tid) Doing or using something as a habit or compulsively.

       Do you know anyone who is an over thinker, exercise fanatic, constant worrier, compulsively shops, over eats, or talk’s non-stop?

     We are addicted to constant drama, organizing, negative thinking, control, and habitual daily use of everything from soda to cigarettes. All addictions and compulsions are a faulty coping mechanism.  Habitual behavior is self-avoidance. 

         Some compulsive patterns can be physically harmful, like alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and food. Compulsive lying, gambling, hoarding, shopping, controlling, seeking approval of ourselves on social platforms or through the eyes of others, are emotionally destructive because the object is always moving. The satisfaction is as temporary as our last lie, purchase, bet or compliment. We are always left needing more.

Addictions have a common basic thread, fear. We practice every kind of drug use from prescription to the street variety. Some addictions result in starving ourselves, isolation, and revolving ailments. There are no shortages of habitual behaviors.

        All of these actions keep us from living in the moment and experiencing life fully. We cleverly disguise our habitual patterns by ignoring the truth of what they are.     

        I’m not a doctor but, I’m familiar with addictions and creating behaviors that don’t serve us. I was once an expert at it. One reason for these addictive activities is to keep us from feeling pain, fear, disappointment, grief, sadness or discovering that we are unhappy.

      We do it because we are afraid to look at our lives and admit that we need change because, we judge ourselves. When we move away from addictions of any kind, we feel better, are happier, more productive and able to love ourselves.

      Recognizing our patterns is power. It brings us closer to the truth of who we are, and who we want to be. For me, there are three beginning steps to change. The first is acknowledgement. The second is, no judging. The third is deciding how we want to be. Now, we are able to begin.

    There are many paths to change. Find what works for you. Give yourself a break from self-judgment. It doesn’t matter what we call it. Addictions, habitual patterns, habits, or compulsions, are a learned behavior we adopted as our truth.  We have the power to change.