The face of addiction has changed. We may think of the dirty person in tattered clothes that asks us for change as we hurry by them. Yes, these people are in the circle of addicts. These are people who are out of options. Their drug of choice is a hungry beast that has to be fed. They sacrifice everything to appease it, but in the end, it usually ends with death.
Today’s addict wears a suit to work or puts on a uniform. Today’s addict may be driving your child’s school bus or coaching the softball team. The point is there are varying degrees of addiction and there are many “functioning” addicts.
Who’s Fault Is it?
Many studies have shown, that a person has about a 50% chance of developing an addiction if they have close family members that suffer from addiction. So, are you thinking predestination to addiction means it is not your fault? There are problems with this assessment. The studies show that your genes make you more vulnerable to fall to addiction. That means you have a 50% chance to train yourself to handle the issues of life without drugs and alcohol.
Photo credit: Corey Motta
The brain
Your brain is wired to reward you when you do something good and to mentally scold you when you step over the line. This works very well until we introduce a substance into our bodies that gives you that feeling of euphoria Your brain signals that you do not need your natural feel-good chemicals. The brain rewires itself to your behavior. As long as you give your brain the substance, you will be fine. But, if you stop giving your brain what it wants, it will demand it by making you go through withdrawal, which is one of the most horrible you will ever feel.
Take back your power
You have the facts, and what you do with them is up to you. The easiest way to avoid addiction is to stay away from drugs and alcohol. Making a decision to avoid the problem, by never opening that door. That puts the power in your hands and lets you be in control of your destiny.
The addiction gene has already been tripped
So, maybe you have found out on your own how addiction can bury you. You want this to stop. You want a life back with people who love you. You want self-respect and healing.
Learn a new way.
Somehow, you grew up without learning the skill of managing your emotions. At this point, you will need some experts who can teach you control, of anger, sadness, This is an important step in healing. It is only when you feel lost, sad, scared, and alone that you begin to crave your drug of choice.
Recovery
You do not have to do this alone. You do not have to put yourself through the nightmare of going sober on your own. Experts at Transition Recovery explain, laying the foundation for healthy living will help a patient walk into a new life that is designed to keep them well.
FYI
Addiction does not jump up and bite you when you crack open the door. Many times a person who has a high rate of addiction keeps a lid on things until they need them. They may party with their friends a couple of times a month. They do not abuse the substance initially. Sooner or later, life will happen. When it does, they will escape with drugs or alcohol. Drinking to escape life’s problem is the first step on the slippery slope to addiction.
The earlier you seek help, the better. Don’t let genetics decide what your life will be. We can control our emotions. We can learn coping skills. We can evolve into the person you were born to be.