Definition of Addiction

[sick of being sick]

Curious to hear different people's views on their definition of addiction. To me, it's the way to escape myself, pain, guilt, regret, etc. My husband says it's when you lose control and power over a behavior. Any other opinions? :thanks:

[Gearhead]

Definition of Addiction

When some important part of your life takes a backseat to some coping mechanism. For example, when I had a beer on my way to work.

[Winefree]

Definition of Addiction

When you can't stop doing a behavior even when you are convinced you are in control and everytime you try to stop no matter how hard you try, you continue the negative behavior despite the bad outcomes.

Winefree

[Guest]

Definition of Addiction

Alcoholism
Definition
Alcoholism is the popular term for alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence. These disorders involve repeated life problems that can be directly attributed to the use of alcohol. Both disorders can have serious consequences, affecting an individual's health and personal life, as well as having an impact on society at large.
Description
The effects of alcoholism are far reaching. Alcohol affects every body system, causing a wide range of health problems. Problems include poor nutrition, memory disorders, difficulty with balance and walking, liver disease (including cirrhosis and hepatitis), high blood pressure, muscle weakness (including the heart), heart rhythm disturbances, anemia, clotting disorders, decreased immunity to infections, gastrointestinal inflammation and irritation, acute and chronic problems with the pancreas, low blood sugar, high blood fat content, interference with reproductive fertility, and weakened bones.
On a personal level, alcoholism results in marital and other relationship difficulties, depression, unemployment, child abuse, and general family dysfunction.
Alcoholism causes or contributes to a variety of severe social problems including homelessness, murder, suicide, injury, and violent crime. Alcohol is a contributing factor in at least 50% of all deaths from motor vehicle accidents. In fact, about 100,000 deaths occur each year due to the effects of alcohol, of which 50% are due to injuries of some sort. According to a special report prepared for the U.S. Congress by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the impact of alcohol on society, including violence, traffic accidents, lost work productivity, and premature death, costs our nation an estimated $185 billion annually. In addition, it is estimated that approximately one in four children (19 million children or 29% of children up to 17 years of age) is exposed at some time to familial alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, or both. Furthermore, it has been estimated that approximately 18% of adults experience an episode of alcohol abuse or dependence a some time during their live

that sums it up for me and yes waking up to a new day so physically wrecked that scotch sprinkled over your morning ceral is the only way you can face the day..... that ....and the tradgedy that alcohol reduces one to slave status!!!!! No one definition can describe the horrible affects of alcohol addiction on a individuals life .....that is its perverse nature.... its a tailor made living hell....... however for all.... the common denominator is.... it destroys life..

[startingover]

Definition of Addiction

Reggie, you hit the nail on the head there mate.

[Tabbers (a.k.a. KTAB)]

Definition of Addiction

Thanks Reggie, I needed to read exactly that, this morning.

[sick of being sick]

Definition of Addiction

Reggie, WOW! I printed out that post and am committed to reading that every morning and every time I think about drinking again. Thank you so much for sharing!

[rubywillow]

Definition of Addiction

Great post, Reggie.

The one definition we're told over and over, still resonates with me: Addiction (or insanity) is repeating the same mistake over and over and expecting a different result. So simple, really, when we know what will happen if we drink, and we do it anyway. The difficult part is not picking up that one when we know it is leading to our destruction.

[Chillgirl]

Definition of Addiction

NEVER GETTING ENOUGH OF WHAT YOU DONT WANT.........

[sick of being sick]

Definition of Addiction

Update

Thank you for all the good comments written here. I have been thinking back over my life and it seems like I have been addicted to something since birth. I sucked my fingers till I was 5, then I started biting all my fingernails into the quick, which I still do. Then I started smoking cigerettes when I was 14, then pot and alcohol when I was 17, then crack when I was 29. And here I am at 49 years old, an alcoholic and smoking 2 packs a day. What is it about some people who are addictive to things and other people who are not?

[Chris1]

Definition of Addiction

Sickofbeingsick. That sounds like an addictive personality. I have similar issues. I get hooked on things quickly and deeply too. I find that it's so easy to make poor choices and so hard to make the right ones. Do you get that?

[JimBeam911]

Definition of Addiction

I would define addiction as a 'psychological see-saw'. On the one hand, one force pulls you in the direction of quitting for good, while the other pulls you in the opposite direction of continuing to drink forever. Despite the fact that you might sincerely want to quit, your behaviour, thoughts, decisions pertaining to alcohol are constantly in flux, vacillating back and forth like a see-saw.

[hippie37]

Definition of Addiction

Carl Jung describes addiction as having a "thirst for wholeness". I tend to agree with this principle too.

I've never felt complete. I've always felt different, like I was on the outside looking in. I was always searching for something to make me feel complete. Due to my own insecurities I learned ways to cope with life through the use of substances so I felt 'normal' or complete. Fear then kept me in the insanity because If I stopped using then I fell back into feeling insecure and weak and not whole again. The problem was my delusion kept me in denial of that real sense of wholeness because it was safe putting on the masks everyday. It kept me from being true to myself and my feelings and so I was always in a catch 22. I wanted to feel complete and substances gave me the superficial feeling of being that (for a while). It's when they stopped working that the real descent into pain and misery started and why a lot of the time I kept relapsing.

Addiction for me has NOTHING to do with the substances (as you also commented on sick). They're just the symptoms of my underlying addiction which for me is that "thirst for wholeness". I've just taken the wrong paths in my life that lead me into realms of total pain, suffering and darkness.

I still have a thirst for wholeness today but I'm on a totally different path in my life because I'm being true to myself and my addiction and not escaping reality under the delusion that I'm complete. I have accepted myself, defaults and all, and I am working to move away from addictive behaviour into a place of love and light.

Here's an excerpt that may explain better that path.

"Shamans are individuals who have undergone many experiences in the further realms of the psyche. Because of their familiarity with these territories, they become effective guides for those who are less acquainted with the collective realms. Before they become recognised by their tribe or society as genuine healers, shamans usually must undergo a powerful experience that intimately identifies them with the realms of human suffering and subsequent transformation. Through these experiences, they become acquainted with surrender, death/rebirth and the dynamics of personal and spiritual power. This episode is sometimes called a shamanic crisis, or illness.

If we examine the nature of addiction and recovery, we can make a striking parallel between our dis-ease and the shamanic crisis. Just as shamans use their illnesses of crises as a gift to guide others in societies, recovering addicts are best able to carry a message to other sufferers. It is the fact that we have been through the crisis ourselves which makes us capable of serving others undergoing the same ordeal.

We ourselves are shamans who have experienced the shamanic crisis of addiction. Because we have traveled thought hell worlds of suffering and have been delivered to the other side, we are able to act as guides for other members of our "tribe" facing the challenge."

Or in AA terminology "We can only keep what we have by giving it away!". This is were true feelings of connectedness, love, compassion and humility arise through helping others; and what helps me to stay sober and feel complete and a part of the whole.

Love and Light
Phil
xx