Addiction is defined as; the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity; such as drugs, alcohol, and/or nicotine.
Now, many of you may be thinking “that’s not me,” or may be using a famous quote by the late, great Whitney Houston who admitted to doing cocaine (when being interviewed by Diane Sawyer), but when asked about crack, she responded “crack is whack.” Denial is a huge part of addiction, because you cannot change what you do not or will not acknowledge. Addiction of any kind is an affliction; be it food, sex, pornography, marijuana, prescription drugs, wine (yes wine), our phones, social media and a plethora of others; anything that brings a sense of shame to your soul and psyche.
Let’s examine the meaning of Affliction – something (such as a disease) that causes pain or suffering. : the state of being affected by something that causes suffering. Another definition is, a cause of persistent pain or distress.
Addiction afflicts more than just the physical self. The outside is a reflection of what is going on, on the inside; shame, guilt, insecurities, stress, financial, physical health issues, and a host of other real reasons. The thing that isn’t real, is the escapism that may be felt is temporary. Once we come down from whatever brief high, the problem or issue remains, but now the problem has grown, into an addiction.
Addiction hinders the soul and the spirit. It is and can be wicked, drawing us in, manipulating us to believe we need something that proves to be harmful to our bodies, our temple. We must all face our demons in order to conquer the addiction. Hence, you cannot heal what you won’t deal with. And some of us are in such denial we don’t even recognize ourselves, but we keep pretending and get further and deeper into the pit of addiction.
I went to see Chris Rock’s comedy show last year, and he talked vividly about being addicted to pornography, and how his addiction kept escalating to be more and more specific; which led him to seek therapy. Addiction is serious, and must be taken serious. We choose to grant access to addiction, and we must choose to cease the control it can have on us. But that is only the beginning; healing is a process. Step by Step, day by day. And the reason I say we, is not because of me, but because we are all in this together. We each have our own addictions ; either past or present, or have been connected to someone who has. So it’s a we thing.
I don’t profess to having all or any answers, but I believe you can change anything, if you first acknowledge it.
Danielle, is an Author, Professor, and Speaker.