posted October 31, 2005 02:29 AM         

No other disease affects as many people as addiction. Current estimates suggest that addictions affect one-third of the population in the United States; that's one in three people who are addicted or are directly involved with an addict. Of course, when most of us hear the word addict, we think crack, or cocaine, or heroin, or any of the other horrifyingly addictive illegal street drugs we've been teaching our children to abhor. Certainly we don't think about, say, sugar-and yet sugar is the most prevalent addictive substance in the world!
As a society we're well schooled on what constitutes an addiction, as well as what does not. The United States' "war on drugs" is not about getting office workers to ease back on coffee, though perhaps it should be-caffeine has been linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, fibrocystic breast disease, cardiovascular disease, birth defects, and reproductive problems, and, as you've probably found out for yourself, it's highly addictive. When our schoolchildren wear T-shirts emblazoned JUST SAY NO, they're not talking about chocolate-although it can stunt their growth and cause fatigue, hyperactivity, obesity, depression,4Natural and Herbal Approaches to Treating Addiction
acne, heartburn, and heart disease. And, yes, chocolate works just like an addictive drug-it stimulates feel-good neurotransmitters, and when these effects wear off, it leaves us wanting more.
Addiction-Free-Naturally addresses what could be called societal addictions: the addictive substances that have wormed their way into the daily life of Western culture. I'm not talking about smoking dope here; I'm talking about that habitual morning cup of coffee, about cigarette breaks, about refined sugar being a major ingredient in just about every packaged food on the market. Addictions are endemic to our society. Some of us are fortunate enough to avoid them. Some of us know we have addictions, and we try time and time again to kick them. Others of us have simply yet to see the warning signs.No substance is all good or all bad. As the old proverb says, "The evil lies within the man, not the drug." Most addictive substances have sig-significant and valuable applications. We know these uses, and we know the dangers inherent to them. If we ignore the dangers, we must take responsibility for our decisions. Addiction is our own self-made malaise. We have created it, and we are the only ones who can overcome it. Having an addiction does not make you a bad or weak-willed person. Indeed, addictions are quite common; more people have them than not. Some addictions are a self-destructive response to life stressors. Others are a natural by-product of the society we live in. The important thing - and often the most difficult thing-is to realize and acknowledge an addiction. Once you've taken that first step, you're well on your way to beating it.

The Quest for Purity

Throughout history virtually every culture has devised some way of altering consciousness, whether it be through fermented fruit or grain, mushrooms, or tobacco. Alcohol, tobacco, and various other mindbending substances were traditionally used for medicine, ceremony, and celebration. In past ages addiction was considered a mortal sin and was treated with ridicule, punishment, and even When the world of medicine changed, however, it changed fast. In , the nineteenth century active plant ingredients were discovered and isolated in quick succession-morphine in 1806, codeine in 1832, atropine in 1833, caffeine in 1841, cocaine in 1860, heroin in 1883, , and mescaline in 1896.

posted October 31, 2005 03:07 AM         

1. Do You feel thatyou just don't wantWaJ.1t to stop indulging in a particular substance-caffeine, sugar, tobacco, alcohol-right now, although you could at any time?
2. Have you ever tried to stop fof a week but been unable to do do?
3. Do you resent the advice of others who express concern about your substance use?
4. Have you ever tried to control your addiction by switching to an alternative addictive stlbstance? For instance, have yotl ever taken up smoking so that you could give up drinking?
5. Do you envy people who can indulge without getting into trouble?
6. Has your substance use created problems with friends and family?
7. Do you try to avoid farmily or friends when you're using your substance?
8. Have you lost relationships
9. Are your friendships determined by whether others indulge in the same substance or not?
10. Do You indulge in your substance alone?
11. Have You ever neglected your family or work for a few days in a row due to substance abuse?
12. When substances are limited or unavailable at social events, do you try to obtain some anyway?
13. Have you missed time from work during the past year due to substance use?
14. Has your substance of choice stopped being fun to use?
15. When you are low on your substance, do you feel anxious or worried about how to more?
16. Do you plan your life around your substance use?
17. Do you ever consume more of your particular substance than you intend to?
18. fue you consuming more than you used to in order to feel the same effects?
19. Do you consume as much as you can and feel reluctant to discard any leftovers?
20. Are you experiencing fmancial difficultY due to substance use?
21. Do you use your substance when you are disappointed, depressed, or going through a difficult time?
22 Does your substance use affect your sleep?
23. Has your sexual ability or desire suffered from your substance use? 24. Are you concerned that if you stop using, you will lack energy, motivation, confidence, or the ability to relax?
25. Do you use your substance repeatedly to sleep or stay awake?
26. Do you ever lie to others about how much or how often you consume your particular substance?
27.Have you. ever stolen jewellry or goods to support your habit?
28. Have you lost a job because of substance use?
29.ever regret the way you behaved while you were on a substance-use high?
30. Do you experience rritability,headaches, or tremors when you have ular substance for a while?
31. Have you ever passed out from substance use?
not indulging in that particular substance?
33. Have you become more irritable and difficult to get along with?
34. Is your pattern of use potentially dangerous? (This can be true even in cases where substance consumption is neither frequent nor excessive.)
35. Do you lack self-control in deciding whether or not to consume your particular substance?
36. Is your habit putting you into a state of poor health?
37. Is your substance abuse dangerous to others? (Via secondhand smoke, drunk driving, using up family resources, et cetera?)

posted October 31, 2005 10:06 AM         

love

posted October 31, 2005 01:06 PM         

I can attest to his abilities: He is a miracle worker.

Best of luck. I quit smoking many many years ago and have been grateful ever since.

posted October 31, 2005 03:16 PM         

HABIT
... from the letters …
ABHIT
..... revealing …..

I BIT AT A BAIT
A BAIT BIT AT I
I HABIT IT

.... and a bit more ....

[b]ADDICTED[b]
… from the letters …
ACDDDEIT
….. revealing …..

I ADD
I ADDED IT
DICE I DICED
IT TIED I
I CITED EDICT
I EDIT DIET
I ATE
I EAT
I DID IT
I DID ACT
I DE-ADDICT
I ADDED IDEA
I TIED DIET TIDE
ADDICTED IDEA DIED

... They then go into Alcohalism and how depression is related to addiction and visa-versa. Acutally it was a really interesting read ...

posted November 05, 2005 05:30 AM         

but in another sense think finally speaking the angry truth about my life, and it feels good - setting boundaries ??? (but maybe too much going overboard ? little too exagerated....)

this too shall pass.......

feeling a little better now, lonely but actually feeling good (p*ssed off but happy ???? polarities??? )

posted January 25, 2006 11:56 AM         

Very interesting point of view on our society as an addition- not just the individual. It didn't lecture you. It helped me understand why people become addicts.
Here is a passage that really hit home for me...

"For most addicts the thought of living-and by this I mean living fully-is far more frightening that the thought of dying or being only partially alive. Since addicts have high control needs, being addicted gives them the illusion of having control (they are in control of being not alive and not dead.) Living fully seems the same as having no control, and that feeling is experienced as UNBEARABLE!"
If you would really look at that paragraph from your heart, you might even cry.

There are many kinds of addicts. You would be surprised at what our society considers "the norm" when it's actually an addictive behavior!