[youOme]

A lot of the time when I confront a user in my life about their use they defend themselves by saying "you have your addiction too". They claim everybody has their fix, it's to cope with the difficulties in life. Do you believe this is true?

I believe in a sense it is, but can it justify using harmful substances?

[Pingu]

Hi,

Personally I do not have an addiction to drugs or alcohol but I would say I do have other addictions. I have deliberately avoided drugs and alcohol though I do have a social drink from time to time, and any time that i drink too much it makes me feel a million times worse than i already am, so I severely restrict the usage. As I said earlier I do have an addiction which I hide and no one knows about it. I think mostly I do this as part of trying to cope with things. So anything that can make me feel better, even briefly, will do me. Alcohol doesn't do it for me, I have never tried drugs and no intention of trying, so I have other ways and means. I believe that if you have something that you do have difficulties in coping with then you will look for some kind of escape and use it. My escape is totally dependent on how I am feeling or how stressed I am, the worse I feel the more drawn I get to it. Hope this helps answer some of your question.

[(JD)]

Isn't there a big difference between and addiction, and a coping skill? I think so. Perhaps this was his way of "justifying" his addiction?

Everyone developes ways that they cope with life's situations. Some are not so good, true. Some begin innocently enough, and then take over the person, like drugs can, and become an addiction.

So no, I don't believe everyone has an addiction.

TC

[splitimage]

Nope - I don't believe that everyone has an addiction. Sure there are lots of people with unhealthy coping mechanisms, but I also believe that there are lots more people with effective coping mechanisms who do not have to engage in mood altering substances or behaviours to cope. I know several of them. So to me saying that everybody has their own addiction is a cop out to keep from admitting one's own problem.

--splitimage

[Cyran0]

Everyone has a crutch but not everyone has an addiction.

Cyran0

[youOme]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately I have addicts and alcoholics in my life, my own mother, sister, and husband. I am in recovery myself. I haven't used in over two months...not a single thing. Anyway, as a ex junkie myself, I did most of my active/harmful using when I was 13-16. It wasn't in my capabilities to explain my addiction and behaviors and attempt to justify then either. If somebody asked me why I did it, I'd say because it makes me a stronger person, more motivated. Now for my Mom she says repeatedly "It's a disease". I understand that addiction is an disease, but does it make it okay? Like being overweight from a thyroid condition...is it the same sort of thing here?

[Cyran0]

It's a disease so it's ok is a strange, strange argument. The point of acknowledging that it's a disease is to get help and to reassure the addict and those in his/her life that it's not a lack of morals or that they're necessarily a bad person that's brought them to this place. It's not a permission slip to indulge in their vice.

Think of it like OCD, a disease causes the obsessions and compulsions that interfere with the person's life but the goal is to be rid of said obsessions and compulsions, not to embrace them.

Cyran0

[youOme]

It's definitely difficult to separate the disease part with the moral part. Right now my sister is in active addiction, crack and PCP, and I'm very angry with her.

In a sense I understand it's not HER but the drugs, the persona surrounding the drug hunt and use... but it's the actions that's hard to forgive.

Okay, let's say yes...the disease of addiction does justify the illness...but does it justify the continuing decisions to use? Once you realize it's a disease, an illness, shouldn't that be the first step to recovery....not an excuse?

[trippinmickey]

I think it true .But there good & bad addictions plus there are some that are good for the people around you and some that are bad.
I take my meds. everyday i look forward to it in my mind it makes me feel good to have them even when i get them filled its a rush . Well taking them is good for me but my wife and kids they keep me sane . When i was not on meds. I used drugs I look forward to taking them going down the way to buy drugs gave me a rush yet even though they made me feel good at the time in the long run they almost killed me (wait they did i OD) they were bad for my wife and kids it broke us apart

I think everyone has addiction its what those addictions to you that matter .

[selfy]

my addictions include PC and SI. PC is lovely. except i spend way too much time here. and SI is obviously not good. its ugly. im doing ok i guess. but my widget is wrong,.... too long on it. bah. o well.
tc dudes
dot

[mandazzle]

I think that everyone has an addiction to something at some point in their life - good or bad. Coping and non-coping mechanism addictions. It's just like how everyone has some kind of depression at some point in their life.

[splitimage]

The problem with addiction is denial is a huge part of the disease. Once you've crossed the line into addiction it's really hard to admit that it's a problem. And with some addictions the withdrawl is so bad that you have to keep using just to feel normal and so on as you spiral downward. For me I knew I was an alcoholic long before I decided to get help. I knew it was a disease, but I just didn't care - the costs of continuing to use weren't high enough for me to give up the emotional numbness that alcohol gave me, and in the end I was so addicted physically that if I didn't drink I'd shake violently and have horrible nausea - lots of motivation to keep using. It wasn't until I lost my job and wound up in the hospital and landed in a good treatment program that helped me detox safely that I could admit to my problem really, and be willing to do something about it.

--splitimage

[Lenny]

I don't think so.

I have been all over the world and see much the same aspects of behaviors rooted in our humanity. There is a percentage of us,,regardless of culture, that have the seeds of addiction. Certainly, these compulsions get expressed in a plethora of means,

The number I have seen tossed about is 4% but I have seen places like Moscow where the percentages are frightening...

IMHO.

Lenny

[youOme]

That's very interesting...maybe culture has an influence on the concept of addiction.

[lauren_helene]

I am reading a good book called "The Addictive Personality" understanding the addictive process and compulsive behaviors.

The short answer to your question is yes everyone has something they may overdo but if they are using healthy coping mechanisms to control it then that is great.

I love this book!

[Lenny]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
youOme said:
maybe culture has an influence on the concept of addiction.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Maybe so youOme...but many authoritarian governments used addictions to keep their populations in various stages of lethargy...

In Moscow,,for decades, Vodka was cheaper than bread...

Lenny

[Fuzzybear]

[BalishBun]

Maybe its true if you consider non-harmful addictions, like excersize 3 times a week to where you could not stop if you tried.