subject: Help For Addiction The Pleasure Principle! [print this page] Recently, I read an article on the web that discussed the topic of using substances for pleasure and/or gratification. This is a common theory that is often cited in the addiction disease model. Disease theorists believe that when folks use drugs or alcohol the brains limbic system releases dopamine, a chemical that makes us feel good. Since people, by nature, like to feel good, the behavior is generally repeated. They also believe that over-stimulation of this system produces a state of euphoria in response to psychoactive drugs. It is this reaction that reinforces a pattern of addictive behavior that is driven by the reward of feeling good. As a result, addicted folks lose control over the act of using substances. This line of thinking has prompted the concept of complete abstinence being required for successful addiction recovery.
In an effort to explain why some who try psychoactive substance become addicted yet others do not, disease theorists claim that genetics and environmental influences are largely responsible. In other words, some people are predisposed to addiction because of certain genes. And, perhaps, they have been exposed to addictive behavior by their family or friends. But, this does not account for the fact that millions of folks who grow up in alcohol and drug abusive environments do not become addicted themselves. Therefore, one can not clearly define addiction as a leaned behavior or a genetic predisposition either. In my mind, it is neither!
Throughout my journey as The Addiction Freedom Coach, I have studied hundreds of cases of addiction. From my research, I have concluded that addiction is not a disease or a learned behavior. Addiction is the act of using substances and/or compulsions to escape emotional distress, anxiety or depression related to low self-esteem, personal power, identity, and true life purpose issues. Additionally, the patterns always begin in family dysfunction. In fact, I have never found a single case that wasnt caused by some form of family dysfunction. These points have been confirmed by hundreds of clients and subscribers.
I would not dispute the fact that people do often use alcohol, drugs and compulsive behaviors recreationally. Obviously, one could define that as pleasure related. However, there is a stark difference between pleasure seeking and addiction. There is nothing gratifying about running away from or avoiding tough emotional issues. In the addicted persons mind, it is an escape hatch and the lesser of two evils so to speak. Therefore, in my opinion, folks who are addicted do not use substances or compulsions merely for pleasure or gratification. Plain and simple, they use it to escape emotional distress anxiety or depression that reduces self-esteem, personal power and identity. Ultimately, this is caused by patterns of family dysfunction. If you face the tough issues and eliminate them, then the need to escape vanishes. I have proven this, not just in theory but also in practice as well. Liberating oneself from the core issues that cause emotional distress, anxiety and depression actually nullifies addiction and renders it repulsive in the mind of the addicted.
