Addressing Addiction Myths (Part 4 of 6)
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Myth #11: The Devil’s Way is the Way of “Freedom”
The devil has been using freedom as a lure for quite a long time. In the Garden of Eden, he told Eve she would be “like a god” if she ate the forbid- den fruit. He also implied that the injunction about eating the fruit was restrictive, and that she would escape (e.g. be free) from the consequences of disobedience.
He is still up to his old tricks today, trying to “bind us” with the cords of addiction. He tempts us to exert our freedom of choice by getting involved with behaviors and/or substances that seem very pleasant at first glance.
“Be free!” is his message to the world. “Your parents may have told you not to do this, other people may have warned you, and you may even know that it’s bad—but you’re free!”
When we exercise our freedom and partake, however, we soon find ourselves wrapped up in addictions. As it turns out, the devil’s way is not about freedom at all, it’s about abject bondage. You’re not “free” to quit even if you want to, because you’re addicted. That is exactly what’s happening with 98% of the smokers. They are bound. They want to quit, but they are bound up with cords of steel.
Many people think it is God who limits our choices, but the devil is re- ally the culprit in this whole affair.
Myth #12: “Although most people can live successfully without addiction, I am an exception to that rule.”
An addict cannot truly break free from addiction until they choose to truly and honestly stand in front of their life experience and say, “My way has not worked. It is not working. I want to change and heal.”
Though it’s easy to stay mired in addiction by believing that happiness can never be yours, you do have a choice. There are rules for healthy living, which, if followed, will greatly increase your chance for a healthy and happy life. You are not an exception to those rules, and, if put into practice, they will work for you.
THE “GOOD” SIDE OF ADDICTIONS
As many addicts are quick to point out, there can actually be some positive benefits to an addiction (such as “mood stabilization”). Addictions are really a form of self-medication, providing what seems like a beautiful refuge from the ravages of life. They may even solve a problem. When the addiction is fed, the lethargic leap into life, the anxious sink into slumber, the forgetful remember the answers to exam questions, and the “insignificant” swell with importance. Pain, stress, and/or insecurity vanish, while individuals who felt life was treating them poorly, now feel rewarded.
For the reasons above, many find it difficult to discontinue their addictive behavior.
“You’re just looking at the dark side,” they complain. “You’ve never tried my addiction, so you can’t understand how sweet it is.” Unfortunately, the up-side of addictions is only half of the story. On the flip side of the “beautiful refuge” lives a dirty, ugly, and incredibly hurtful monster. We must rip the mask off this monster—and see it for what it truly is—if we hope to halt our addictive behavior.
We can start this process by educating ourselves about the social, health- related, spiritual and financial consequences of our chosen addiction(s)— which are made all the more dire by the powerful grip that destructive habits develop. As a rule, it takes ten years to truly break an addiction. The addict may be clean for some time and feel they are doing very well. But the monster is just around the corner, ready to roar back if given just half a chance.
FIGHT THE “LITTLE BATTLES”
AWhile the natural reaction is to fight such a monster head-on, the most effective strategy is not so direct. When we concentrate on the “monster”, repeating (as is taught in Alcoholics Anonymous) “I am an addict” over and over again, we are focusing on the negative.
While AA has helped many people, the best strategy in fighting addiction is focusing on the little things—the things that will make us strong. We must recognize that we are fighting a dreadful monster, but we must also avoid focusing on that monster. That’s what David did when he killed Goliath. David was focused on the power of God, picking five smooth pebbles from a stream, loading them carefully into his sling, and aiming at the giant’s forehead. It wasn’t until the giant was fallen that David grabbed Goliath’s own sword and focused on the giant himself (1 Samuel 17:48-51. KJV)
Looking Goliath straight in the eye may scare you right out of the valley. But if you focus on the power of God, fighting the little battles that come, you will be on the road to victory.
START WITH YOUR MIND
Since many of these “little battles” are in the mind, begin your fight against addiction by considering why you “do it”. Is it because you are afraid, anxious, insecure, forgetful, or burdened by pain? Are you seeking higher grades, an energy boost, a sense of importance or fulfillment? You cannot fight the addiction unless you identify and find another way to fulfill the desires that drive the addiction.
Once you have fingered the forces behind your addiction(s), it’s time to determine when you are vulnerable. Are you most likely to smoke, drink, or do drugs when you go out with certain friends? Do you often find yourself overeating in a restaurant after a stressful day at the office? When are you most apt to be a shopaholic, alcoholic, workaholic, movieholic, or whatever your downfall is? Identifying the times you are most vulnerable will help you to set-up barriers to protect you during those times.
When an addict slides into relapse, the first thing to go is their will- power. In a moment of temptation, their backbone (and resolve) melt into oblivion, leaving them feeling like a spineless jellyfish.
You can avoid the unfortunate trial of relapse by putting yourself in the best situation to win the battles you face.
By Neil Nedley M.D.