Addiction Definition

What is addiction?

Addiction is, by it’s very nature, a wily opponent. Ask any compulsive gambler, an adrenalin addict –  whose addictive chemicals are entirely self produced –  if they wanted to lose the ‘entire farm’ to get their high from gambling. The answer will typically be a very sad no.

Addiction Definition : the need to continue to use a substance, action or behavior after it is no longer useful or effective.

The body will do some very tricky things to get the chemicals it craves, including rearranging thought and emotional processes.

• Hence an anxiety attack can sometimes be ‘conjured up’ by the body to gain access to the drug dosage from both the self produced drug adrenalin and the prescribed medication, alcohol or street drug.
• Since effects of a conjured up anxiety attack are exactly the same effects as an authentic one, the difference between the two is not important.

The drugs are the same in either instance and the withdrawal cycle repeats itself by enabling more anxiety symptoms.

Simply recognizing the possibility of the above statements sheds an entirely new light on the concept of addiction.

• Is it entirely symptomatic? Definitely not!

But the recovery process is definitely confused and hampered by the roadblocks that the addiction and withdrawal cycles introduce to the equation. Especially since they are very often unnoticed.

Drugs and medications, by necessity, are very powerful, addictive substances. Unfounded anxiety is a direct result of all drug addiction cycles and a major proponent of addiction and codependency symptoms.

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 Who are the Players?

The cycle of Addiction and Codependency with alcoholics or any other type of addict requires three main people/groups of people:

1. The Enablers:
   •  those who allow /excuse/ finance/ bailout the alcoholic/addict.
2. The Persecutors:
   • those who stir up the pot in order to put the alcoholic/addict on the defense and look for a way out of the pain.
3. The Victims:
   •  those who wallow in the excuse that someone is abusing/picking on/insulting/not recognizing their good qualities.

In the normal cycle of addicted relationships the enablers, the persecutors and the victims occupy all these roles at various times and to varying degrees – the fact that all persons switch roles makes it very difficult to assess anything until a crisis occurs.

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The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributer for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentery halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

Please leave your comments below, and I will be sure to answer them. If you want one of the publications but truly cannot afford it leave a comment with your email address and I’ll send you a free one…

This website is about recovery – not making money – but it wouldn’t hurt to pay a few web hosting charges if you  decided to visit one of the sponsors ads… I have kept outside ads to a minumum so its not so frustrating to read. Hate those pages with an ad between every paragraph.

Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean 🙂