Breaking Addictions

Published on 24th April 2008 by Adolph Reekie in Medicine


Smoking is destructive. Poisoning the body with cigarette smoke can be a very strong habit. The lungs can turn black from the smoke, inside and out. The risk of developing emphysema and cancer increases drastically for a smoker. Many continue to smoke despite these well known facts. Drinking alcohol is akin to imbibing poison because ethanol is toxic. Most drinkers know very well what a hangover is. Some even drink to the point of passing out or vomiting. Yet, seldom is this enough to prevent a person from drinking again. Taking drugs can create a feeling of euphoria. Never mind the inevitable consequence of feeling low and lifeless after coming down from the drug's effects. This problem simultaneously drives the addicted mind to escape the bottom of the cycle and seek another high. What factor, aside from physical dependence, allows us to become addicted to behaviors and substances that we know are not good for us? The brain seems to be naturally wired to seek thrills and pleasure. Feeding an addiction can actually become the dominant force in a person's life. Therefore, human beings have to struggle internally in order for reason to triumph. Isn't it strange that many of the activities that make us feel good ultimately lead to illness, a variety of troubles and even death? The struggle to rise above primal motivations and make rational choices is an ongoing responsibility that lasts the duration of a lifetime. Escaping addiction and evolving as individuals requires one to be cognizant of the consequences of choice. Rationality is a choice. Discernment is a choice. Drinking and using drugs are also choices. Should one indulges his addiction or abstain from it? This question provides an option to the addicted mind. The power to choose is the one asset that each person has in the struggle against addiction. Temporary intervention can take place, but ultimately whether a person returns to his addiction or not is up to him. No one can be watched over 24X7 for their entire life. This type of monitoring can only be temporary at best. A person actually has to choose to forsake what the pleasure seeking mechanism in his brain is craving. Without the willingness to engage in this struggle, there is not much hope. In the end, the recovering person has to rely most on himself. Some addiction recovery programs transfer that reliance on self to a higher power. That is a very good approach. There is really one continuous choice which amounts to a constant test of one's character. The choices a person makes can lead him to better or worse situations. Exerting discipline is difficult. Sacrificing the thrill of the addiction is not easy. Escaping dependence on a substance, person or thing means continuously evoking the self control to forsake destructive pleasures. There is a tangible, physical aspect to addiction. When the flesh is weak, the mind must be even stronger. It is still possible to triumph. Breaking an addiction boils down to one aspect that we may exert some measure of control over: Choice. Exercising the will to continually overcome the lure of temporary pleasure is the test. Recognizing that our thrills bring us pain, breaking the cycle of self destruction and choosing to avoid learning the same hard lessons over and over again requires strength of will and discipline. If you have or think you might have an addiction or other health problem, consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Article Source: www.articleactive.com

Adolph K. Reekie is a freelance writer. For more information about Urine Drug Test visit Drug Test Online Store at www.spacedetox.com



Tags: detox, hair, urine, blood, pot, marijuana, weed, pass drug test, how to pass a test, saliva

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