TO CURE ADDICTIVE DISORDERS, YOU MAY NEED A ROAD MAP

In the present climate where chemical addiction, obesity, gambling, sexually
transmitted diseases, shopping sprees, and similar other disorders of desire
and impulse are rampant, we need to stop and reflect on how we got here in the
first place. Without understanding of how we got here, we can't draw the road
map of where we go from here.

Addiction, bingeing on alcohol, food or other pleasurable substances,
compulsive gambling, promiscuity, or the "shop till you drop" phenomenon are
disorders of unrestrained desire and impulsive behaviors and a product of our
consumption-focused culture. That's what they are!

Superficially, we view them as caused by a deficit or excess of certain
chemicals, hormones, brain neurotransmitters, wrong company, wrong
circumstances and similar other extraneous factors. All those reasons are true
at one level, but at a deeper level they are shaped by something far deeper and
bigger than the individual. For example, our behaviors at a deeper level are
shaped by what we pass on to one another. What we pass on to one another is
itself shaped by the culture we live in.

While it is useful to analyze the specific disorder, and to design specific
medication and psychological treatment for it, we should also address the
underlying mechanism that causes these disorders. The former approach has
gotten us into the ever-expanding spiral of "optional diseases." Some call them
"habit disorders." But, that raises the question of how we form a habit. By
choice! Therefore, I call them optional diseases because we volunteer ourselves
to be "victims" of these disorders.

Unless we control the underlying disease we might overcome one disorder only to
volunteer for another. Specific medications for smoking cessation, alcoholism,
compulsive shopping, narcotic addiction, etc are of limited help. People often
quit one addiction and take another. Someone quits smoking and switches to
compulsive eating. A recovering alcoholic becomes a caffeine addict. Perhaps,
you know someone who has exchanged one addiction for another.

The word, "addiction" is derived from the Latin word, "addicere," which means
to give over or surrender our rights to someone. Therefore, an addict is
someone who has surrendered himself or herself to a substance, object or a
person. Basically, an addict at some point traded self-control for instant
gratification and then as one can guess, "One thing led to another." Such
individual choices, to some extent are encouraged and reinforced by the culture
we live in.

So, let's look at the big picture. In the last couple hundred years, and more
significantly in the last 50 to 60 years, we have been transitioning from a
culture of scarcity to a culture of abundance.

People living in the culture of scarcity are predominantly governed by the
survival principle. People living in a culture of abundance are predominantly
governed by the pleasure principle.

Values promoted in the scarcity culture are along the lines of forbearance of
pain, tolerance, patience, abstinence, self-denial, self-control, delay of
gratification, hard work, toughness, persistence, perseverance and the like.
These values not only help people to survive but also to make great strides
towards building a great nation of prosperity and abundance.

Values promoted by the abundance culture are along the lines of
self-expression, instant gratification, indulgence, consumption, excessive
recreation and entertainment, a sense of entitlement and, above all, aversion
for self-restraint and self-control. The pleasure principle says, "If it feels
good, do it! Do it now! By Golly, you deserve it!"

History of many civilizations shows that the people rose from scarcity and
hardship to build mighty empires. Then they went into the idling mode to relish
their victories. Following generations lived life to the fullest enjoying the
era of great prosperity and abundance. Thus, the posterities, totally governed
by the pleasure principle for a few centuries, crumbled.

We are in an era of prosperity and abundance. Unless we wake up, why would
history treat us differently? The greatest danger we face is from ourselves. We
must teach our children the value of self-control and diligence. Many parents
neither restrain their children, nor do they teach them self-control. They see
their child has gone to get the fourth can of soft drink or third hamburger of
the day, but they do nothing to stop him or her.

Some parents don't teach such values as self-control, patience and frustration
tolerance because they themselves are a product of the culture of relaxed
controls. It doesn't occur to them that it is a subject matter for parental
intervention.

According to one survey, 53 percent of children have a TV set in their rooms!
Not a wise thing!

What should you do if you have a disorder of desire? A desire or craving can be
controlled. If you experience a sensation of hunger, wait to see if it is a
true hunger sensation. Don't just make a dash to the refrigerator. If it is
true hunger sensation, make a wise choice in satisfying it.

As regards craving, bear with it. Keep reminding yourself that a craving, too,
can pass with time. The trouble is that as soon as craving hits, we rush to
"feed" that craving. We don't wait long enough to see the craving die.

Don't turn away as you meet your stumbling blocks. Without resistance, pain and
discomfort, you can't get past your addiction.