On first examination, this title may appear to be nothing more than redundant. Of course, addiction is addiction. What I am referring to is the commonality between addictions. There are more addictions than I have time and or qualifications to discuss. One of the things that I have found in my years of personal recovery is there are more similarities then are differences in the addicted community. Whether a person is addicted to alcohol, drugs, or food doesn’t matter. At the same time, when we look at behavioral addiction such as pornography, gambling, bulimia, anger and anorexia, once again there are more similarities than there are differences. Sometimes the behavioral addictions are because of the addictions to substances while other times they are independent of each other. When we look at the word addiction it helps us further explain the commonality.
Addiction is defined as a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects and typically causing well-defined symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, tremors, or nausea) upon withdrawal or abstinence.
Upon examination of this definition we see the crossover or cross application from substance to behavior or behavior because of a substance. People drink, use drugs or food as a compulsion because of a psychological or physiological need that, in the beginning is not a physical need but it will become one. The same is true with a person whose addiction is based in behavior minus a substance. The most important thing to remember about each type of addiction or category is that the result is the same. Furthermore, upon closer examination, the recovery from each of these has more similarities than there are differences.
This is so important to point out because of the help that we can be to the other person. There is also the other side of the coin where help us. They can be help to us regardless of the ins and outs of the addiction. As you could see the similarities between substances and behavioral and even a combination of the two indicates that we all suffer from common challenges. That does not mean that for some, their addiction is so deeply embedded that they would need a higher degree or more intense professional intervention. It does mean, that most us can be significant value to each other once we realize that addiction is addiction.
Please take what I presented today and see where it makes sense for you. There are so many others out there that can use our help and those who can help us. I hope we take advantage of the opportunity to meet and get well.
Robert Pardon
Robert is the Recovery Guy. Getting clean and sober on April 25, 1986 has given me the insight and practical skill set to not only stay sober, but to also re-invent myself to the person I always wanted to become. Showing others how to do this is my life goal.
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