What is addiction? First of all, addiction is a cultural term compared to the medical construct of dependency, as delineated by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the APA (DSM). It denotes continued involvement with a substance or activity despite the negative consequences associated with it. It is a problem containing 3 dimensions: the behavioral, the mental, and even the spiritual. Observe this survey: Deciding if you are addicted?

Addiction Therapy draws attention to that which overvalues not only pleasure seeking, but also avoidance of pain, and a turning towards substitutes. With intoxication, old needs are seemingly met: for perfection or invigoration; for soothing; for safety. The afflicted individual loses sight of his or her own real self’s needs; even sacrifices them to cause of others’ needs: Codependency.

addiction and recovery. But there is hope. If addiction could speak, it would say, “I lied to you: I promised so much, and now deliver problems: health, legal, financial, disruptions of intimacy, deep shame, and guilt.” I worked for many years in structured programs, inpatient and outpatient, imparting psychoeducation imparting the 12-step philosophy. Do you have some clean time under your belt? Completed your 28-day rehab or detox? Wondering what’s next, how you can build upon that fresh start?