there are moments when certain behaviors seem inevitable almost like an Escape Route amidst chaos they often start subtly as an attempt to flee from a persistent feeling of discomfort or emptiness over time these choices transform into habits and what once seemed like a temporary solution ends up becoming a vicious cycle the search for fleeting relief and a brief sense of Peace gradually turns into a destructive routine but what's really behind this cycle what drives someone to persistently seek something they know is harmful the truth is that these behaviors are often an expression of a deeper
wound attempts to fill a void that seems impossible to F the person doesn't act solely for immediate pleasure or relief but out of a need to reconnect with something that's missing although on the surface it may seem self-destructive what's at stake is a hidden search for meaning an attempt to heal an invisible pain that escapes conscious awareness have you ever wondered why some people sink into addictions with no way back While others mysteriously Escape these Temptations addiction is one of the most complex and challenging problems of the human psyche in our society it appears in
various forms from substance abuse to Compulsive behaviors that often hide a deep existential void what lies behind this almost uncontrollable Need to Escape reality is it simply a lack of willpower or is there something deeper that most don't perceive exploring addiction from perspectives such as those of Carl Jung and the physician and author Gabor mate gives us a clearer view of how addictions manifest and why they sometimes become cycles that are difficult to break we'll see that addictive behaviors are not merely responses to external factors but reflections of unresolved internal conflicts Carl Jung believed that
addictions are not simply character flaws or moral weaknesses but expressions of a human psyche out of balance according to Yung addictions are essentially forms of Escape attempts to cope with psychological suffering or an existential void when a person cannot face their own internal issues they seek relief in addictive behaviors which although offering a temporary solution do not resolve the Deep pain Yung viewed the psyche as a whole a complex network of conscious and unconscious aspects when someone falls into addiction it's often an unconscious attempt to fill an inner void this void can emerge from various
forms lack of meaning emotional disconnection or aspects of the personality that haven't been recognized or accepted Yung also believed that addictions are way to escape from reality in times of stress anguish or existential crisis an individual May seek refuge in substances or compulsive behaviors as a way of escaping the pressures of life however this Escape is never permanent and returning to reality is often harder creating a vicious cycle where addiction doesn't solve the problem but worsens it in his book in in the realm of hungry ghosts Gabor mate explains that false needs no matter how
many times they're satisfied can never truly leave us satisfied the brain so to speak never feels like it has had enough that it can relax and focus on other essential matters it's as if after a full meal we still feel hungry and have to immediately seek more food matate defines addiction as any repetitive Behavior related or unrelated to substances in which a person feels the need to persist despite the negative impact it has on their life and the lives of others it's common to fall into substance addictions but behavioral addictions are also frequent and can
be equally destructive the compulsive use of social media pornography video games gambling sex shopping and even activities like exercise or work can become addictions as mate explains any passion can transform into an addiction the central question is who is in control the individual or the behavior it is possible to master a passion but an obsessive passion that a person cannot control is an addiction if you have doubted ask yourself a simple question given the damage you're causing to yourself and others would you be willing to stop if the answer is no you're addicted and if
you can't stop the behavior or fulfill your promise to stop then you've fallen into addiction the debate about the causes of addiction is long while some explain addiction as an inherent problem within people a more ACC accurate explanation is that addiction arises from the interaction between the subject and the object an addiction develops when an individual regularly wants to change their subjective state or sense of being and depends on an object or activity to generate that desired change mate concludes that the root of all addiction whether severe or mild is an attempt to relieve suffering
and emotional pain beyond the search for pleasure The Chronic use of substances is a desperate attempt by the addict to escape their inner pain it serves to deepen the void leaving us even emptier than before given the number of people who grow up in abusive or emotionally absent homes along with the corrupt state of society it's not surprising that many turn to drugs and Behavioral addictions as a way to cope with life this move isn't entirely irrational or ineffective as addictions work at least temporarily they are very effective at relieving suffering and emotional pain kabor
mate shares the story of a drug addict who explained the reason for their drug use to not feel the feelings I feel when I don't use drugs addictions are not only effective in providing relief from emotional suffering and pain but can also temporarily Elevate someone from the monotony or misery of daily life leading them to experiences filled with emotion meaning and joy the psychologist William James in the early 20th century discussed the effects of alcohol emphasizing that it not only relieves tension but can also o induce a state similar to a spiritual experience at least
until alcohol poisoning begins to affect the mind and body as James wrote in the varieties of religious experience the Dominion of alcohol over humanity is undoubtedly due to the profound mystery and tragedy of life that those glimpses and flashes of something we recognize as excellent are granted to so few of us only in the initial fleeting phases of what is in its totality a poisoning so degrading although addictions can work in the short term by relying on shortcuts for emotional relief and happiness over time a price is paid the longer we persist in an addiction
the more our tolerance grows and the more we depend on the substance or activity to feel any positive emotion slowly but surely addiction becomes the central point of Our Lives while everything else that could provide lasting satisfaction our health relationships creativity career and sense of purpose Fades to the periphery moreover addiction Alters the structure of the brain in ways that undermine our voluntary control when we're trapped under the control of an addiction we often find ourselves in what's called brain lock which causes our actions to follow our addictive impulses while part of our mind watches
closely unable to do anything knowing full well that we are destroying our mind body and potential given the stronghold of addiction the vital question arises what is the possibility of overcoming an addiction the problem in facing any attempt to live a renewed and addiction free life is that the same mechanism that needs to heal the brain is the one that is damaged by addiction as Gabor mate warns the more intense the addiction the greater the brain abnormality and the greater the biological obstacles to achieving Health fortunately our brains are remarkably resilient even in old age
it's possible for the brain to restructure in ways that allow us to live perhaps for the first time a full healthy and addiction free life this leads us to an interesting concept called notal Consciousness this form of awareness can interrupt the cycle of addiction because instead of succumbing to the polarities of Pleasure and Pain longing and satisfaction it allows the person to experience the full spectrum of human experience with deep equinity according to Carl Jung the process of overcoming any vicious pattern begins with awareness without the ability to look Inward and recognize one's internal mechanisms
the individual is doomed to repeat the same behaviors without perceiving the root of their problems this process of awareness is a crucial step for transformation as it allows the individual to realize that addiction is nothing more than an escape from the true psychological problem the first step in overcoming Vice is to acknowledge its existence and the impact it has on the person's life this may seem simple but many people find themselves trapped in the Vicious Cycle of denial for years without deeply questioning the reasons that lead them to seek relief in harmful behaviors when Vice
is finally recognized as a temporary solution to a greater pain the healing process begins from that point the individual must reflect on the aspects of their life that led them to Vice reflection is essential as without it the person cannot understand the Deep causes of their thoughts Yung described the human psyche as full of layers of complexes and symbols that remain hidden until the individual is willing to look inward Vice according to Yung is a symbolic manifestation of what's hidden in the psyche an unconscious attempt to deal with suffering and internal Shadows when a person
begins to reflect on their Vice they are actually starting the journey toward individuation individuation a central Concept in yungan Psychology is the process of integrating all aspects of the psyche both positive and negative into a whole this means looking at the Shadow and the repressed aspects without judgment but with a willingness to understand what these aspects have to teach this process of self awareness and reflection can be painful but it is also the key to Liberation in the case of Vice reflection helps to identify thought patterns and emotions that sustain addictive behavior for example an
alcoholic May realize that alcohol became a way to cope with loneliness or a lack of purpose in this case Vice is not just about the substance but about what it represents a defense mechanism against emotional suffering when the person can reflect on this they can begin to look for healthier ways to deal with their emotions and loneliness replacing Vice with more constructive behaviors the most common mistake when dealing with addiction is thinking that it's simply a matter of a lack of willpower in reality addiction is the opposite a reflection that the problem goes beyond a
simple weakness of personal resolve while individual responsibility is important it's essential to recognize that the process of overcoming Vice though ultimately an inner Journey greatly benefits from social support and community reintegration and Community reintegration it is essential to recognize that people are not alone in their struggles connection with others and social support play a crucial role in the healing process it's not just about internal struggle it's also about how the individual relates to their environment and to others the community can offer the necessary support to restore balance reminding the person that although they suffer there
is hope and opportunities for healing the key lies in cultivating genuine and compassionate self-awareness addiction although it may seem like a temporary solution to suffering doesn't address the underlying causes recognizing that addiction is an attempt to cope with emotional pain or internal emptiness is the first step toward healing as a person develops greater self-awareness they can begin to break the destructive cycle understand their deeper needs and most importantly heal the pain that lies behind the addiction instead of judging themselves the person must learn to be patient with themselves healing takes time and although the path
is difficult each step toward awareness and self-acceptance is a step toward Liberation by integrating what has been repressed or unresolved in the psyche the person begins to find a deeper sense of meaning and inner peace the process of overcoming addiction is not just about quitting a substance or behavior but about rebuilding a life based on a deeper understanding of oneself accepting one's own shadows and developing greater emotional resilience true healing lies in embracing the entirety of oneself both both the positive and the negative to live more authentically and fully
