THE ANATOMY OF ADDICTION: WHY UNDERSTANDING THE PARTS CAN HELP OVERCOME THE WHOLE

When we say that the whole is more than the sum of its parts, it would be true for most

things in life, and this is no exception when it comes to addiction.

The question of what exactly addiction is, is not a new one, and many different viewpoints

exist that aim to answer just that. Depending on your viewpoint on what constitutes addiction

and how and why it functions, your opinion on the best way to treat it would also be different.

For those that is of the opinion that addiction is a disease, treatment would largely be

centred around total abstinence with no real hope of being able to cure this chronic illness.

If addiction is merely mind over matter, then why does willpower seem to get people with

addiction only as far as the first proverbial hurdle that comes over their paths?

For someone like me who has overcome addiction myself and have also been around

countless addicts all my life, I would surely agree that abstinence has been the wisest choice

when “just one” has never been enough.

But then, seeing yourself as just one drink away from burning the whole wagon all together

seems fatalistic and quite depressing.

“Today, just for today” is a mantra that have surely been the one thing that countless addicts

have held on to and will swear to being the saving grace in many close calls. And you should

use whatever tools are at your disposal to make that mind-shift to choose something better

for yourself and family.

But then, can you ever be truly free from addiction if you see yourself as the forever patient

in perpetual recovery, but that never really recovers?

Somewhere the choice to stop, to be sober, to be all that you can be and have positive

relationships and productive lives, must surely mean Growth, Healing, Restoration and yes

RECOVERY!

Because yes, addiction does have physical elements to it and surely there are personalities

that seem more prone to addictive behaviours than others.

BUT knowing the parts that make up addiction (like poor impulse control, a physical graving

for a particular substance, a need to escape, low self esteem and the list goes on) IS

knowledge that ultimately gives power.

Power to identify, consider and rectify each component that makes part of this monstrosity

called “addiction”.

And while the whole will always be more than the sum of its parts, breaking it into smaller,

more manageable parts, makes this dauting task of overcoming addiction, just a little more

surmountable...