From Pleasure to Compulsion: Understanding the Cycle of Addiction

Addiction is not an overnight phenomenon, it is a progressive process, starting with a seemingly harmless experience of pleasure and feeling good, feeling connected, and ending with compulsion, fear, and uncertainty.  This is joined up with the experience of hiding and a feeling of being disconnected and out of control.  Addiction is not a task that springs up in a day but a condition created by an individual over time. There are a series of events involved in the reduction of an individual from the condition of sobriety to a condition of addiction.  The one thing common to all in the addiction phase is a desire to seek relief that is outweighed by the cost of achieving that relief. 

THE RELIEF I AM REFERRING TO IS THE RELIEF FROM THE MENTAL RESISTANCE OF THE MIND.  THAT IS WHAT IS TORMENTING THE INDIVIDUAL.

A person struggling with addiction is one who wants to stop the destructive behavior but can’t seem to control the desire of powerful intention to get relief. Be clear that one needs to want to stop in order for there to be a struggle.  Once the Source of this internal powerful drive to get relief is understood, you can see that it is actually quite sane and very pro-survival to seek relief when you are suffering.  What is needed is an alternative source of relief that does not ruin your life, relationships and your physical body.  

1 Initial use

A person may begin using mind-altering substances for a variety of reasons. The starting point can be something as simple as receiving a prescription for pain relief, trying alcohol for the first time on turning 21, or something more subtle like being coerced by a close-knit group. Irrespective of how much you intake, it’s the first step towards addiction. 

2 Tolerance 

After repetitive substance use or alcohol, the body of the individual stops reacting or showing the effects that it used to provide earlier. The body adjusts to the ingestion of the substance and more is needed to achieve similar results. This works for a short term and then again when tolerance to the new dosage occurs, he increases the dosage. And unknowingly this gradual increase causes the consumption of heavy substance use, ultimately making him addicted. 

3 Easily Noticeable changes in appearance and behavior

At this stage, one can easily identify a person indulging in negative practices. Their behavior, body language, or reactions to things start indicating that they are addicted. The lack of motivation or energy in day-to-day activities, over-dependence on substance, secretive behavior, and critical and negative perspectives on Life and Living are a few of the indicators.

4 Dependence

After being long-indulged in destructive behavior, the body and mind of the individual become overly dependent on substance(s). Many end up in a cycle of intoxication and then recovery, intoxication then recovery and on and on and on… there is little to no experience of feeling well in this vicious cycle.  

5 Trying to quit

Maybe, not always, at a certain stage of the addiction cycle, there comes a point where an individual gets tired of their current addicted condition, sometimes this can be caused by the death of a loved one, diagnosis of a disease, loss of a job, etc… Whatever the catalyst it creates a desire to quit or to get better in the individual. They try all different types of strategies and make all kinds of promises in an effort to withdraw themselves from substance use. But this stage is no less than die or cry because the mind is still ongoingly pressing down on them creating more suffering caused by the mental resistance.

7 Relapse

At this stage, even after an attempt or many attempts to stop the addictive behavior, the negative thoughts and feelings begin to mount and the individual returns to what he knows will give him relief and plunges back into the addictive behavior he was trying to leave behind. Now on top of all of the other problems associated with the addiction, there is failure and a hopeless sense of no ability to stop. The individual is again found drowning in addiction.

How can one treat something until the Source is clear? 

They can’t. so they fumble around consumed with this problem simply addressing the symptoms.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO ALTER THIS CONDITION, WHAT YOU NEED IS TO GET TO THE SOURCE.  UNTIL YOU GET TO THE SOURCE IT’S GOING TO BE A BUMPY RIDE.

If you or someone you know is stuck in this loop of addiction,  call Allan Hendrickson through sourceofaddiction.com.

The call is free and confidential.

You can get free.

Find out how.