Recovery From Addictions: Part 1

(This is Part 1 of a 5-part series on addiction).

Just about everyone in our society is addicted to something. Addictions can take many forms:

SUBSTANCE ADDICTIONS: addiction to alcohol, recreational drugs, prescription meds, caffeine, nicotine, food, sugar, carbohydrates.

PROCESS ADDICTIONS: addiction to love, connection, caretaking, anger, resistance, withdrawal, and to activities such as:

TV
Computer/internet
Busyness
Gossiping
Sports
Exercise
Sleep
Work
Making money
Spending money
Gambling
Sex, masturbation, pornography
Shopping
Accumulating things
Worry
Obsessive thinking (ruminating)
Self-criticism
Talking a lot
Talking on the telephone a lot
Reading
Gathering information (if only I know enough I will feel safe)
Meditation
Religion
Crime
Danger
Cutting themselves
Glamour, beautifying

We can use anything as a way of avoiding feelings and avoiding taking responsibility for our painful feelings. Whenever we engage in an activity with the intention of...