[R-Eng-10-A-day]How to Overcome Addiction

Addiction Has a History!

The use of alcohol has been reported in Egypt as far back as 3500BCE, yes that’s BCE! By the 14th century there were over 1000 taverns(酒館) in London alone.

Sigmund Freud (1856-1931), who is seen as the founder of psychotherapy (or psychoanalysis back then), used cocaine(可卡因) himself, becoming addicted through his experiments using the drug to treat other afflictions(苦難). The ‘term’ addiction has been prevalent(流行;廣布的) since around 1100. The relationship between drugs, alcohol, and addiction then is not some modern-day phenomena(現象).

If you are compulsively using mind-altering substances, or engaging in activities that give you pleasure, to the detriment(損害) of your life, you are considered as suffering from an addiction, or you are ‘substance dependent’.

Do you know someone who is addicted to something, or substance dependent? Are you?

The Many Faces of Addiction

Addiction comes in many forms. It can be seen in people who are working all the time, excessively looking at pornography, or continually over-exercising. Others might take drugs, yo-yo diet, over-eat, or drink heavily.

The latest addiction you might be aware of is those that are constantly glued to Facebook, needing to know what others are doing, or shaping how others are perceiving them, through presenting a ‘form’ of their reality.

Whatever it is, being addicted means that you must keep doing these things. The reason is that is quells(vt.壓制，鎮壓) or excites your brain, which becomes unbearable and intolerable if the behaviour or substance is not maintained, and the effect not experienced.

Furthermore, have you thought that a habit or addiction may be a rare source of reliability and consistency in your life? Within your addicted actions, you know exactly what you will get. Whatever you keep repeating, you know how it will make you feel, and that’s the crucial pull.