Soul Care #21: Signs of Addiction

Are you hanging in there with me in this series? Does anyone else think this is fascinating? :) The slower season of life that Chinese New Year afforded is over, so it will be challenging to keep up these regular posts. But I'm committed to finish what I started (which is something I am desperately trying to teach my Kathryn!)

Addictions

We normally think of addictions to alcohol or drugs, but there are many other 'socially acceptable' addictions that damage our souls. (Caffeine, tobacco, computer games, work, pornography, sugar, shopping, blogging! facebooking!, yes- all and many more can be addictions...) An addiction is an idolatrous relationship with any thing, person, idea, or substance, that numbs the pain of the fallen world and falsely provides us relief and/or revenge. It is a refusal to struggle and to sorrow. Addiction will give you a lot, but it will not provide love. You begun using something, and then it begins using you.

Signs of Addiction

1) Tolerance- It takes more of the same thing to get the same result. I used to be happy with one (cup of coffee, drink, cigarette, etc...) but now I need 3.

2) Withdraw symptoms- You pay the price when you try to stop. You feel anxious unless you have it/do it. You do it/use it, and you feel better.

3) Negative consequences don't change behavior- For example, only 40% of 1st time DUI offenses are by alcoholics. After the first offense, if it causes a person to stop drinking, they aren't addicted. But if they keep using even though they are putting themselves and others in danger, they are likely addicted. 2nd and 3rd DUI offenses are increasingly by alcoholics.

4) Focused attention- Obsessive thoughts about that thing. You plan how and when to use it next. You plan your life around it, think about it all the time. It's not a pleasurable extra to you; It's something you will really miss if you can't have it.

5) Deadening of the soul- When you use it/do it, you feel like it doesn't matter; It allows you to 'check out' of your life.

6) Entitlement- You feel you deserve this little pleasure. Without Christ intervening and growing you in humility, you will feel entitled to the level you have 'sacrificed'. Entitlement is fertile grounds for addiction. "I deserve this after the day I've had!"

7) Denial- You tell yourself you can stop this anytime, but you don't.

We all have tendencies toward addiction... do you know yours?

more on addictions tomorrow...