In any society which shamelessly promotes instant gratification and nothing in moderation if it feels good enough, the people are bound to suffer. I remember as a kid a television show in which contestants were given about five minutes to run through a grocery store and "load up" on whatever they could fit into their shopping cart. They had to get the cart to the checkout line before the alarm rang, and the winner was the person whose groceries added up to the highest dollar amount. That show wouldn't work today, I can tell you that. Why? Because in today's culture, I can just imagine half of the contestants consistently running over to the liqueor/beer/wine aisle...while the other half would be fixated on the junk food snacks/sugar/candy aisle. And if the grocery store had an "open" cigarette aisle and/or a single isle devoted to all things caffeinated (Red Bull, 5 Hour Energy Drinks, Premium Roast Coffees, etc.)---they would be equally popular. No matter what attempts are being made to promote "Clean Eating" and "Non-Genetically Modified" foods, the facts are the facts: we are still a nation of instant gratification addicts whose "substances" of choice revolve around the "Big 4". And, you ask, what pray tell are the "Big 4" substances? I just told you in my example: Alcohol, Sugar, Tobacco, and Caffeine of course!
There have been so many books written and even more seminars done about the damage caused by overuse of these "Big 4" substances...and to what end? Way too many so-called civilized and educated adults (of any age!) think it's "funny" to party until they soil themselves, throw up, pass out, nearly kill themselves or someone else, and/or "can't remember a thing" about the day or night before. And this just has to do with alcohol consumption!
Shouldn't we find it somewhat ludicrous that the only "addicts" we recognize are those who obviously "look" and "behave" like addicts? I think this is why so many of us stay addicted to whatever it is that binds us; we aren't "that bad" yet in our own minds. So, what will have to happen to the "social drinker" before he or she realizes they have a REAL problem? 2 or 3 DUI's or OWI's? Getting their driver's license revoked? Killing someone? Being raped (like the 16 year old in Ohio a couple of weeks back)? Tragically, even those things don't stop many from pickin' up the bottle or the glass and saying: "Sure, I'll have another!" Spare me. We are one sick land of opportunity when it comes to our ongoing love affair with our own addiction-based culture....
Practicing moderation in all things is one way we can begin to turn the addiction cycle around in our own lives. Instead of drinking six beers or mixed drinks on Friday night, why not limit yourself to three? Instead of smoking 20 cigarettes a day, why not cut down to 10? Instead of eating 5,000 calories today, why not 2,500? Instead of drinking eight caffeinated drinks before the work day is over, keep it to no more than four. In all cases, it's a start. If you find that you can't do it...then this is when you need assistance from a trained professonal, the support of a recovery-based group, and authentic friends/family members who will support you in a "right" way.
Good luck. Breaking free of the addiction cycle isn't easy, but it's certainly possible...one day at a time.
P.S. There are OTHER ways to get over and manage your ANXIETY which do not involve ALCOHOL, CIGARETTES, WEED, OXY, VICODEN, XANAX and all the other central nervous system "depressants". There are also OTHER ways to get over and manage your LETHARGY, BAD MOOD, ADHD, INABILITY TO "GET GOING", etc. which do not involve CAFFEINE, COCAINE, METH, and all the other central nervous system "stimulants"! I'm just sayin....
There have been so many books written and even more seminars done about the damage caused by overuse of these "Big 4" substances...and to what end? Way too many so-called civilized and educated adults (of any age!) think it's "funny" to party until they soil themselves, throw up, pass out, nearly kill themselves or someone else, and/or "can't remember a thing" about the day or night before. And this just has to do with alcohol consumption!
Shouldn't we find it somewhat ludicrous that the only "addicts" we recognize are those who obviously "look" and "behave" like addicts? I think this is why so many of us stay addicted to whatever it is that binds us; we aren't "that bad" yet in our own minds. So, what will have to happen to the "social drinker" before he or she realizes they have a REAL problem? 2 or 3 DUI's or OWI's? Getting their driver's license revoked? Killing someone? Being raped (like the 16 year old in Ohio a couple of weeks back)? Tragically, even those things don't stop many from pickin' up the bottle or the glass and saying: "Sure, I'll have another!" Spare me. We are one sick land of opportunity when it comes to our ongoing love affair with our own addiction-based culture....
Practicing moderation in all things is one way we can begin to turn the addiction cycle around in our own lives. Instead of drinking six beers or mixed drinks on Friday night, why not limit yourself to three? Instead of smoking 20 cigarettes a day, why not cut down to 10? Instead of eating 5,000 calories today, why not 2,500? Instead of drinking eight caffeinated drinks before the work day is over, keep it to no more than four. In all cases, it's a start. If you find that you can't do it...then this is when you need assistance from a trained professonal, the support of a recovery-based group, and authentic friends/family members who will support you in a "right" way.
Good luck. Breaking free of the addiction cycle isn't easy, but it's certainly possible...one day at a time.
P.S. There are OTHER ways to get over and manage your ANXIETY which do not involve ALCOHOL, CIGARETTES, WEED, OXY, VICODEN, XANAX and all the other central nervous system "depressants". There are also OTHER ways to get over and manage your LETHARGY, BAD MOOD, ADHD, INABILITY TO "GET GOING", etc. which do not involve CAFFEINE, COCAINE, METH, and all the other central nervous system "stimulants"! I'm just sayin....