Lets talk about Addiction...

[4Talismans]

Thank you for sharing this. I have lost several people who were dear to me to addiction, one of them to heroin. Perhaps because we are working with imperfect and "heavy" bodies. I would hope that as we continue to evolve spiritually, addiction lessens it's grip.

Posted by Zephyr (here)
I'm a former Heroin addict and I've been 100% clean for nearly four years. Addiction and myself work too well together. That said, I now help other addicts who WANT help and those that're helping THEMSELVES. I used to think I could change people, I really thought I was that great that I could change the way people think.

Wow, I couldn't have been more wrong....

Your closest family members and best friends/lovers will lie to your face just to appease you so that you won't bother them about their problem/addiction; I know, I was a damn good liar myself.

Then one gets so tired from the pain of withdrawals, all the lies we've told that we cannot possibly remember, and then some of us get sick and tired of being sick and tired.

A very small number of us make it out alive, we pull ourselves together before we've lost everything, we conquer the beast.

Addiction is such a complicated, tough road. I beat Heroin, I will never beat addiction.

[4Talismans]

Thank you. I am already a very picky "foodie". I only eat organic, whole veggies, fruits and grains. I guess I could take my vitamins more regularly though. And yes, if there is some particular supplement that helps i'd love to know. Off to google that.

Posted by Cognitive Dissident (here)
This is a great thread. Lots of great advice and sharing.
Good luck to 4Talismans (I know that is not the right phrase - I mean "lots of support to you") - please let us know about your success in quiting.
I don't have any great advice, apart from that getting the right nutrition and vitamins, etc., is going to be even more important during this time.
If I was a nutritionist, I would be able to do tell you the exact things you need to take, but unfortunately... (If had some ham, I'd make ham and eggs, if I had any eggs )
Any nutritionists in the house?

[chocolate]

Addiction as a weakness is the other face of strength for me. If you don't know addiction you will never know how strong you actually are.

I have a lot of addictions: the obvious one (chocolate) + coffee, good food, good talk, good films and good books, good music, clean air, green fields and moody forests, the sea in all its stages and glory, watercolor painting, poetry, sincere people/friends/family ... and so on in that line of thought.

Compared to smoking I guess I am much too gone already because I don't want to live without those things. But on the other hand you may decide to swap your addiction for one of mine and see how you feel about it afterwards.

Cheers !

(I know I am not helping you all that much, but don't feel alone, addiction is part of life- we all are machines addicted to stay alive, in most cases anyway)

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

Inability to deal with boredom is a big factor that drives addiction.

I've heard that meditating can really help to clear your mind of invasive thoughts.

While meditating you can also do some day-planning, which is another aspect of battling addiction.

If you know your body is working against your mind,
your mind has to be either BUSY or STRONG to stand up to it.

take it from an addict. lol

[Zephyr]

I'd like to thank everyone for the supportive, kind comments. I really, really appreciate it and all of us, in our own way, have likely overcome some major obstacles/addictions at some point in our lives. It bothers me when people put their own personal struggles above, or in front of, someone else's trials of life as if there's greater meaning or a more profound intensity to what they've overcome or experienced; it's all relative and equally as important, imo.

I sincerely appreciate the positive nature with this forum and its members .

[chocolate]

I was listening to something yesterday and the addiction was mentioned in the light of spirituality and philosophy of life, which in turn reminded me of the thread.

Now, looking back at addiction seriously I have to say from experience that I relate addiction to some problem one encounters in life. The mind in its attempt to cope with the particular situation creates the addiction to a substance, one or a combination of few of them (nicotine, coffee, chocolate, alcohol, heroin, sex, shopping, power, etc). The state of pleasure is the preferred state of the mind, and it seeks that. At the same time this type of coping depends on the personality- we are all different when it comes to the engineering of the body and the mind, although we have some trends that are similar.

I am not sure breaking the habit works for all of us. I am a stronger personality and can be very disciplined so I can break any habit without much problem if I put myself to it believing it is for good. But for another person it may not work in that way.

I have discovered that trying to end addiction happens when you fully embrace the fact you have that addiction and when you discover the problem that you are trying to avoid hiding behind that particular substance. Oftentimes there might be a physiological imbalance involved in the addiction to something- and it might turn out your addiction is actually good for you because the body needs either the substance of the corresponding chemicals that the body produces receiving that substance.
For example my dad really likes to eat salty food. It is generally believed much salt to be bad for the body. But in his case turned out that he had adrenal fatigue (which we all have at a certain level in today's life), lower blood pressure and the salt was necessary for him to keep his body working.
For myself- I have never smoked, but I do need coffee as bad as it might be for some. I take it filter and without sugar or milk. There was an interesting article about coffee in ayurveda. Turned out that drinking coffee corresponding to the particular dosha type can be very beneficial and grounding. For some adding milk creates problems, and for some the addition of sugar creates problem. I discovered I actually drink my coffee in a way that benefits my body. But I also never felt guilty about my addiction to coffee since without a problem I managed to live without it when I was working at home for a certain period in the past.
I think the key to the whole addiction thing is to feel at peace about it. Sometimes the addiction is not an actual problem.
Also, the fear of living without the particular substance or situation (which also could be considered to be addictive), ties the addiction strongly to the person. If you manage to understand what that fear is, or may be the worry that keeps coming up, this could help you to deal with it in a a better way. The spiritual side of this comes exactly when fear becomes involved- so, strong connection to a higher realm and the absence of fear is a good way to keep your mind clear and balanced without the need for a substance of habit.
Now when I think in that line of thought, the actual problem is the fear, and dealing with it you can only on a spiritual level.

So addiction is a complex and specific state of being.

I know some people are able to figure out what is behind their addiction through hypnosis.

[Tony]

We are all addicts.

This human realm is created by desire.
We find it difficult to get what we want,
so we get frustrated. That leads to more
desire, which leads to addiction!

The cause of addiction are the basic building blocks
of this universe: attraction, repulsion and inertia.
In spiritual terms that is: desire, aversion and ignorance.

To counter this, all we have to do is recognise
our true nature which is the exact opposite
of these three poisons.

They are Cognisance, Emptiness and Compassion.

You have to be a spiritual engineer to counter
social engineering!


Tony

[DNA]

Posted by 4Talismans (here)
Specifically, how does addiction play into the mess this world is in? And what spiritual techniques are the most successful at combating addiction?
I admit I have a selfish reason for asking. I'd like to quit smoking.

I think the first positive step you can take to quit smoking is to not worry about quiting. Instead, switch up the tobacco you smoke. Start smoking all organic tobacco.
If you have an addicitve personality and you're going to be addicted to something, this is one of the absolute best things you can be addicted to.
Secondly, after you have switched to the organic tobacco, give it about three months or so, and then stop smoking for a week.
I think you will be amazed at how much easier it is to quit organic tobacco than regular tobacco.
A lot of what folks get addicted to in terms of ciggaretts are the chemicals and sugar used to cure the tobacco.

My friends are amazed that I can smoke and stop whenever I want, and this is because I only smoke organic tobacco.
It's night and freaking day.
And the effects are much less toxic in my opinion, even if you were to keep smoking them forever.



I could say a few things about addiction in general, but they aren't going to be very popular.
Unless one is using a substance to opiate a great pain of some sorts, it is my opinion that folks who consider themselves addicts were born with a propensity for addiciton due to a choice they made before they were born.

I believe folks choose a burden of sorts to help educate their incarnation on this plane.
This is why we see folks trade their addictions in once they have conquered them.
AA works so well for folks because it offers religion as an alternative to alcohol and or drug addiction.

I suppose this is a healthier choice, as for myself, I would choose organic tobacco and or marijuana if I had to be addicted to something.

[chocolate]

To support the switching of tobacco, I remembered - in the curing of the standard tobacco there have been put some special substances/chemicals (don't know their names) that make the standard tobacco really addictive. In a way those chemicals force the endings of the lungs to dilate thus allowing more nicotine to be absorbed.

DNA, I am sure your view on addiction will not be unorthodox here. I for one have a specific view on this subject. But I figured, the person needs practical ideas, and did not go in the realm of reincarnations and karma in general.

[donk]

Nice post jake...question though:

The human condition is alive and well with folks who cannot face themselves

What's the "human condition"?

[chocolate]

I received this article today in my FB news feed. Someone may find it interesting:
http://truththeory.com/2012/06/12/qu...f-these-foods/

[GloriousPoetry]

I believe addiction is an emotional issue.......it feeds the addict emotionally what he/she feels is lacking......

[GloriousPoetry]

Addiction is rooted in the emotional body....this video helped me understand my sister's addiction last summer. Watch the whole series of this video ....it is very insightful....

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=TB8hFaF7gpk

[Ivanhoe]

I am a cocaine addict, I always will be.... it's an ongoing thing.
By that I mean I haven't used since 2003ish and at that time I had a 2+ 8ball usage (VERY high grade) weekly for 3 years.
I don't use now because I disassociated myself from the environment that I was in, not altogether voluntarily mind you, but the Lord works in mysterious ways.
I do know that the reason I haven't continued my usage is because I willed myself not to use.
It would be very easy to do a line if you put it in front of me, cause I'll be honest, I do like the high, but I CHOOSE not to do it.
That's the difference, making the choice freely because I choose not to use it, not because someone else says I shouldn't.
I hope you're intention to end your addiction (to whatever substance) is successful.

[william r sanford72]

speed balls..almost 10 years.shot after shot.prisons.jails.drug dealer.i have lived and seen the worst humanity can be and often is.its 15 year since i shot dope.i wake up everday grateful to not only survive..but be blessed to raise a family..share my life.give love.to recieve love is a wonder and blessing i carry at all times.i carry my addiction with me everday and im my own constant stalker.much blessings to any and all going through there struggle or survived and now has moved on.the inner battles are the most important and always lead to the most profound of truths if we survive the fire.thanks for this thread.and allowing to say my truth without being judged.avalon is a blessing.

[johnf]

This is an article discussing addiction from a non-duality perspective.

https://nondualityamerica.wordpress....-scott-kiloby/

I have experienced Scotts process in a more general manner, and am interested in how a new style of recovery might grow out of this practice, the opening paragraph lists others involved in their own work on the subject.

The general idea of compulsions is addressed in this approach, including hunting for info, seeking enlightenment etc.

jf

[chocolate]

I found this interview today "What Marc Maron Taught Me About Addiction" http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/...interview.html
It could be useful for someone.

[4Talismans]

You know, I had forgotten about this thread. What happened for me, was I created the circumstances that would allow me to quit smoking. I got sick (I'm NEVER sick). I was in the hospital for two days (obviously not smoking) and when I got out I decided that the worst two days were already behind me, and I just wouldn't pick up another cigarette. So now it has been about a month. And I have to agree with the point about organic tobacco... that was what I was smoking and it wasn't really all that difficult.

[chocolate]

Posted by 4Talismans (here)
What happened for me, was I created the circumstances that would allow me to quit smoking. I got sick (I'm NEVER sick).

Sorry you were sick, but glad you are on the right track. I think if you change your view on life, you will never need to smoke again. People who never get sick are strong people, so use that strength.

C.

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

I didn't stop gambling with my SO until we were out of money --

but in general, trying to keep busy and active (engaged/not bored) helped me not to think of gambling.

thinking of the losses we've inflicted helps me not to think of gambling.

your health is priceless ^-^

are there cleaner brands of roll your own tobacco out there,
things that don't have cigarette manufacturer poisons in them?