Addictive behaviors can take any form.  Many often think it involves only drugs and alcohol.  However anything can serve to cover real issues that exist in our emotional and mental bodies that block our real spirituality and Soul force from making our lives productive and fruitful.

Too much (and sometimes too little) of anything can be addictive in Nature.  This can take the form of sex, our relationship with food, our work, preoccupation with video games, and a host of many other behaviors including gambling or even too much paid therapy.  What is underneath such behaviors?

While there are certainly biological and genetic issues involved with addictions, an area of broad research, one can never underestimate the importance of our emotional, mental and spiritual well-being in dealing with such addictive behaviors.  The following factors are some of the underlying forces that do not allow us more peace of mind, joy, love and productivity. 

Even if one does not have an addiction, varying degrees of the following still affect our behaviors and actions in this world for we all stand to deepen our inner consciousness and strive to become better human beings. 

Primordial fear:  While we all have small and large fears and in varying degrees, our way of coping and trying to overcome fear is different.  Fear of anything can trigger our addictive tendencies particularly when we feel there is no hope or end to the immense void that can be felt inside.  This can be related to myriad issues such as relationships, finances, our health or even world concern.  Such fear arises when we are not connected as deeply to our inner Self, our inner knowing, our own sense of confidence, that is always still present behind our fears.  The practice of knowing our Self and working on our issues gradually lifts fear so that such addictions can dissolve in our strengthening sense of Self.

Inability to tolerate the unknown:  Some people are more impulsive than others and want immediate answers to questions that sometimes cannot be answered or that take time to unfold in our lives.  This impulsivity can lead to addictions when we want instant gratification but cannot get it.  The addiction serves to mask the tension and anxiety we feel in not getting an answer right away to our burning desires and questions.

 Dishonesty with others and ourselves:  How many are really honest with themselves?  A whole host of psychological defenses in our minds and hearts (some healthier than others) tends to block what we really feel inside and in our lives. 

We are beings who naturally want to avoid pain and negative emotions.  When we do this, addictions can again mask what is really going on.  The more we allow honesty in our lives in a way we can handle, the more addictions will have less of a protective effect. We need to come to a space to feel, tolerate, and handle our negative feelings that arise within us rather than run away from them.

Inconsideration, lack of compassion and empathy:  Addictions hurt our loved ones and us.  Our actions and their consequences do not manifest within a vacuum.  Our inconsideration and lack of compassion and empathy for others and ourselves is form of anger, resentment, blame, and sometimes self-hatred.  The addiction masks these intense and deep feelings in an unhealthy way and thus the negative emotions as well as the addiction deeply injures and harms those around us. 

Feelings of separation, abandonment and loneliness.  These feelings are rooted deep within us, particularly if we are not in touch with our soul essence, sense of Self or we do not feel that our self-esteem is healthy.  We all have varying degrees of feeling connected to our higher consciousness or power.  Sometimes we feel abandoned and lost. Some feel so disconnected or are not aware of such consciousness.  Addictions can temporarily fill the abandonment and emptiness that will always arise again, much like weeds in a field unless they are gradually rooted out by our inner journey and contemplation.

Selfishness and self-centeredness:  Addiction is a disease of selfishness and self-centeredness.  The ego is constricted into an unhealthy self-focus that often locks us into   negative thinking and emotions.  Such selfishness did not develop overnight but may the result of past abuse, trauma, lack of nurturance, a series of career failures, ill health, divorce and breakup, quarrels and old patterns with relatives and a host of other factors. Self-centeredness and selfishness can be gradually transformed into caring for others and less on our negative states, if the person is willing and develops the capability.  

© 2007 - 2009 Rama Pemmaraju Rao, M.D.

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