Words are like bullets

Words are like bullets, the only problem is they are fired in the wrong direction.  What you say and how you say it says more about you then about anyone else.  In a recent posting on the Addiction Professional Group on Linkedin, a statement was posted: “Addiction Is Not A Disease, But A Choice.”  My response to this statement was, Coming from a both-side-of-the-tracks perspective, stepping on a piece of glass, wounding oneself, removing the glass only to throw it back on the ground and step on it again is a choice. You have to ask yourself a simple question: Such an act must serve a purpose for the person involved. It is my perspective that ‘addiction’ is a mind-set and the behavior of addictedness is a choice. After all, those of substancelessness abuse substances for substance.”

In response, Rhonda Lazenby wrote:  ”Peter, your comments convinced me very quickly that you are either stoned or you have worked so long on getting all of those letters behind your name, you forgot what the question was. I can’t understand a thing you said, and I don’t think one of the long words you used is even a word. LOL”  What is this LOL?  I find no humor in her perspective that I am either stoned or have worked so long on getting my degrees, licensure, and certifications that I have forgot the question.  The question is not a question rather a statement, “Addiction is not a disease, but a choice.”

My response is:

It is my opinion that behavior is not caused by an underlining disease of addiction.  Behavior, at least as I understand it, is a pattern of thinking, feeling, and action.  Since all learning occurs at the molecular level, and considering the fact that thoughts are a manifestation of molecular neural networking, then “behavior” is goal directed to maintain the human condition.  The human condition is a wanting condition never satisfied; wanting competence over incompetence and independence over dependence.  Therefore behavior is the process of satisfying ones choices.

Our eyes look out and yet we experience within.  It is within our mind-set that we make choices.  Choice is a matter of goal direction, it is my opinion that all choices are filtered through our insecurities.  Insecurity is a copulation of perspectives of inadequacy, inferiority, and insignificance.  Since no one is feeling totally adequate, ferior, and significant, we compensate.  How we compensate is a matter of choice.  As I have said, those who are anchored to the abyss of “substancelessness” (my word to describe a void of substance), choose to abuse substances for substance as a means to compensate for insecurities construed as weaknesses.  To look outside of oneself for relief, coping, or mentally flatlining is to compensate for perspectives of “I can’t….It is….I will never….”

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Author | Peter

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology specific to Addiction Theory and Intervention Applications. Master Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselor awarded by the State of New Hampshire Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug use Professionals, Certified Addiction Specialist awarded by the American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders, founded by Harvard University's School of Medicine, Division on Addictions. Certified Anger Resolution Therapist awarded by the Anger Management Training Institute, and Consultant for the Anger Management Training Institute on domestic violence issues. Certified Personal Fitness Trainer incorporating the mind-body influence to embracing power of control to live well.

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