Don’t Give Up What You Want Most, For What You Want Right Now

Don’t give up what you want most, for what you want right now. 

Addiction, at its very core, is an attempt to resolve pain, fear, or some form of unmanageable reality. A lot of times people don’t have a long-term solution to their immediate problem (pain, fear, unmanageable reality). Therefore, people will end up engaging in short-term attempts to manage the pain, resulting in long-term negative consequences.  

I think that it’s important to understand that those experiencing an addiction didn’t knowingly make the bed they are laying in, rather it was the only bed they knew how to make at that moment.  Humans have a biological drive to run from pain before seeking pleasure. This means that if people don’t understand how to develop a realistic long-term solution to their problem, they are hard-wired to find some form of immediate relief. When people consistently engage in the same maladaptive (unhealthy) pattern of relief, the brain codes it as a survival mechanism and craves the immediate relief it provides, despite the negative long-term effects and consequences.

With that being said, experiencing an addiction doesn’t need to be something people suffer from for eternity. 

The human brain may code a habitual form of maladaptive (unhealthy) coping and immediate relief as a survival mechanism. But, it can be replaced with a healthy long-term coping mechanism. 

If you are experiencing concerns surrounding addiction, of any form, reach out for help. 

There are ways to unlearn the maladaptive coping mechanisms/addiction and re-learn new healthy, empowering, and effective coping mechanisms. 

When one is working towards recovery and sobriety it’s important to understand that people are creatures of habit. So, just as engaging in the addiction/maladaptive coping mechanism is habitual, choosing recovery, healing, and honesty with oneself is a habit that can replace (to really simplify things) the addiction/maladaptive coping mechanism. 

This takes awareness, compassion, connection, accountability, empowerment, and consistent choice. Experiencing an addiction isn’t a choice, but choosing recovery, sobriety and yourself is.  Recovery and sobriety are something that individuals have the power to choose, daily. 

There will be times when cravings are strong, withdrawal could be excruciating, and healing can/will be scary. But, a life without the limitations of unmanaged addiction and/or mental health is scary, excruciating, and lonely too. 

Don’t give up what you want most, for what you want right now.

Reach out for help if you or someone you know is battling an addiction. You don’t have to do this alone.