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Chances are that you or someone you know are challenged by some sort of addiction. In fact, many addictions like those to pain killers and heroin are becoming an actual EPIDEMIC in this country and all around the world. And for anyone who has been entangled in the nasty claws of an ADDICTIONS' ALLURE, you know all too well the ravishing amount of emotional, physical, and spiritual devastation in can leave in its wake.
Now I am a coach, NOT a therapist, so I want to begin by stating that some addictions need the assistance of professional support and help in its many shapes and forms. And I am in NO WAY shape or form advocating that all addictions can be cured through coaching or pure self help of any form. For some simply CANNOT! However, there is more and more evidence appearing that suggests that SOME forms of addiction can be helped through knowledge of the true cause behind the obsessive need for the cravings we search out through our addictive patterns and behaviors.
WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF ADDICTION
According to Johann Hari, everything we THOUGHT we knew about addiction may be wrong. He believes, “Not all addictions are rooted in abuse or trauma, but they can all be traced to painful experiences.” “ It is present in the gambler, the internet addict, the compulsive shopper, and the workaholic, ” accord to Gabor Mate. He continues, “We should stop taking about addiction altogether and instead see it as BONDING.”
According to new research being conducted, there are two forms of BONDING. One is absolutely essential to our sense of connection and well being. This includes the bonding that occurs in relationships, connections to friends and family, as well as our community. But most importantly the bonding to SELF. It appears that one of the paths to healing addiction is through GENUINE CONNECTION. If we cannot find connective forms of BONDING, we will search out something to bond with. Sometimes it comes down to bonding with anything we can find. Be it the WHIZZ of a roulette wheel, or the prick of a syringe, or the snorting of a narcotic.
In 2001, Portugal had one of the highest rates of addiction in the entire world. Believe it or not, 1 out of every 100 people in that country were injecting themselves with some form of illegal narcotic! Mostly heroin. The government intervened by consulting with addiction experts to help quell this out of control epidemic. Their answer will be controversial to many. They decided to decriminalize all illegal drugs. And use the anti-drug budget on supporting addicts in Re-Connecting with their community. They developed job programs and set up community support systems. So instead of punishing these offenders, they were actually given the support and compassionate help that they DESERVE.
What were the results 15 years later?! Absolutely STAGGERING!! The number of drug induced overdoses fell from over 10,000 to just 16! AMAZING!! And powerful!! As far as I am concerned, that is some uber supportive evidence that the real problem behind addiction is often indeed a lack of connection.
We live in a world of disconnection. As Lissa Rankin has profoundly admitted, “The biggest problem facing this planet is loneliness.” And I agree! While technology has and will continue to serve us in many ways, it has also caused a deep fissure in our ability to truly connect with one another. AND THIS MUST CHANGE! And we can't wait to begin this Paradigm shift. It is time for us to start turning off our cell phones, computers, tablets, and laptops, and start having actual real interpersonal and meaningful connection with one another; sans technology! I truly believe many people have a more personal connection with their various technological gadgets, then they do with the people that truly matter! Our friends, lovers, and family!
One practice I have been personally implementing in my daily life is something I call a ‘JUST BECAUSE.’ Every day I choose One person to reach out to to tell them I am thinking about them, that they matter, and I care about their well being. Sometimes, it is through a phone call, or often a poem written especially for them. What would it look like if all us New Age Nerds began implementing this compassionate and loving gesture as part of our daily Journey?! Are you willing to give it a try?! I believe if you do, it is not only others lives who will change, but YOURS as well!! For there is evidence that we humans crave BONDING, and it is time for us to start craving each other!!
Nerdmaste,
Jeffrey Louis Martinez
According to Johann Hari, everything we THOUGHT we knew about addiction may be wrong. He believes, “Not all addictions are rooted in abuse or trauma, but they can all be traced to painful experiences.” “ It is present in the gambler, the internet addict, the compulsive shopper, and the workaholic, ” accord to Gabor Mate. He continues, “We should stop taking about addiction altogether and instead see it as BONDING.”
According to new research being conducted, there are two forms of BONDING. One is absolutely essential to our sense of connection and well being. This includes the bonding that occurs in relationships, connections to friends and family, as well as our community. But most importantly the bonding to SELF. It appears that one of the paths to healing addiction is through GENUINE CONNECTION. If we cannot find connective forms of BONDING, we will search out something to bond with. Sometimes it comes down to bonding with anything we can find. Be it the WHIZZ of a roulette wheel, or the prick of a syringe, or the snorting of a narcotic.
In 2001, Portugal had one of the highest rates of addiction in the entire world. Believe it or not, 1 out of every 100 people in that country were injecting themselves with some form of illegal narcotic! Mostly heroin. The government intervened by consulting with addiction experts to help quell this out of control epidemic. Their answer will be controversial to many. They decided to decriminalize all illegal drugs. And use the anti-drug budget on supporting addicts in Re-Connecting with their community. They developed job programs and set up community support systems. So instead of punishing these offenders, they were actually given the support and compassionate help that they DESERVE.
What were the results 15 years later?! Absolutely STAGGERING!! The number of drug induced overdoses fell from over 10,000 to just 16! AMAZING!! And powerful!! As far as I am concerned, that is some uber supportive evidence that the real problem behind addiction is often indeed a lack of connection.
We live in a world of disconnection. As Lissa Rankin has profoundly admitted, “The biggest problem facing this planet is loneliness.” And I agree! While technology has and will continue to serve us in many ways, it has also caused a deep fissure in our ability to truly connect with one another. AND THIS MUST CHANGE! And we can't wait to begin this Paradigm shift. It is time for us to start turning off our cell phones, computers, tablets, and laptops, and start having actual real interpersonal and meaningful connection with one another; sans technology! I truly believe many people have a more personal connection with their various technological gadgets, then they do with the people that truly matter! Our friends, lovers, and family!
One practice I have been personally implementing in my daily life is something I call a ‘JUST BECAUSE.’ Every day I choose One person to reach out to to tell them I am thinking about them, that they matter, and I care about their well being. Sometimes, it is through a phone call, or often a poem written especially for them. What would it look like if all us New Age Nerds began implementing this compassionate and loving gesture as part of our daily Journey?! Are you willing to give it a try?! I believe if you do, it is not only others lives who will change, but YOURS as well!! For there is evidence that we humans crave BONDING, and it is time for us to start craving each other!!
Nerdmaste,
Jeffrey Louis Martinez
Yes! I agree
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