Jordan Peterson - The Truth About Addiction (very short but interesting video)

youtube.com ^

[RoosterRedux]

Video Link

This short video does not in any way provide THE TRUTH about addiction...but it does provide some very useful information about addiction.

[Skooz]

Having dealt with addiction in my prior life, I’m impressed.

The man knows what he’s talking about.

[freedumb2003]

I didn’t watch it but does it cover FR addiction?

That can be pretty devastating :) ;)

[Skooz]

No treatment for that. Just keep chasing the dragon.

[laplata]

Jordan Peterson is outstanding in whatever he addresses.

[RoosterRedux]

I also am a survivor of addiction.

And now realize that I am stronger for it (not stronger for the addictions--yes, several--but stronger for having defeated them).

It is interesting just how addiction is a lot like the facehugger alien in the movie "Alien"...

The harder you try to pry it off, the tighter it grips your head. With drugs and alcohol, the alien's grip is manifested in depression and obsession.

Ergo, to get rid of the alien (and it can be gotten rid of), one must use strategy instead of force.

Peterson touches on a little bit of it in this video.

Religious faith certainly is a major element in this battle. And physical exercise is a powerful tool also.

Strenuous and regular (i.e. daily) cardio exercise floods the brain with dopamine and endorphins and other chemicals not even identified yet, many of which are not only the same as those produced by the drug to which one is addicted but also helpful in breaking free of the drug.

Not to state the obvious, but exercise not only helps fight the depression the "alien" uses to stay attached to your face, it also builds your ability to endure the pain of recovery such that recovery has a positive element of excitement and optimism.

Though exercise is not a panacea, it is (for me at least) a replacement for addictive substances which brings pride to replace the shame of chemical addiction.

[chris37]

That thing in there is not dead, it cannot die until you die, because it’s you. It’s your dark side.

All you can do is imprison it, and keep it contained, and guard it 24/7 so that it never gets out, but it’s very cunning, it speaks in your own voice to you, because it is you.

Only you can master it, no one else can help you, except for Jesus, because He is also with you 24/7. You can ask for His Strength, and you will find it in within you, but you must then wield it. It isn’t going to do the work for you. You must do it.

This guy does know what he is talking about. Most people blame addiction on something other than the addict, such as the chosen substance, but that’s not it, because addiction comes in many forms, not just substances, but other things like gambling and sex. In my opinion, addiction springs from being unable to create happiness within oneself by natural and healthy means.

Happiness springs from love. Without love in your life, things are going to go downhill quickly. So find what it is that you love, and love that thing. For me, it’s dogs.

We all have a dark side. It’s human nature. We either learn to rule it, or we will be ruled by it.

[RoosterRedux]

Right you are, Chris...except the part about the dogs (my cats made me say that;-).

Even the exercise part I mentioned is an extension of one's relationship with Jesus.

Peterson's admonition to take FULL responsibility for yourself is at the heart of your comment.

And, of course, when you take full responsibility, you realize that your inner demons can only be defeated by Him.

[TheNext]

Explain addiction in under 100 words.

[RoosterRedux]

Watch the video. It is too short to cover the subject (a little over 4 minutes), but it offers a good explanation.

If you have never experienced it, any explanation would be like explaining colors to a color blind person.

[fruser1]

Addiction is as addiction does.

[RoosterRedux]

BTW, why do you ask? Are you actually curious? Or do you have another motive?

[RoosterRedux]

Are you speaking from experience? Or from observation?

[chris37]

Here are a few pics of my beloved Petunia playing with Stormy, my grumpy and large cat, who was not amused! Petunia was about 5 months old or so in this pic, she loves Stormy, but I'm not sure the feeling is exactly mutual.

These are things things that put a smile on my face and joy in my heart. Such simple and good things. These are what make the dark side fade away.

[chris37]

A foolish attempt to create short lived and false feelings of happiness and euphoria within oneself using ineffective, dangerous and sometimes physically addicting substances, or other means or actions, because one doesn’t know any better or how to do it naturally.

I think that’s less than 100 words.

[fruser1]

Experience.

Addiction can’t be conveyed easily because it’d be like explaining what the color red looks like to someone who’s been blind from birth. Hunger is closest.

The inability to convey is why I believe people start using something. They just can’t fathom what addiction is like so they figure they’ll stop when out of high school, college, what not. Big surprise coming for some!

For those who tout willpower, addiction is not the absence of willpower, it’s the pre-emption of it. Try getting in between an addict and their fix and you’ll witness willpower the likes of which you have never seen.

The pre-emption of willpower is why I personally consider addiction evil.

On the flip side of experience, there are those who are not addictive. Like anything else, scale of 1 to 10. I know someone who was worried about withdrawal for quitting smoking, but when they stopped nothing. They had no idea what the hubbub was about.

That’s a 1. 10s die early.

[RoosterRedux]

Nice. My love for my animals (I include in that crowd my raccoons, possums, squirrels, birds, and a little turtle that hangs about) gives me a steely defense against the dark side too.

I have been thinking about adding a pooch...but that's such a big responsibility (and there's already little room on my bed for myself). Just going to the restroom in the middle of the night is like planning a bank robbery.

[Ransomed]

Good post. I quit smoking cold turkey two and a half years ago by exercising like a maniac, and have kept it up. When I tell people I lost weight after I quit smoking they usually say they haven’t ever heard of that. I just did cardio by running, push ups, pull ups and sit ups instead of doughnuts. After the first month of cold turkey I got a vape with 0% nicotine to see if duplicating the ritual of smoking would help. I used it a few months then stopped using it.

One thing I think a lot of folks don’t realize is that it is also much harder to become depressed when you are in really good shape. A danger though is if you hurt yourself or get sick and can’t work out. So for me it’s smart to always be as careful as I can. I increase duration and difficulty by microscopically ridiculous amount only. The point for me is to be able to want to exercise, to make it a habit you look forward to. You will miss those endorphins if you get hurt or you do too much so your mind will want to anything but work out again.

Freegards

[fruser1]

Therapists say if it’s when you do continue to do something that causes you problems.

[RoosterRedux]

Great comment.

I am easily addicted but find it easy to escape it (after a hell of an existential fight...but I like to fight).

Just lucky.

As an aside, I think the issue of addiction is closely connected to what Viktor Frankl calls the Will to Meaning (i.e. life requires meaning...and when we don't seek it or fail to find it, we are subject to all kinds of error).

The addiction epidemic in the U.S. can have a positive outcome...but there will be much pain.