Addiction as Useful | Necessary
One way to look at addiction is that it serves a purpose. Finding meaning in one’s addiction can help put the craziness into perspective. For many clients, addiction leads them to the healing of deeper issues they might never have explored. Addiction seems to work at getting one’s attention. It also seems to work at forcing one to dirty themselves in such a way that pushes them to eventually take more responsibility for their lives (even though it may look as though all they want to do is push responsibility away). People become addicted for a combination of a number of reasons. Even if it seems as simple as pure habit and biological sensitivity, human beings always have choice. For many it’s the best way to live with great amounts of pain, both emotional and physical. It takes time and mindful exploration to understand the “purpose” of one’s addiction – but it is there, somewhere within the soul. Addiction can be seen as the soul’s cry.
Written by Jason McCarty, Outpatient therapist
