ADDICTION: How REAL is it?

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What we will explore on this Reality Avenue show:

What is the Problem?

Addiction comes in many shapes and forms. Some are even socially acceptable! Your spouse or parent may kick you out of the house because of drug or alcohol addiction, but the over-exerciser or steroid user may receive praise as a result of theirs (at least initially). The one thing that each of these addictions has in common, as do all addictions, is that they grow to the point that people loose control and hurt themselves and those they love.

_Why do we become Addicted?

The majority of people never become addicted, but certain factors can set the stage for the development of an addiction:

1. Attitudes of parents – we learn what we live – what is or was the attitude of your parents toward smoking, drinking, gambling, food and drug-related behaviors (legal and illegal)?
2. Attractiveness of Addictive substance/behavior – In the 50′s, smoking was widely promoted as a habit enjoyed by sophisticated, fun-loving, attractive, and sexy people – how do we view smoking now?
3. The “high” induced – How it feels to them (at first!) and how their life is currently able to produce similar feelings – are you feeling “high” or happy on a daily basis, how muc h do you laugh, smile and feel good?
4. Availability – if it’s hard to get, it’s harder to do.
5. Genetic Disposition – can strongly influence whether a problem is nipped in the bud or blossoms into an addiction. What is your family’s history with addiction?
6. Other Factors – Peer pressure, Curiosity, Thrill seeking, Rebellion, Escape from life/relief from pain.

What can we do about it?

If everyday life seems boring, meaningless, oppressive, or painful (physically and/or emotionally), any addiction may appear to offer a powerful time-out. The strongest resistance to addiction therefore, arises from an ongoing sense of joy and contentment that transcends circumstances. These attitudes are usually acquired, not inborn. Join us on Reality Avenue, “Addiction – How REAL is it?” and we will learn HOW to do just that. Follow the lives of those affected by addiction and learn from those that followed a different path (Renaldo Hill, Miami Dolphins). If you want more information on how to help yourself, your child, or someone you care about, watch the show and/or attend our upcoming seminar.

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