Addiction: More Than Just a Personal Choice

For so long, people have always argued about the concept of addiction; whether or not it is a choice and, quite frankly, the majority often leans towards the idea that it’s a choice without ever considering the nuances of the conversation. On the other hand, some people simply make a case for addiction because they’re also guilty of it or do not see certain habits as a big deal.

To address this topic, we have to first consider that words have meanings. For example, choice means having an option, a preference, or an alternative to something. This clearly tells us that humans have the power to pick one option from two or more things. So, it is honest and factually correct to say that every adult is capable of making choices unless they are in vulnerable situations that exploit them.

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The people who are chronic smokers, heavy drinkers, and shameless gamblers all made a choice to be that way. They may not have first done this consciously but, over time, deliberate actions to indulge in these things made it a choice.

There’s another fraction of people who think that their poor habits aren’t addictions simply because they don’t have immediate or embarrassing side effects. Those people include those who can’t stay away from social media, caffeine, or pornography. But in reality, they are not better off because every addiction has harmful side effects whether we like it or not.

However, some of these addictions stem from different factors, including life challenges, pre-existing health issues, and toxic households. For example, a lot of people with certain health disorders often go through the kind of pain that can only be suppressed by opioids, a powerful class of drugs used to treat severe pain. These people were likely exposed to common painkillers first but, later in life, opioids were recommended to them with strict dosage instructions.

Unfortunately, when the brain and body experience something that brings absolute relief, they automatically begin to yearn for more. This is exactly what happens with people addicted to drugs. It starts from taking it once a month, to once every two weeks, and finally every day. And since nothing else brings such comfort and relief, they ccontinue with what has worked for them.

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Addictions are also a symptom of trauma, as in the case of people who have been severely abused. They often resort to consuming harmful substances, eating every two hours, or being fixated on social media all day to avoid interacting with people physically. They find comfort in these addictions and they help them cope with their distressing life circumstances. This is exactly what makes addiction a complex topic because it goes beyond individual choices.

The body's response to comfort and absolute relief also makes up one of the reasons why it is difficult to quit one's addictions. I dare say that once people find something harmful to get addicted to, it may take a lifetime or many years to pull away from it and that’s why we still see a lot of people who struggle with theirs for such a long time.

Sometimes, these people do their best to withdraw but, after a while, they go back to it. It’s not because they weren’t making efforts but because it is generally difficult to quit something that your brain has been exposed to and forced to accept as a norm.

This is why, to beat addiction, it would take a combination of intentional, long-term individual efforts and genuine support from friends and ffamily. Even when it seems difficult to quit, it is possible to quit, and I hope that every addicted person finds the will and the right support to go through the long journey of returning to themselves again.

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