Hey Tribe,
Welcome back!
Being an addict doesn't mean you're necessarily addicted to one thing.
Hence the term, addict.
There may be things you don't consider yourself to be addicted to, and without seeing it yourself, others may have picked up on it.
Maybe, you've even successfully overcome what you thought was your primary addiction, but you're now experiencing problems in other areas.
Do you have an addictive personality?
There are many people that do and they are more than likely addicted to more than one thing.
Putting out fires
So you've cured one addiction.
And you're recovering.
But what about that other area you've started obsessing about, or that's taking up a lot of your time?
That one lingering in the background, or the one that has now hit the foreground.
How are you dealing with that one?
Are you even dealing with it?
There is a possibility that once you've cured your primary addiction, the others take care of themselves.
Or maybe the addiction you're recovering from wasn't really the primary one after all?!
Coming out sideways
I can only speak from my experience here and it's essential I do, so you can hear my genuine story.
When I got sober I realised that I had only just taken care of my drinking but I was still struggling from being an addict.
I need to take care of, and keep an eye on, my addictive personality.
I can easily start drinking too many energy drinks or eating too much junk food, or immersing myself in Twitter and other projects.
I need to watch out for which way my addictive brain will go to next.
I heard the term “coming out sideways” when talking to someone who was in recovery for alcohol abuse and he said that he now found himself addicted to pain medication.
He had quit the booze but pain pills were now taking there toll.
I can see how easy it is.
I sometimes find myself drinking too many cans of Monster or eating too much chocolate. It’s just where my mind goes when I’m dealing with something stressful or hard.
Instead of picking up a drink, I resort to other things.
Heck, I even get obsessed with building my son’s Lego sets!
Does that sound familiar to you?
Maybe it’s nothing serious like booze, or as silly as Lego, but maybe there is something.
Maybe you could relate to these or something similar:
Sex
Porn
Weed
Booze
Gaming
Cocaine
Pain pills
Gambling
Celebrities
Social media
Relationships
These are some common problems; some are surprising and some aren’t but these are normally the big ones. Throw in sugar, and other harder drugs too.
Solution
Even for the smallest of addictions, or unhealthy obsessions, know that you're not alone.
There are likely to be people who can help you, that have experienced the same pain that you’re through or, if you’re not in pain necessarily, then who have knowledge of the issue.
Reach out for help. Reach out to the Tribe.
It doesn’t matter how big or small, we'll help if we can.
It’s great to open up and share your struggles with other human beings instead of bottling it up.
Don't suffer on your own.
Conclusion
As well as not reaching out for help, it's imperative that you start utilizing positive practices, establishing positive routines and realise that a lot of what's going on is in your mind.
Remember, You're not addicted to X, you're addicted to the temporary feeling it brings you... plus the further shame, guilt and misery it brings after that.
Now replace X with any other substance, or digital distraction, and you understand why it's imperative to build a strong mindset.
Get your mind on your side and you'll be better equipped to stop any forming, or progression, of other addictions.
Don't let yourself fight through life just putting out fires. Break free of addictions and truly live.
Take care,