The Hidden Addictions YEDEM & Believers Network Club GHANA

The Two Basic Drives behind Addictions Excitement seeking Tension reducing

What do all addictions have in common? An escape of feelings Avoiding real anxieties in life By disengaging from reality

Lack of control A sense of lack of control that can not be overcome by reason alone The attachment becomes too strong in a way that surpasses reason and logic

Pleasure Seeking Constant search for excitement and challenge

Destructive and unhealthy behavior Eventually harms the body, mind and spirit. Erodes balanced living

Priority over all Takes priority over all life issues Centre of lives

Denial Denial of the control of addiction or destructive consequences Initial denial has to be broken for a person to recover

Substance related ExogenousEndogenous Withdrawal symptoms happen in both!

Psychological Dependency Rituals of taking the drug are as addictive as the drug itself

The Three Factors of Addiction Personality Needs Environmental FactorsDrug or Behavior Addiction

Personality Types in Hidden Addictions Self seeking: have personal problems and anxieties, they tend to search for some activity to relieve the anxiety, the activity acts as a tranquilizer e.g. addictions to worry and helping the needy Thrill seeking: are driven by excessive need for excitement and stimulation to escape monotony e.g. thrill seeking sex and excessive game playing Self deficient: suffer from low self esteem, look for self mastery to prove self worth: e.g. sex addiction and workaholism

Personality Types in Hidden Addictions High conforming: need to follow the crowd, copy others and must be with people. They feel miserable if left alone and need the assurance of others, lack self direction and the ability to affirm their own actions: they search for company to stabilize their insecurities e.g. codependency Socially isolated: loners, avoid getting close to other people, are not sure of themselves, avoid responsibility of relationships and intimacy. They for being known for what they are. They seek comfort in isolation e.g. TV and computer addiction Self punishing: these people derive pleasure from pain. They search for pain to resolve neurotic guilt. They are aware of their inadequacies and failures: e.g. addiction to rage and resentment, devotion to duty

Workaholism Workaholism is a severe progressive disease.

Characteristics of Workaholics The Workaholic is not free: he is compelled by inner forces to be working excessively. Usually these forces are not understood. The workaholic depends entirely on his work as a source of self esteem: Without working, workaholics see themselves worthless. They have no social life.

The Workaholic The workaholic is totally immersed in work: no room for: –Recreation –Hobbies –Community interest He constantly thinks about work even before going to bed or while driving or during a family visit. He experiences weekend depression!

The Workaholic The Workaholic has a neurotic need to work: nothing done seems good enough! The Workaholic can have multiple addictions: e.g. food, money and sex The Workaholic is isolated, self centered, lacks intimacy, self destructive and dishonest. The Workaholic usually suffers from psychological and physiological problems as well as spiritual poverty.

The Workaholic’s Family Workaholism affects the whole family, and makes it dysfunctional while there is no bottle to blame!

The Workaholic’s Family The legacy of Adult Children of Workaholics (a mere continuation) Perfectionist Workaholics Self - Critical High levels of Anxiety Outwardly focused People – pleasers Parents before their time

Treatment Break the Denial “deriving our identity and self-esteem from what we do; keeping overly busy; neglecting our health, relationships, and spirituality; seeing everything as work-related; having no desire to do anything (work avoidance or burnout); procrastinating; postponing vacations and rest; doing unnecessary work; worrying; perfectionism; avoiding intimacy; being controlling. All these are ways we cope with the pain of having lost our sense of being and of not feeling good enough”. From Workaholics Anonymous

There is no escape from Life!! We have to live it! We are not made for constant excitement and tension cannot always be reduced. Continued excitement becomes no excitement and a tension- free life is not the happiest. Real satisfaction comes only from balanced living not from escaping life!!!