Breaking an Addiction

One of the first goals I succeeded in accomplishing when I began this website was to stop drinking soda.  I had attempted this multiple times before but had always fallen back into the habit.  This time would be different & I was able to break my addiction to soda.

After nearly six months of abstaining from my vice I caved in & had “just this one”.  Soon I would find myself drinking soda on a regular basis, though not nearly as much as before.  It has made me realize that breaking habits & addictions can be incredibly difficult, even after going so long without.

Though I realize it is difficult to make changes I still am left with the question “Why?”  I wanted to stop drinking soda & I had been doing a great job of staying away from it, but one moment of indiscretion has left with in a complete state of relapse.

Alcoholics & drug addicts undoubtedly experience the same challenges with their addictions, but what about a less obvious addiction like shopping?  Some people spend themselves into a hole, leaving themselves in a precarious financial situation.  The next time there is a bit of money left over at the end of the week, instead of saving to prepare for what comes next they run to the store to buy themselves a new gadget or pair of shoes.

Though it is more socially acceptable to buy a DVD than a gram of cocaine, I wonder if the same tendencies are at play.  If the same struggle must occur for a person to stop shopping as for a person to stop smoking or drinking soda.

There are those who would argue that there is a difference between drug or alcohol addiction than going to the Gap to buy a new shirt.  They are right, there is a difference.  Buying a new shirt isn’t physically destructive, though it is financially destructive.  Chemical addictions also require overcoming a physical addiction and the bodily reactions of withdrawal, but after that point I think the same emotional and psychological struggles come into play.

You want to buy something just as the alcoholic wants a drink or the drug addict their next fix.  If we are to overcome these addictions we must first want to eliminate them from our lives then resist our urges and impulses.  One mistake or mis-step can cause all of our hard work to dissolve back into the same habits we worked so hard to overcome.  I know.