The word “addiction” derives back to the Roman times of slavery, known as “addictus”. Back in the day, when someone committed a petty crime that guilty person was assigned to the person who they owed the debt to – they became bound as a slave and sentenced to physical hard labour to repay the debt (more often than not, that debt came with physical punishment and tortures). That “debt slave” was known as an “addictus”.
So, when we look at addictions in the modern world, it’s when we become attached to something outside of us that has a negative impact on our health and wellbeing. This can be seen as a type of self-punishment. Addictions can look totally different to all of us. Just to name a few common addictions:
Food addictions
Substance Abuse (smoking, drugs, alcohol)
Self-harm
Gambling
Shopping
Gaming
Drama/Gossip
Work
People may or may not know they are addicted. The symptoms that indicate you, or someone you know, has an addiction include:
repeating a behaviour even though it interferes with your life
stealing or selling things to afford to continue the addictive behaviour
losing interest in other things that once brought joy
being angry, violent, moody, or depressed
seeing changes in eating habits, sleeping habits or weight
feeling physically unwell or shaky when trying to quit.
Depending on the type of addiction, the person receives temporary joy, a feeling of excitement, or numbness that deters their mind from current or past experiences.
Like an "addictus" we can become our own "debt slave" to our traumas and emotions through our addictions. Perhaps from past experiences, which we had no control of, suddenly gives us a sense of control that we are in our own power. No one is forcing this addiction upon us except us, it's something that we can do ourselves through our actions.
Until we can identify and dig into those traumas or past experiences that have created those addictions in the first place, only then can we start taking steps towards healing addictions.
Healing our past experiences and emotions as we meander through our lives is so important.
Those experiences are to help us learn and grow, let's not let our experiences destroy the rest of our lives and future……. It’s how and when we grow from those experiences that we can truly find the magic.
