Are You an Addict?

This important question is often a difficult one to answer. There are many considerations involved and yet often, even in the asking, we already know our answer. When we begin to wonder about this for ourselves or a loved one, we find ourselves caught between what we already know, what we would like to believe, and other factors which we haven’t yet thought of.

Consider these questions:
1) Why are you asking? For most people, asking this question means that something has already happened in their lives to give them cause to wonder. They’ve already recognized that something really isn’t working very well for them.

2) Are others to whom you are close expressing concern over your substance use or poor choices? Sometimes the people who care about you are a good indicator that there is a problem. We often can’t see our problem areas and may be like a fish, unable to recognize that we are wet. Our relationships are excellent mirrors for us. If we are willing to look into the eyes in the mirror we can more clearly see ourselves, allowing the flaws we try to ignore to become apparent.

3) Are your choices and behaviors causing problems in your life? This question leads to other questions such as: Is your credit card debt increasing? Are you losing the ability to make responsible choices for yourself? Are you in legal trouble because of your choices and behaviors? Are you having unprotected sex with strangers? Are you driving while intoxicated? Have you lost your home, job, friends, or children?

4) Are you having relationship challenges? Often our relationships are the first areas of life where we begin to notice that there is a problem. People begin to start avoiding us, or us them. Where we once had close and loving relationships we start to see conflict and upheaval. Are you isolating yourself from those you love? Often, when caught in addictive behaviors, we become ashamed and stay away from people we care about so they won’t see us at our worst.

5) Are you losing interest in things that used to bring pleasure and enjoyment? As we become more engaged in our addiction, we become less engaged in other activities. The addiction takes over our lives and is very much like a jealous partner who wants our complete and undivided attention.

6) Are you making excuses, lying, or acting in other ways that are dishonest? Feeling the need to cover up your behavior is a big indication that there is something going wrong. We know it is wrong so we do all that we can think of to protect our addiction, to keep anyone from knowing we are getting into trouble.

These are just some of the questions to ask. Whether you are an addict is a question you must answer for yourself. You can find clues to the answer within your everyday life. It is a frightening realization to come to, but not realizing is much worse. Knowing there is a problem is the first step in overcoming it.