Addiction

Afflictions of the mind lead to addiction. These can be visible or invisible addictions. Visible ones are evident and their symptoms affect our health and body directly and eventually (e.g. alcohol, smoking, substance abuse, junk food snacking) and the invisible ones are hidden as patterns in the deepest recesses of our mind. The invisible addictions are more challenging because we lack awareness of it for a really long time. If one does not have the awareness, one also does not know the damage it is doing to our mind (behaviour) and body. When any form of entertainment or pleasure seeking behaviour drives obsession that knows no boundaries to attain it, it can be termed as an addiction.

The reason extreme measures in curbing addiction do not work is because they are superficial and while our subconscious mind is tamed for the time being using medical or emotional suppressant, you cannot trick yourself for too long. Once its effects subside, you jump back into seeking another form of addiction eventually or immediately. 

Addiction is the act of seeking refuge; an escape from the present reality. When the mind or body are unable to cope up with the present reality and its environmental stressors, it seeks to escape the situation in some form; mentally or emotionally. The easiest escape is to seek refuge in pleasure driving activities because the happy neurotransmitters released by doing it once (when in stress) are sufficient to form a loop and keep you into that addiction for nearly as long as you live. Momentary pleasure is the cheapest and the best distraction to addressing your reality; acceptance of which frightens you because it has the ability to shake your ground and take you off your feet. Nobody wants their reality to be questioned; even by their own self. 

When the mind is tormented, taking extreme vows like “I will not drink/smoke from tomorrow” may not solve the problem permanently; it will only suppress it for the time being and shall wait for a trigger to bring your mental afflictions back. 

Dealing with what you seek escape from, is unfortunately the only real solution to end these mental afflictions and allow yourself the growth and transformation you need to enter the next stage of your life. 

Sitting with yourself, giving yourself an honest earful no matter how tough it gets is the only way to see yourself through this storm. 

If you want to get started, meditate on the five major affliction of your mind (Klesas): attachment (expectations), aversion (sensitivities), identification (of your true/permanent self), fear (of loss, death) and ignorance (of reality). We all have these klesas (also called as internal conflicts) in some or the other form within us. 

One day at a time, get started with these five questions:

1. What am I attached to? Is not getting it affecting me? Am I harming myself or others in order to get it?
2. What am I averse to? Am I affected while dealing with things, situation or people I don’t like?
3. “Who am I” without the xyz?  (xyz = relationships, people, things you own etc)
4. What do I fear? If it comes true, will it lead to pain and suffering?
5. Exercise discriminative knowledge by asking what am I ignoring but should not? What am I doing that I should probably ignore/let go?  

Give yourself the assurance that you will stand by yourself through this whole experience; irrespective of any social or emotional support from others.

Once you are done, I dare you to pick your next cigarette or that glass of margarita and suddenly you’ll find it tasteless, devoid of any real joy. It shall bring you no enjoyment for you seek no escape now. You feel ready to deal with whatever comes your way.

In man’s truth and his complete acceptance of reality, there is only freedom, bliss and no room for mental tormentation.

अविद्यास्मितारागद्वेषाभिनिवेशाः क्लेशाः || PYS 2.3 ||

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Disclaimer: The content provided in this article on addiction is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company. Any information presented as personal opinion should be considered as such.