Why We Are All Addicts

When we think of an addict, we often imagine a homeless person in the park sniffing glue or a gaunt person with a heroin needle in their arm.

However, addiction doesn’t have anything to do with what one is addicted to. Addiction simply means leaning on something.

The addict relies on their chosen pursuit to block unwelcome emotions from entering their consciousness. The particular object of their addiction may be whisky or marijuana, but it could also be their mobile phone, buckets of a specific snack, cleaning cupboards, or tracking birds.

The popular misunderstanding of addiction allows people to claim they are merely going to the office again, checking the news or working out at the gym.

Yet, addicts are not weak or evil. They are, first and foremost, scared.

The solution shouldn’t, therefore, involve censorship and lectures but love and reassurance. We should make moves to allow people to feel safe about facing their emotions and confident they can handle what is going on in their minds.