The blog below is a loose translation from this Coffee with Christie video. 🙂
When it comes to addiction, we must begin with the underlying assumption that all humans are addicted to something; nature, coffee, cigarettes, chocolate, alcohol, et cetera. As a holistic health coach, I am often asked, “Christie, how can I break my addictions? What can I do to escape this self-imposed prison?”
Well, a good first step would be to identify what is damaging or hurting you and replace it with something else. If you have had success with AA, NA, or similar 12-step programs, I applaud you, but I’m of the opinion that, “Hi, my name is Christie and I’m an addict” is very limiting because it focuses on the one thing that you think you shouldn’t do or that somebody told you not to do.
For example, imagine that you grew up in a religious household and you went to a party and had some alcoholic drinks (gasp!), and then maybe six months later you did it again. Suddenly your parents are freaking out, “Oh my God, you’re an addict! You need help!” Things like that happen, especially when you’re young and impressionable but even as adults we have the tendency to disempower ourselves by acting as our own overly critical parent.
This topic of addiction reminds me of a friend of mine who’s been drug and alcohol-free for over two decades. He used to be a regular caller into my radio show, and frequently he would open by saying, “Hi, I’m X, and I’m an addict.” My response usually amounted to something like, “Dude, isn’t there more to you than that? Aren’t you a beautiful, loving, compassionate being?”
I am asking those of you who consider yourself an addict to assess what else you are. I don’t believe it is helpful to be known by any label, especially addict.
I once accompanied X to an AA meeting even though I have no addiction to alcohol and when it was my turn to share X whispered, “You don’t have to speak if you don’t want to.” But I was like, “Dude. I got this!”
“Hi, my name is Christie, and I’m an addict.”
“Hi, Christie!”
“I’m not addicted to alcohol, but I AM addicted to pain and suffering and self-limiting belief patterns and worrying about what other people think about me.”
If you have an addiction that you know is not serving you or your loved ones like gambling or drugs, you must forgive yourself and see the problem as a window of opportunity for positive change.
If you’re addicted to soda, change it to herbal tea.
If you’re addicted to cigarettes, try growing your own healthy medicinal tobacco instead.
Are you addicted to beer? Well, how about making your beer less harmful by mixing sugar, water, yeast, and some nettles from your yard into a bucket and after four days you’ll have a batch of natural and inexpensive medicinal nettle brew.
The possibilities are endless.
Now, I’m not knocking support program like AA; I’m merely suggesting that there could be other approaches that aren’t so Hellfire and Brimstone. After all, you’re just a human going through a struggle, many of which are caused by not getting in touch with real feelings.
For example, some so-called alcoholics are more addicted to their favorite bars than the actual alcohol itself, and they tend to feed off those “fake” friendships. Sure, everybody knows your name is Good Time Charlie, but where do you think those “friends” will be when you’re sick or find yourself in the hospital? They’ll be at the bar trying to forget they ever knew “Good Ol’ Whathisname” and you’ll be singing “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.” If you want people to love you or you want to hang out with authentic people, then you need to “real-eyes” that that’s not where it’s at and then change your surroundings.
Dedicate yourself to no longer being restricted and defined by addiction and start focusing your time and effort on exploring the positive, loving, creative aspect of yourself. Stop harboring thoughts like, “My name is Charlie, and I’m an addict, and I’m so horrible, and I let everybody down, and God’s punishing me” and change your addiction to something else that’s better in every way. You won’t regret it, and you might even discover that it’s fun! I wish you much happiness and health and love.
Do you have an addiction that you could replace with self love?
This is my Self Love Journey and how I got past my addiction to pain and the blame and shame game that is promoted these days.
Blessings and Love,
Christie Aphrodite
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