Ubiquitous Addictions

An recent obituary in the New York Times reports the death, at age 83, of Dr. Griffith Edwards, an addiction specialist who “helped establish addiction medicine as a science.” In the 1960’s, habitual drunkenness was considered “a moral failing” and the only treatment was drying out.  He was the first to describe the discrete and measurable components of alcoholism craving, heightened tolerance, loss of control and physical withdrawal symptoms. In addition, he found that more intensive therapy and engaging patients in a collaborative relationship were most effective in achieving sobriety.

Recently, I’ve been thinking about addictions and, with surprise, discover their prevalence. Considered an aberration, addiction plays itself out in many lives, crossing social, economic and educational barriers. The tendency to turn to a substance or behavior to distract ourselves is very common. Often we sidestep, avoid and deny the problem to ourselves and others. Addiction is a kind of defense mechanism to guard against perceived threats from the environment and from our own thoughts, feelings and impulses.

Sometimes defenses get out of hand; instead of protecting us, they become the nexus of the problem--akin to the kind of thinking that if a little (ice cream, chocolate) is good, a lot must be better. 

The crux of the matter is that our mind consists of polarities.  One aspect opposes another. Psychological and spiritual pioneers write about this concept in what seems like infinite variations on the theme: for example, Freud had a theory of Libido (life force) and Thanatos (death impulse); Jung of animus (masculine) and anima (feminine). We find the polarities of good and bad in religion, fairy tales, cowboy stories, and politics.

Because our minds tend to think in dualities, each one of us is capable of addictive behavior at any time for any reason. Aberration is commonplace. To deal with denial and avoidance, we confront and become aware. The goal, of course, is to face a threat with courage, trying to understand and resolve it. For us fallible humans, this expectation is enormous, requiring time, honesty, courage, effort and discipline.

Let us recognize and embrace the duality of the human mind with an inherent propensity for addiction, not to condone, but to address and, when appropriate say, “There but for the Grace of God, go I.”  (John Bradford, an Englishman, uttered these words in 1553, witnessing a prisoner about to be executed at the Tower of London; a short while later, Bradford was burned at the stake for his Protestant beliefs. Learning about Bradford informs me that we as a species have made some progress in the realm of tolerance too.)

Conclusion: In spite of the horrors in today’s world, an understanding and acceptance of human nature is increasing. Witness Dr. Edwards’ elucidation of alcohol addiction in the 1960’s and the recognition of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a bonefide entity in 1980.

Dear Reader, As always, your comments are appreciated. jsimon145@gmail.com.