The Addictive Personality: Part 3- What to do to RECOVER

Recovery from the Adictive Personality, the addiction.  Why recovery?  The answer to the non-addict is very obvious.....because the addict's life has generally become out of control and has been lead down a spiral of "hopelessness, despair, constant fear, and terrible lonliness." (TAP)  There is a need for renewal.  There is a need for loving the Self.  There is a need for developing meaningful relationships with family, friends, and others.  Recovery.  Okay, so what does the addict do to recover?  How does it begin?  Well, the first step in this process is TRUTH. Being true to the self.  It is possible for the Addictive Personality to seek help.  This is if they have a momentary lapse in their delusional system of belief.  In other situations, family members or friends, or even others may intervene.
Why does it hurt so much?  The addict may be asking this once the recovery process has begun.  This is because the addict needs to recognize that until he/she is willing to be open and honest about their particular addiction(s), there will be continued pain. There is a great motivational tool out there, which is not about addiction, per se, however, is most helpful, if one is willing to listen.  This tool is called "Lessons in Mastery" by Anthony Robbins.  He touches on many aspects of emotion, even addiction, as well as many other issues that surround why we do what we do and ways to go bout doing it.  I recommend this CD collection to EVERYONE, ist is lso vilble in book form as well.  But LISTENING to it is the best way to bsorb the informtion, this hs been my experience.
But, I digress.  Let's go back to addiction, specifically.  Our need for connection, our drive for meaning, the view we hold about life, what we hold as important, are all factors that are part of the addictive recovery process.  If our drive in life is for pleasure, "then we define who we re by our ability to find, create, receive, and give pleasure.  By focusing on pleasure, life's values are measured by the amount of pleasure we can receive.  We also, while seeking pleasure. seek to avoid pain and anxiety.  The more "raw" pleasure is pursued, the more fearful we become to let it go.  Pleasure does stimulate primitive functions within the brain, but it can also change our views of ourselves and the world around us. 
The Addictive Personality must admit he/she lives within danger, this endless desire and drive for pleasure.  Pleasure by itself is fine, but when seeking plesure from mind and body altering drugs, alcohol, overeating, gambling, and many other addictions, it becomes a danger , not only to to addict, but to those who surround him/her.  Honesty is needed  here.  This is the key point to any recovery program.  Also, forming a relationa ship with a higher power is essential in the recovery process.  Sometimes, an outside support group is too nerve racking for the addict.  In accepting a higher power and forming that relationship, the addict has attained unconditional love and care.   Remember, the recovery process is a slow process, in contrast to the high paced lifestyleset by the addict generally.  Learning positive, life-improving principles will aid in recovery as well.Many addicts need help from a sp[onsor, a mentor, someone willing to be there for them to listen to them, help them through the rough patches of recopvery, and to guide them on their course of action.  This could be from a self-help group, this could be a friend, family member, anyone willing to put themselves in the position to be there for the recovering Addictive Personality on an ongoing basis.  And, obvioously, the addicut must, MUST, break the relationship with the addictive behavior, substance, or event, knowing that thr recovery process begins within themselves.  When this road to recovery is continued, the adddict him/herself will begin to see when he/she is backsliding, having negative thoughts, cravings for the desired addiction, and can stop it before the cycle begins again.  Forming healthy relationships is essential in the recovery process.  It truly helps the addict overcome his/her addictions.  Complete abstinence is essential as well in the recovery process of an addict.  The Addictive Personality must stay away from the causation of the addiction the he/she has spiraled down into.  That means, if one is an alcoholic, not one drop of alcohol should be taken into the body. Not one.  Not one more pull of the slot machine, not one more rolling of the dice.  Abstinence.  Sounds easy, I know, however, this is the most difficult aspect of the recovery process.  When the recovering addict begins to feel better, he/she may think, "well, one drink won't hurt anything", "overeating today won't hurt, it is just one day", and statements like that can bring the addict right back into their old addictive process. 
So, taking responsibility for your addiction, seeking help, honesty, abstinence,self-scrutiny, making amends....these are all part of the recovery process.  There are millions of addicts, millions who suffer from the Addictive Personality, and millions who recover.  If you or someone you love is an addict, has an Addictive Personality, seek help.  Seek it now.  It is never too late.  Often times, people have to hit "rock bottom" before they can even begin to think about recovery.  Don't wait.  Do it now.  Every day you live without an addiction, is another day you live within your own freedom.  You will no longer be tied to this adddiction.  You can do it. I know you can.
Resources:
"The Addictive Personality: Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior"; Craig Nakken, Second Edition.  $14.95
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): http://www.aa.org/
Narcotics Anonymous (NA): http://www.na.org/
Overeaters Anonymous (OA): http://www.oa.org/
Gamblers Anonymous: http://www.gamblersananymous.org/
Sex Addicts Annoymous: http://www.sexaa.org/
These are just a few of the available resopurces and self-help groups available.  Within these organizations, you will find information, metting places and times, online meetings and information, and meet others struggling with the same addictions.