BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY
PART III
Guilt is another component in the life cycle of addiction. Most addicts are basically good people before they become addicts and have some sense of right and wrong with no intention of hurting others. As they become dependent on the chemical, they begin experiencing situations where they are doing and saying things they know deep down aren't right.
They begin to lose their ability to control themselves. They become trapped in a vicious circle of using drugs, lying about it, stealing to support more drug use and at each turn the addict is accumulating memories of each these negative incidents.
The addict commits a negative action, he records a memory of that moment, which includes whoever he was involved with at the time. The addict knows these negative actions are wrong and so feels bad about them after the fact. These memories of guilt can then get triggered in the present or future when he sees the people and places that were involved when the transgressions were committed. in and they feel bad about it.
In time these transgressions are committed more and more often and the people in the addict's life where these transgressions have occurred become "triggers" of the dishonest act or deed. The people, family members, loved ones and friend\s appearance to the addict triggers the guilt. Family or friends don\'t necessarily have to say a word to the addict, just the sight of them can trigger the guilt.
To avoid these unpleasant guilt feelings, the addict will use more drugs to insulate themselves from the guilt. The addict will also begin to withdraw more and more from friends and family as the transgressions committed by the addict increase in number. They will eventually pull away from the family, seclude themselves and/or become antagonistic towards those they love.
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