The Addictive Personality!

1- Feelings of Shame: The drug props up feelings of adequacy and/or numbs from the pain of shame.

2- Perfectionism or Harsh Criticism: The drug makes people feel more perfect, or in the case of, say, "downer" drugs, relieves them of striving to be perfect.

3- Hunger for Power and Control to Compensate for Feelings of Powerlessness and Shame: The drug provides the illusion of power and control and/or numbs the user from feelings of impotence.

4- Dishonest / Self-deluding: With dishonesty "second nature," it's easy for denial of the drug use to take hold.

5- Thinking in Black and White: Black and White thinking allows the user to overreact to events; negative moods make drug use all the more appealing.

6- Self- Obsessed: Addiction is self obsession; an incessant "licking of ones wounds."

7- Self- less: Addiction provides a pseudoidentity - even if it is a negative one.

8- Inner Emptiness: The drug is used to fill the "black hole" within.

9- Without Purpose and Meaning: Addiction provides something to do, a substitute "devotion."

10- Exercising Apporval-Seeking; Obsessed with Image: The drug helps garner more approval from others and/or numb the user from rejection.

11- Self- censoring: The drug helps knock out the censor and lets the user be "himself."

12- Guilt-ridden: Addiction provides and anchor for guilt, a way to act it out.

13- Trouble Managing Anger: Addictive behaviors provide an arena in which to act out anger or stay distracted from it. Either way, the addict doesn't have to take responsibility for it.

14- Underlying Depression: Stimulant mood-changers offset feelings of depression.

15- Emotional Numbness: Mood-changers keep feelings at bay while simultaneously providing activity, crises, and sensations to counter feelings of "deadlines."

16- Inner Tension: Addiction provides constant activity or else reduces tension.

17- Afraid of taking Appropriate Risks; Inordinate Fear of Failure and Rejection: Addiction covers up a person's fearfulness, providing "false courage."

18- Trouble with Authority Figures: Some addictons act out one's struggle against authority while others (like workaholism) seek to win approval of the same.

19- Hidden Dependancy Needs: The drug meets needs passively and magically, while providing a facade of independance.

20- Blaming; Taking on Passive/ Victim Role: By blaming others, the addict avoids taking responsibility for himself and insures an excuse for to a mood-changer.

21- Poor Coping Skills: The Addictive activity Freezes Time, puts life on hold and provides distractions so the addict doesn't have to face problems.

22- Wishful Thinking: Self-delusion is fertile soil in which the defense of denial takes root in addiction.

23- Never Wanting to Grow Up: Addiction provides a never-never land where the addict's needs are met effortlessly, there are no ramifications for his behavior, and he doesn't have to take any risks.

24- Without Boundaries: Compulsive behavior provides a way to avoid having to set boundaries.

25- Need for Immediate Gratification: Addiction provides a reliable and quick-fix that the addict feels they "deserve."

26- No Internalized Good Parent: The drug provides comfort and nurturing of a sort.

Post edited by: mommyofsix / Friend2U, at: 05/06/2008 15:15