ADDICTION
By Lawrence Wilson, MD

© Revised, by LD Wilson Consultants, Inc., December 2007

Anything that causes a temporary 'high' or feeling of well-being followed by a 'low', tends to be addictive. As the well-being effect wears off, another dose or fix is needed to regain the temporary high. Every addictive substance or habit weakens the body or mind. It stimulates more than it nourishes. When the 'high' wears off, one feels a little worse than before one used it or experienced it. One is attracted back to the substance, habit or even a person to feel good once again. This is the basic principle of all addiction.
Addictions are usually unhealthy attachments, habituations or dependencies. One can also be positively addicted, meaning devoted to God. Let us examine some principles involved in addiction.

NOURISHMENT VERSUS STIMULATION

Nourishment improves one while stimulants eventually weaken one. Positive addictions nourish while negative addictions stimulate. Eating, drinking and breathing produce temporary well-being but are not considered addictions because they tend to nourish rather than stimulate. However, if one is attached to certain foods or beverages such as caffeine of sugar, or your favorite food, eating or drinking can easily become addictive.
A food, activity or a personal relationship may be part nourishing or nurturing and part addictive or co-dependent. For example, coffee contains nutrients but is also stimulating and irritating. Cigarettes encourage deeper breathing, but contain cadmium, nicotine and other poisons. Alcohol can be used as a fuel, but depletes zinc and magnesium and damages the liver.

CELEBRATION VERSUS NEEDINESS

How one uses foods, activities and even people can determine whether they are addictive or nourishing. One may enjoy many foods, activities and even alcohol without becoming addicted. If, however, one is looking to fill a void inside or ‘get something’ from a food, activity or a person, addiction is inevitable. What could be nourishing can turn to poison as a result.
Psychologically, one becomes compulsive. That is, the habit, activity or person takes on an importance and urgency that is not warranted. It becomes one’s god.

ADDICTION AND THE ADRENAL GLANDS

A common mechanism of addiction is stimulating the adrenal glands. Cortisol, secreted by the adrenals, provides a euphoric feeling. If you doubt this, talk with someone taking high-dose cortisone. It causes one to feel no pain. An adrenal high is due to raising the blood sugar level and decreasing inflammation.
Most people with addictions have weak adrenal glands. They crave the euphoric feeling that goes with more active adrenals. They gravitate to substances, activities or situations that stimulate the adrenals.
These may include caffeine, sugar, cocaine, anger, fear, vigorous exercise or job or marital drama. Any stimulant eventually weakens the adrenals, causing a deepening of the addiction. Understanding how substances, habits and even emotions affect the adrenal glands can be a key to understanding their addictive power.

SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS STIMULATION

One can stimulate the adrenal glands directly with some chemicals including caffeine, salt, sugar, chocolate, cocaine or amphetamines. Another way to stimulate the adrenals is with anything that moves the body into a sympathetic dominant state. Examples are exercise, fear, worry, anger, cold, pain or other stressors.
For this reason, exercise can easily become addictive, as can fear, anger and worry. Many people are addicted to the evening news with its horror stories and fearful innuendo. Others are addicted to religions that teach guilt and fear, and repeat stories of an angry, vengeful or jealous god.
Many people live by fear and anger. They may hate their job, boss, children, the dog or even their spouse. If they gave up their anger, they would have no energy with which to function and would feel the fatigue and often depression associated with exhausted adrenal glands.

OTHER ORGAN AND SYSTEM STIMULANTS

Some addictive substances, habits or activities stimulate the circulatory system and provide temporarily improved circulation that can become addictive. These include smoking, exercise, sex and wearing inadequate clothing in cold weather.
Other stimulants primarily increase the depth or rate of respiration, providing a high that can have to do with increased oxygen and/or lowered carbon dioxide in the blood. These can include exercise, cigarette smoking or inhaling irritants like solvents or spray paint ingredients. It can even include certain postures such as puffing up the chest.
Activities that stimulate the muscles such as weight lifting, running and other exercise can also create a lactic acid high. One can become addicted to stimulating the palate with certain tastes, or feeling ‘stuffed’. Food can literally fill a void inside.
Other stimulants act at the level of the mind rather than the body. One may become addicted to almost anything to relieve nagging anxiety, self-doubts, loneliness, fears, anger or persistent negative thoughts.

BIOCHEMICAL STIMULANTS

Substances like alcohol and coffee are addictive because they influence body chemistry in particular ways that produce temporary feelings of well-being in some people. One could become addicted to vitamins or minerals for the same reason. Substance can influence body chemistry in thousands of ways.
Vitamins, including the B-complex, speed up the oxidation rate and can give one a ‘high’ for this reason. While these vitamins have many beneficial effects, if used symptomatically without being part of a total program to promote health they can function as stimulants that are not improving, but making health worse.
Adrenal glandular supplement, thyroid supplements, ginseng, ephedra, guarana, yohimbe, ginger, cayenne and other stimulant herbs can also give one a temporary feeling of well being. Again, these herbs and products have many beneficial qualities. However, when used apart from a total health-building program they can be damaging as they can function just as stimulants for a tired body.

EMOTIONAL ADDICTION

Emotions can be addictive. Watching violent, x-rated or horror movies, listening to loud music or ghastly headlines on the nightly news are other ways to temporarily stimulate the adrenals. Arguing with a partner, hating anyone or anything and holding grudges or resentments are other methods. One may know someone who needs to be upset or angry about something or someone in order to feel "well".

SPIRITUAL HIGHS

Religions and spiritual practices are often addictive. One believes one is improving oneself, when in fact one can be ‘spacing out’ with meditation or even prayer. It is also possible to delude oneself with religious ideas such as “God loves me no matter what I do”.
Religious ideas or preachers can generate a feeling of goodness in their followers by blaming or projecting one’s anger onto the non-believers, the sinners whom God will punish. This is unfortunately the basis for many religions today. Many church services offer a temporary ‘high’ that has little to do with placing God first. It is mere repeating of words and phrases, singing songs and performing rituals that temporarily help one forget one’s pain, anger, fear or misery. There is a place for all this, and it is a step toward a spiritual life. But it is not right to mistake it for the real thing.

ACCEPTING THIS REALITY

All addictions are escapes from reality. Physiological sensations are abused to create a new reality. In this sense, any addiction is a drug high. The common reason is that one does not wish to correct an imbalance, be it physical, emotional or spiritual or some combination.
Permanent reversal of addictions that are spiritually caused may require the decision to deal with and handle everything in this reality. This is not an easy decision, especially for anyone who is sensitive or very aware.
A client who was a psychologist once uttered in my office, “reality is the pits”, when I suggested she needed to face reality. She also had difficulty facing life, as many sensitive people do today
An important block in doing so is that so many people have come to believe that the physical life is basically rotten, or at least not very enjoyable. They do not believe it possible to create such a wonderful life that the very idea of escaping from it makes no sense.
I have covered this topic in more detail in an article entitled, The World Is Perfect, as well as in many others.
Anything that gives one hope or better, can demonstrate that life can be really terrific, will greatly assist one to let go of all addictive behavior. This is the appeal of spiritual teachings such as Alcoholics Anonymous, attending religious services or reading spiritual texts. It is also the reason group support, friendship and love are the finest things to help people end addictions.

SUPPORTING THE ADRENAL GLANDS

Supporting the adrenal glands is a powerful way to end the cycle of addiction. Nourishing the adrenal glands to enhance their activity provides the same euphoric feelings without the harmful effects of stimulants. Nutrients that benefit the adrenal glands include vitamins B-complex, C and E, manganese, chromium and molybdenum, and eating protein with each meal.
Rest and sleep are excellent for the adrenals. Letting go of fear and worry are essential. Getting rid of chronic infections is also very important. Detoxification of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, and toxic levels of manganese, iron, chromium, aluminum and others is also required.
Strengthening the adrenal glands can improve one’s resolve or willpower. The adrenals are called the fight-or-flight glands. One’s ability to secrete adrenal hormones in large part determines one’s ability to handle stress. Adrenal glands weakened by sugar consumption, excessive exercise, stress or anything else will reduce one's ability to resist the temptations of other drugs.
In other words, one’s ability to cope with reality depends in part upon a balanced body chemistry. The use of any item or habit that weakens or unbalances the chemistry reduces the ability to handle stress. The temptation to go into denial increases, and with it the temptation to use drugs or other habits to deny reality. It is possible to overcome a weak will through faith, concentration or a support group. However, fixing one’s body chemistry is also a great help!

SUGAR BLUES

Normalizing blood sugar is another way nutritional correction can help overcome addictions. Recently, a teenager consulted me who admitted he was addicted to Coca Cola. He had spent time in a local mental institution for severe depression. During his stay, he was allowed all the Coca Cola he wanted. No one understood why he made poor progress. When his nutrition was corrected, his depression lifted.
Have you ever noticed how much coffee with sugar is consumed at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings? Weak adrenals often result in hypoglycemia since adrenal hormones raise blood sugar. This condition is very common. When the blood sugar level drops, cravings can be very strong for sugar, soda pop, a cigarette or another adrenal stimulant. Alcohol craving can also be caused by low blood sugar.
Adding protein to the diet helps stabilize blood sugar in slow oxidizers. Adding fat to the diet helps stabilize blood sugar in fast oxidizers. Supplements including zinc, manganese, chromium, B-complex vitamins, vitamins C and E and others also help stabilize blood sugar.
Detoxification of toxic substances that affect the pancreas, liver and other key organs also assists normalizing blood sugar. Sugar in the diet also contributes to thyroid problems and many others that can aggravate addiction problems.

THE PEPSI GENERATION

Soda pop is an interesting addictive substance. Not only does it contain caffeine and up to 10 teaspoons of sugar per can, but it also contains phosphoric acid. This chemical cuts the sweetness. It also binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in the intestines and removes them from the body. This may temporarily increases the metabolic rate, making one feel better for a while. Of course, it can lead to mineral deficiencies and other imbalances.
Diet soda is little if any better. Although it contains no sugar, the other chemicals are still present and the sweetness can mislead the body into thinking one has consumed a sugar-laden beverage. Diet soda also perpetuates the sweet craving, which may be linked to old emotional responses or trauma.
Advertisements for soda pop and other junk foods are total lies. Drinking Pepsi won't make you slim, beautiful or popular, even gallons a day.

EXERCISE ADDICTION

A common addiction is exercise. It powerfully stimulates the adrenal glands causing a cortisone high. It also stimulates respiration and circulation, causing euphoric feelings related to these. It also produces lactic acid which can have a euphoric effect. On top of all this, exercise is fashionable and one hears that ‘more is better’ for one’s health.
Exercise addition also appeals to those overly concerned with their appearance. A slim, muscular build is associated in their minds with health. Unfortunately, as with any activity, when it becomes addictive it becomes damaging. Excessive sympathetic nervous system activity shuts down the immune system, deprives the adrenals of rest, upsets thyroid activity and overworks the joints.
Many compulsive or excessive exercisers do not eat well, believing that plenty of exercise is all they need. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of those in the worst of health are exercise addicts. They destroy their adrenals, joints and immune systems by their lack of balance in regards to exercise.

ADDICTION AND LOW SELF-ESTEEM

Low self-esteem is sometimes a cause of addiction. If one does not feel good about oneself, it is tempting to settle for momentary highs, even if it is destructive to the body or mind. One may feel one has little to lose.
The truth is that each of us is needed in the universe, even if our role is not clear. Each of us is loved totally by the Creator, no matter what we have done or failed to do. Each is a divine spark of creation, as loved as the next person. The Creator plays no favorites.
Only the ego mind compares and contrasts one person with another. This will always make one feel inferior in some way. In fact, many people with low self-esteem are the most wonderful, sensitive people. Because of their sensitivity, they are more aware and often more honest. However, parents and teachers often do not reward this, as it can be embarrassing.
So one must, in this case, realize the truth and stop comparing oneself and stop looking for the approval of the world. Each has gifts and talents, and time is better spent developing oneself and spending time only with those who offer support to you.
Then addictions associated with low self –confidence disappear as they make no sense. The word confidence, by the way, means with faith, from the Latin. Faith is the quality that one often needs more of when one feels low self-confidence or low self-esteem.

ADDICTION AND FRIENDS

A powerful factor in some addictions is one’s friendships and groups. The effect can be extremely negative, or it can be very positive, too.

Negative “friends” or groups. The word friend is here used in quotes because a true friend is one who looks out for your best interests all the time, even at parties or other social events. So if a person you know or are involved with in any way leads you toward more unhealthy behavior, I don’t think that is a true friend. That is better called an acquaintance or just a person in your life.
Reasons why people undulge in alcohol, for example, may be to keep their current “friends” or just to fit in and “have a good time together”. These are not helpful “friends” or groups.

Group addiction. In this case, one is really addicted to one’s group or friends. Giving up the addiction may mean giving up one’s circle of friends or one’s group, or would mean one would have to change one’s social activities. This is extremely common in our world.

Other problems with false friends. False friends or unhealthy groups can have other negative influences when it comes to addictions. They might talk you out of change, emphasizing how hard it is to change, how likely one is to fail and how others have failed. They might make you think it is silly to change and not worth the effort. They can bring you gifts that keep the addiction going, such as a bottle of wine, without even realizing at times what they are doing. They may speak badly about you to someone whom you are wanting to invite into your life. This can be a tremendous block for some people if they continue to listen to or even associate with these "friends".

Positive friends. Associates, of course, can also be life-saving forces to help one change and give up addictions. This is the basis for AA sponsorship and other similar programs. The friend who reinforces that one can change, one can succeed, and one is doing well is as a rare gem. This is a true friend, one that holds one’s highest interest in mind at all times, no matter what happens.
Good friends are especially important when family and other influential adults are sending one negative messages. Indeed, choosing friends who support where you want to go and with whom is a great secret to overcoming any addiction.

THE CANDIDA ALBICANS CONNECTION

Deranged body chemistry, especially combined with sugar consumption, often leads to chronic intestinal candidiasis. Deficiencies of zinc and other minerals weaken the normal immune responses. Weakened adrenals cause copper to become biounavailable. Copper is the body's natural yeast killer. Also, eating sugar feeds the yeast, which encourages its growth.
Candida produces alcohol and acetaldehyde, both toxic substances. The alcohol can produce its own addiction, even though one has not drank a drop of alcohol!
Both substances further weaken the body, affecting will power and mental clarity. Repeated antibiotic therapy, birth control pills and steroid therapy may be additional addiction factors as they contribute to yeast overgrowth and weaken body chemistry.

MENTALLY RELEASING ADDICTIONS

Ending addictions involves doubting all of one’s negative beliefs about oneself and the world. These are often what support misperceptions such as low self worth, undeserving thoughts, thoughts of one’s smallness, insignificance, incompetence and even self-loathing.
It is important to recognize a vicious cycle many are caught in. One tends to project outside oneself everything one does not like. It may be one’s anger, violent tendencies, feelings of helplessness or something else.
However, what occurs is that other minds pick up the projections and act them out. The violent impulses are acted out by "bigots", "criminals" or ‘child molesters". The helpless impulses are acted out by "homeless people".
One sees this in the world and becomes more upset, angry or feeling more helpless to correct it. One then projects these feelings as they are unpleasant. The projections are picked up and acted out again by more so-called criminals, homeless people or others.
The cycle continues. No wonder violence, racism, and domestic abuse are hard to get rid of. We like them! They will only go away when we stop projecting and make the choice to take full responsibility for everything in our lives.

SPIRITUAL RELEASE

All addiction is a symptom of a feeling that one is separate from one’s creator, unloved and alone in a hostile world. Recognizing the falseness of this belief goes a long way to overcoming all addictions.
One is never separate from one’s creator unless one rejects the constant love offered. Ill health, however, can make one think one is unloved and rejected. One is never alone, though rejection of everything one cannot directly see, hear and touch will cut one off from the love of many non-physical beings that surround each one of us. The world is a projection of many people’s thoughts. It is not hostile. In fact, it is a perfect world if one understands its purpose and its rationale as a feedback tool for people to experience their deepest beliefs in the hope that they will change them to create a happier world. The keys to spiritual correction of addictions are desire, intention, allowing and surrender.
Desire is the impulse to improve one’s life and let go of addictions. Intention is the ongoing commitment to follow one’s impulse. Allowing, as opposed to striving, is the realization that the solution already exists. One simply has to accept all the love and support offered. The world abounds with people, organizations, books and other resources that wish only for one’s happiness and joy. Surrender is the final step of letting go of all that is not aligned with one’s highest good or purpose in this life.
Fear paralyzes the adrenals. Intending, desiring, allowing and surrendering to the love that one is and always has is a powerful way to restore normal glandular activity that helps end addiction.

GETTING WELL

As some people know, before real healing can occur one often has to feel the pain, exhaustion and depletion of the body. Alcoholics Anonymous calls this 'bottoming out'. It leads to a shift in attitude. One no longer seeks a temporary high, but rather seeks the truth about what one has become. This rests the adrenals. Without rest, little rebuilding can take place.
Practicing the old virtues of forgiving, loving, allowing, accepting and non-judgment rests the body. One gives up fighting and running, so that true rebuilding can occur.
Along with an attitudinal shift, depleted glands and deranged body chemistry can be supported and balanced through scientific diet modification and nutritional supplements. Hair analysis is an excellent way to assess nutritional needs.
Other natural therapies can support these changes. Once the emotional and physical aspects of addiction are understood, one is on the road to a solid basis for health.

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