ADDICTION
By Lawrence Wilson, MD

© December 2009, The center For Development, Inc.

Addictions are usually unhealthy attachments, habituations or dependencies. One can also be positively addicted, meaning devoted to God or one’s higher self. This is not really an addiction, however, because it is not an unhealthy attachment, but rather an appreciation or love of self and of life. Let us examine some principles involved in addiction.

NOURISHMENT VERSUS STIMULATION

Nourishment is anything that is required for life, including simple food, water, warmth and other items. By definition, nourishment does not cause much of a stress reaction in the body when given in the right amounts at the right times.

Stimulants are substances and habits that may seem to nourish, but cause a stress reaction in the body, which eventually weakens the body and/or mind. Even nourishing substances such as foods can become addictive and stimulating if taken in the wrong amounts or too often, for example.

Combinations. 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.

Principles of all addictions.

1) All stimulants tend to be addicting. All nourishment tends not to be addicting.

2) 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. 3) 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. This is why a person is attracted back to the substance, habit or even a person to feel good once again.

CELEBRATION VERSUS NEEDINESS

To a slight degree, how one uses foods, activities and even people can determine whether they are addictive or nourishing. One may enjoy many foods, activities and even a little alcohol or caffeine 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.

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.

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, most contain subtle stimulants that are damaging.

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".

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. Some become addicted to religions that teach anger, guilt and fear, and repeat stories of an angry, vengeful or jealous god.
In fact, millions of 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.

SPIRITUAL HIGHS

Even religions and spiritual practices can function as stimulants and addictions. That is, some meditations and religious practices can cause a high that keeps one coming back for more, even though the practice is really not moving a person forward or developing the person spiritually very much. This is a problem with some charismatic church practices.

ACCEPTING THIS REALITY

All addictions are escapes from reality to a degree. For this reason, permanent reversal of addictions requires accepting reality and not trying to run away from it. A client who was a psychologist once uttered in my office, “reality is the pits”, when I suggested she needed to face reality. 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 help end the cycle of addiction. Nourishing the adrenal glands to enhance their activity can help provide a person with some of the same euphoric feelings that mild addictive substances provide without the harmful effects of stimulants. Nutrients that benefit the adrenal glands include vitamins B-complex, C and E, manganese, chromium, zinc and eating some protein at least twice daily.
Plenty of rest and sleep are also 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 or at least most helfpul.
Strengthening the adrenal glands can also 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.

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

Exercise 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. For more about exercise, click here.

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.
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 that each person is a divine creation and totally loved and worthy. If one is in the habit of comparing oneself with others, or always looking for approval in the world, these habits must stop. Each of us 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. A true friend is one who looks out for your best interests at all times, 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, that is not a friend. It is just a buddy or acquaintance. Many people indulge in alcohol, for example, to be social, to fit in, or to “have a good time”. These are never one’s real friends, however.
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, or 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. Good friends, 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 yeast infection or 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. Repeated antibiotic therapy, birth control pills and steroid therapy may be additional addiction factors as they contribute to yeast overgrowth and weaken body chemistry.
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 also further weaken the body, affecting will power and mental clarity.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the nutritional and glandular causes for addiction can make breaking addictions easier. Supporting the body with a scientific program of diet modification and nutritional supplements can definitely ease the pain that sometimes occurs when one lets go of addictions.

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