Disclaimer: we all have strengths, weaknesses, and lessons to teach/learn here…
Some people seem more prone to addiction and escapism. Anyone can use will. Some only realize it exists reaching rock bottom. Perhaps because that is what we’ve all been told our whole lives.
Those who believe old dogs can’t learn new tricks will stagnate and decline in a way a lifelong learner will not.
I wonder if there is a neuroplasticity factor at play too?
Some are def more prone to it. Some can drop it and walk away. For everyone else maybe taking back, retraining the brain makes the difference. Many people surpass wildest dreams with “I am”. It’s intended to change the mind, closing the gap filled by addiction in the first place. I wonder…
Great piece. For me it's a form of self-medicating and escapism from a life I cannot seem to fix. I try to quit here and there. I always end up back in the cycle to ease the pain. I know it's a vicious circle.
Happy to hear from you. I’ve not gotten into your neck of the SubStack woods in a bit. Yesterday I saw an amazingly well done podcast about dopamine scales which I just shared in notes. HIGHLY recommend it. I hate podcasts but I was glued to the TV. Please watch it. It’s about the cycle.
This is such a mixed bag of feelings for me. On one hand, I was addicted to cigarettes for decades and finally quit in 2020. On the other hand, I have lost significant people in my life as a result of addiction. So, what was the difference in our brains and willpower? I think mental health has a LOT to do with a person believing in "I am."
Absolutely no doubt mental health is part of that ‘psychic gap’ of which drugs take advantage. I learned a shit ton about the dopamine scale recently when I watched Diary of a CEO interview with Dr. Anna Lembke. It’s astonishing how our mind fights against an addict because of prehistoric survival mechanisms. Every parent of young children should watch this. Had I seen it before this post I would have linked it.
This is so powerful, Cori. This is why New Year’s resolutions don’t stick, if you’re hoping that will be the magic thing to change your life. You put this into words brilliantly. Thank you for sharing!
I love reading about your life experiences. The "smoke break" part was especially interesting as I've also joined Diane, Justin, and others on smoke breaks to catch up on the latest dirt. :)
Keep up this great work. I'm entertained by you and I learn from you. Happy New Year LR!
Thanks stranger! I’m so glad you’re entertained. The company was JPM and there was some credit card company they merged with name of which I don’t recall. It sucks getting old!
Hi Cori! What a New Year's honor that you wrote a fine article about my poem "Addiction, Moi?" !!!
Your point about the power of positive thinking is well taken. Certain addictions certainly rewire the brain by messing around with dopamine re-uptake receptors and the like. Likewise, I wouldn't bet against attitude and affirmations also affecting brain chemistry.
My experience with addiction, AA, Al-Anon and the 12 Steps taught me a few things and provide some useful tools.
I have a hard time with brevity outside poetic form, but I will try!
1. I am very thankful for a relatively minor addiction to a substance that might or might not harm or kill me slowly, because there are people who are addicted to almost infinitely riskier poisons that are life destroying and much more immediately deadly.
2. To the extent that positive thinking does not prevent the addict from relapsing, I believe this goes to the nature of the addiction animal itself. It overcomes the will. It overcomes best intentions. If it did not, it would not be called an addiction.
3. I will steer clear of issues that there are already volumes written about, including what can "help" an addict, what is wrong with the addict, enabling behavior, and whether the addict can truly help himself or herself alone without the power of a group and/or a higher power. There's plenty to read on these subjects without my two cents.
4. Whatever linear time really is, humans live in an eternal "now," and the mental construct of "forever" can be a daunting concept and an overwhelmingly long time when it comes to denying oneself a perceived necessity or pleasure.
Understanding this gave rise to the addict's concept of "one day at a time."
5. After 50+ years of daily cigar smoking, I have abstained for about two years now, which is about one year and 11 1/2 months longer than I have ever managed before. I attribute daily success to
the "one day at a time tool". My affirmation – my resolve was to take it this way. In my mind, I never quit and I never say it's forever. I say that I'm not going to smoke today.
The days add up and the things that I couldn't imagine doing without a cigar could in fact still be done and even enjoyed.
6. Conquering addiction requires understanding addiction and cutting through denial. There is a line between drug use and addiction that once crossed, creates a permanent addict - whether using or not. This truth can be difficult to get one's mind around. Denying it risks relapse. "I can handle it now - just this once" is a mind trick of the devil of addiction.
7. I probably have ten plus poems about addiction and affirmations and the little voice in our heads that tells the addict "Good job quitting, now go reward yourself with just one!"
The trick for me was to understand that "just one"always has and always will mean a fight to some way, somehow only smoke one Churchill a day.
8. I tend to my humidors every week. Pretending that getting the Cubans out of my house would make abstinence more likely never worked for me. I imagine that's an individual thing. If I'm going to smoke, I'm going to smoke. It's not like I don't know where all the tobacco shops are.
Disclaimer: we all have strengths, weaknesses, and lessons to teach/learn here…
Some people seem more prone to addiction and escapism. Anyone can use will. Some only realize it exists reaching rock bottom. Perhaps because that is what we’ve all been told our whole lives.
Those who believe old dogs can’t learn new tricks will stagnate and decline in a way a lifelong learner will not.
I wonder if there is a neuroplasticity factor at play too?
Tgif 💕
Some are def more prone to it. Some can drop it and walk away. For everyone else maybe taking back, retraining the brain makes the difference. Many people surpass wildest dreams with “I am”. It’s intended to change the mind, closing the gap filled by addiction in the first place. I wonder…
Great piece. For me it's a form of self-medicating and escapism from a life I cannot seem to fix. I try to quit here and there. I always end up back in the cycle to ease the pain. I know it's a vicious circle.
Happiest of new years to ya. This is your year. You are strong and healthy inside and out. You have arrived.
Let’s hope so!! Happy New Year!!
Here’s the link to the full note including podcast link
https://substack.com/@brensbuzz/note/c-84577879
Happy to hear from you. I’ve not gotten into your neck of the SubStack woods in a bit. Yesterday I saw an amazingly well done podcast about dopamine scales which I just shared in notes. HIGHLY recommend it. I hate podcasts but I was glued to the TV. Please watch it. It’s about the cycle.
This is such a mixed bag of feelings for me. On one hand, I was addicted to cigarettes for decades and finally quit in 2020. On the other hand, I have lost significant people in my life as a result of addiction. So, what was the difference in our brains and willpower? I think mental health has a LOT to do with a person believing in "I am."
Absolutely no doubt mental health is part of that ‘psychic gap’ of which drugs take advantage. I learned a shit ton about the dopamine scale recently when I watched Diary of a CEO interview with Dr. Anna Lembke. It’s astonishing how our mind fights against an addict because of prehistoric survival mechanisms. Every parent of young children should watch this. Had I seen it before this post I would have linked it.
https://youtu.be/R6xbXOp7wDA?si=BcVizYlfVJru_VnN
I wish I had seen it 30 years ago so I could have possibly avoided the world's worst heartache.
This is so powerful, Cori. This is why New Year’s resolutions don’t stick, if you’re hoping that will be the magic thing to change your life. You put this into words brilliantly. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for your kind words. So many people say we literally create our own reality. So, why can’t we decide to change the dopamine scales?
Yes! I think you’ve hit on an important application of the idea of creating our own reality.
I love reading about your life experiences. The "smoke break" part was especially interesting as I've also joined Diane, Justin, and others on smoke breaks to catch up on the latest dirt. :)
Keep up this great work. I'm entertained by you and I learn from you. Happy New Year LR!
Happy New Year. Make it a big one!!
Thanks stranger! I’m so glad you’re entertained. The company was JPM and there was some credit card company they merged with name of which I don’t recall. It sucks getting old!
Hi Cori! What a New Year's honor that you wrote a fine article about my poem "Addiction, Moi?" !!!
Your point about the power of positive thinking is well taken. Certain addictions certainly rewire the brain by messing around with dopamine re-uptake receptors and the like. Likewise, I wouldn't bet against attitude and affirmations also affecting brain chemistry.
My experience with addiction, AA, Al-Anon and the 12 Steps taught me a few things and provide some useful tools.
I have a hard time with brevity outside poetic form, but I will try!
1. I am very thankful for a relatively minor addiction to a substance that might or might not harm or kill me slowly, because there are people who are addicted to almost infinitely riskier poisons that are life destroying and much more immediately deadly.
2. To the extent that positive thinking does not prevent the addict from relapsing, I believe this goes to the nature of the addiction animal itself. It overcomes the will. It overcomes best intentions. If it did not, it would not be called an addiction.
3. I will steer clear of issues that there are already volumes written about, including what can "help" an addict, what is wrong with the addict, enabling behavior, and whether the addict can truly help himself or herself alone without the power of a group and/or a higher power. There's plenty to read on these subjects without my two cents.
4. Whatever linear time really is, humans live in an eternal "now," and the mental construct of "forever" can be a daunting concept and an overwhelmingly long time when it comes to denying oneself a perceived necessity or pleasure.
Understanding this gave rise to the addict's concept of "one day at a time."
5. After 50+ years of daily cigar smoking, I have abstained for about two years now, which is about one year and 11 1/2 months longer than I have ever managed before. I attribute daily success to
the "one day at a time tool". My affirmation – my resolve was to take it this way. In my mind, I never quit and I never say it's forever. I say that I'm not going to smoke today.
The days add up and the things that I couldn't imagine doing without a cigar could in fact still be done and even enjoyed.
6. Conquering addiction requires understanding addiction and cutting through denial. There is a line between drug use and addiction that once crossed, creates a permanent addict - whether using or not. This truth can be difficult to get one's mind around. Denying it risks relapse. "I can handle it now - just this once" is a mind trick of the devil of addiction.
7. I probably have ten plus poems about addiction and affirmations and the little voice in our heads that tells the addict "Good job quitting, now go reward yourself with just one!"
The trick for me was to understand that "just one"always has and always will mean a fight to some way, somehow only smoke one Churchill a day.
8. I tend to my humidors every week. Pretending that getting the Cubans out of my house would make abstinence more likely never worked for me. I imagine that's an individual thing. If I'm going to smoke, I'm going to smoke. It's not like I don't know where all the tobacco shops are.
Thanks again Cori for honoring my work!
This is exceptional. I particularly like this phrase - “I say that I’m not going to smoke today…the days add up”. That’s powerful in its simplicity.
Love this!!! Killing it.........😁
Thank you sis. Love you and TGIF