You ever wonder why addicts or alcoholics just don’t quit? I mean, you must feel like shit all the time. They do feel like shit all the time. And the interesting thing is that they get used to feeling like shit. It becomes familiar to them. That hangover is like an old friend, coming to visit and stay a while. All the health problems, all the psychological problems, all the relationship problems become commonplace, it’s part of the routine, it’s what you
Don't discount the "Icarus" effect - flying too close to the sun (and not getting burnt) has a thrill factor. Driving home drunk and not getting caught, cheating and not getting caught, going to work hammered and no-one noticed - all have a thrill factor. "I can get away with this! I'm more clever than they are". That thrill becomes addictive and justifies the means.
Wow. This reaches me on so many levels. I was one of those "miracles." People have often told me they never thought I would make it. My true addiction though wasn't drugs even though I did do some bad drugs. No, my addiction was love (a subset of co-dependence). Addiction to a person is so much harder to break than an addiction to a drug (at least it was for me). The need to rescue was so strong. In reading your essay I was able to see both her and I. I made it thus far, but she didn't. She died a week before her 34th birthday. I hadn't seen her in many years prior to her dying because I was working on myself and my addiction. I still sometimes struggle with shame and depression.
And if you don't think it could kill, it can. In my case I was doing drugs to be accepted by this person. Enough, where it could have killed me.
But I'm only 80% to where I want to be and it is the easy 80%. It's like the 80/20 principle in reverse. I need to work hard on the 20% because that will bring true peace. Five times the man I am today.
Jared thank you for your writing. I look forward to Tuesdays. - Al
Agree 100%. I was lucky to bottom out at 19 because the rest has been uphill. In my case I decided to be a happy person and it was years of slow hard work.
With exercise only the beginning is hard, then it starts to feel good again. To motivate myself I remind myself how good I feel after and how much smarter I am when I do it. Work it in slowly or you will wind up injured at your age. I am older and started with weekly weight lifting for several months, now I am doing 3x per week. I crave better food and have more focus.
Don't discount the "Icarus" effect - flying too close to the sun (and not getting burnt) has a thrill factor. Driving home drunk and not getting caught, cheating and not getting caught, going to work hammered and no-one noticed - all have a thrill factor. "I can get away with this! I'm more clever than they are". That thrill becomes addictive and justifies the means.
Wow. This reaches me on so many levels. I was one of those "miracles." People have often told me they never thought I would make it. My true addiction though wasn't drugs even though I did do some bad drugs. No, my addiction was love (a subset of co-dependence). Addiction to a person is so much harder to break than an addiction to a drug (at least it was for me). The need to rescue was so strong. In reading your essay I was able to see both her and I. I made it thus far, but she didn't. She died a week before her 34th birthday. I hadn't seen her in many years prior to her dying because I was working on myself and my addiction. I still sometimes struggle with shame and depression.
And if you don't think it could kill, it can. In my case I was doing drugs to be accepted by this person. Enough, where it could have killed me.
But I'm only 80% to where I want to be and it is the easy 80%. It's like the 80/20 principle in reverse. I need to work hard on the 20% because that will bring true peace. Five times the man I am today.
Jared thank you for your writing. I look forward to Tuesdays. - Al
Great article Jared.
Excellent article. Thank you for taking the time to publish this
Agree 100%. I was lucky to bottom out at 19 because the rest has been uphill. In my case I decided to be a happy person and it was years of slow hard work.
With exercise only the beginning is hard, then it starts to feel good again. To motivate myself I remind myself how good I feel after and how much smarter I am when I do it. Work it in slowly or you will wind up injured at your age. I am older and started with weekly weight lifting for several months, now I am doing 3x per week. I crave better food and have more focus.