Addiction is a symptom of trauma and core wounding. Whatever you are addicted to, whether you reach for alcohol, drugs, gambling, online shopping, a mobile phone, porn or a console, it is the same compulsion to escape or numb from the present moment and a form of soothing or stress relief.
All forms of addiction are separation from God or an inappropriate substitute for being at one
Addiction is our relationship to the inside and outside world and stems from the attachment belief that the external world is problematic. All forms of addiction are separation from God, or a desire or inappropriate substitute to be at one with God.
We chase outside of ourselves in the belief our addiction will make us happy or solve our problems, but it can’t. Addiction begins and ends in pain and can lead to more pain in a looping cycle if it gets out of hand.
Everyone has an addictive nature. If we lack a strong ventral vagus connection due to wounding or trauma, our nervous system can ping between shut down and active states but will struggle to regulate and find calm.
There is nothing wrong with addiction per se, it is an adaptation of a nervous system looking for relief. Addiction is an illusion. Unresolved trauma is likely to be at the root of the problem, although addiction can become problematic if it gets out of hand.
The more underlying trauma we have stored in our body, the higher our desire to escape into more addictive behaviours to seek regulation and use external means to do so.
Next time you are feeling the compulsion to escape the present moment and reach for your drug of choice, close your eyes and bring attention back to your body. Scan and notice any sensations. Ask where in the body I feel safe and locate points of safety or neutrality. Anchor in and come back to wherever feels safe or neutral. If it is hard to feel safe, close your eyes and think of a person or memory that feels safe. Use this imagery to support you. Lean into this process a bit at a time until you build up tolerance and find your inner calm restored.
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