Addictions come in all shapes and sizes and can affect anyone. When you ‘can’t’ not do something, its a clue! Most of us associate addictions with anti-social behaviours, such as smoking, drugging, drinking, gambling etc and yes these are definitely high risk, highly publicised addictive behaviours. But addictions affect people in other areas. There is the person who overeats at each meal – sugar/fat/takeaways are addictive. Some people become addicted to work – work-a-holics! Others to gaming, a huge problem that has grown during Covid Lockdowns. People may become addicted to their health, to going to the gym, playing sport, walking, being busy! Anything that fills ‘the gap!’
So, what is underneath addictions: Very simply Pain! No matter what behaviour the person uses, it is to hide or run away from the pain they don’t want to feel.