Just a quick piece of info.... Deepak Chopra has an amazing book titled "Overcoming Addiction" and his point of view on the matter is incredibly comforting. It really helped me feel positive when I began to face my demons and tackle my own addictions. Here are a few sentences that really resonated with me:
"I see the addict as a seeker, albeit a misguided one. The addict is a person in quest of pleasure, perhaps even of a kind of transcendent experience - and I want to emphasize that this kind of seeking is extremely positive. The addict is looking in the wrong places, but he is going after something very important, and we cannot afford to ignore the meaing of his search. At least initially, the addict hopes to experience seomthing wonderful, something that transcends an unsatisfactory or even intolerable every day reality. There's nothing to be ashamed of in this impulse. On the contrary, it provides a foundation for true hope and real transformation..... In my view, a person who has never felt the pull of addictive behavior is someone who has not taken the first faltering step toward discovering the true meaning of Spirit. Perhaps addiction is nothing to be proud of, but it does represent an aspiration toward a higher level of experience. And although that aspiration cannot ultimately be fulfilled by chemicals or compulsive behaviors, the very attempt suggest the presence of a genuinely spritual nature."
I believe that different things work for different people. My brother, for example, has had tremendous success in twelve step programs. I, however, was hypnotized and I've read tons on the subject of addiction and enlightenment and just somehow changed my thought pattern and got over it. Its so incredibly frustrating and i felt at times like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. I feel for you!!
here is a link to where you can purchase it on amazon.com if you're interested.
Peace,
Lauren
