All of the above

Habili-blog 9/7/18
“All of the above”
by Jared Mayes

Hypochondria and Addiction

Think back to when you were a child. I know for some of you that means dusting off the history books. Although my life’s encyclopedia might be a tad shorter, I’m willing to bet we all remember a time where we stubbed our toe. Most of us just rubbed some dirt on it, un-paused the game of tag, and moved on. For others, their little undeveloped brains came to the immediate conclusion that the toe needed to be amputated and quite possibly was a fatal injury.

I’m going to be honest. What I’m about to say is opinion based, but hear me out. I’m willing to bet that the latter of the two scenarios often times led to an addiction of some sort. Growing up always feeling like there is something wrong with you can be detrimental to the way you learn to value yourself. Call it hypochondria or rationalizing the desire to get high. Regardless the outcome will always be the same.

I spent so many years of my life thinking I was depressed and that no one could possibly feel the way I felt.

I remember even as a teenager writing an essay to my parents about why I felt it necessary that they allow me to smoke marijuana. Weeks of research on different medical studies as to why my body chemistry required a drug to equalize the imbalance. Of course, my parents didn’t buy my prepubescent psychological diagnosis, but the behavior did not stop. The cliché response as to why I needed to get drunk or high before going out so that I could relax a little bit. The progression to needing to get high before work to function at a higher level and of course then came the insomnia in which I needed to knock myself out every night to avoid.

There was an answer to each of my self-diagnosed conditions in which I thought all I had to do was get the concoction right and they would all subside. In my line of work, I see a lot of medical paperwork which more often than not, most of the checklist has scribbled writing explaining all the physical and mental ailments that the individual suffers from.

We are very intuitive creatures, especially addicts.

When we see medical paperwork the automatic response is to embellish every question. To be treated there has to be something wrong, right? So, the more things wrong with us the more we will get treated, right? This dangerous behavior is what fuels the pharmaceutical companies along with doctor’s offices, treatment centers and any other medically related fields you can think of. It is in my experience that once an addict puts down the pipe, the needle, and the bottle for an extended period of time they mysteriously become happier, more content, less irritable, and even less pain stricken.

Our bodies are extremely productive machines.

We have the innate ability to stabilize ourselves when allowed the opportunity. I know this might come as a shocker, but most addicts are unfortunately quite impatient. The thought of actually having to abstain from drugs and alcohol for an extended period of time is enough to send the brain into a tailspin resulting in relapse or worse. I stand behind long term treatment. Why? Because time is the only thing that could heal my mind, body and soul. I may not be a genius, but I know a good investment when I see it. Two years in exchange for long lasting success and peace of mind? Sign me up.