Michael Dadourian

This is a guest blog post by Apollo Poetry. Be sure to check him out over at The Traveling Poet.

According to one definition, ‘addiction has been defined as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances (for example alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and other drugs) which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested, temporarily altering the chemical milieu of the brain.Addiction can also be viewed as a continued involvement with a substance or activity despite the negative consequences associated with it. Pleasure, enjoyment or relief from actual or perceived ailments would have originally been sought; however, over a period of time involvement with the substance or activity is needed to feel normal.’

As we are souls in this physical body, it is easy to get so caught up in life that we neglect to recognize the signals our bodies are sending us. Since we are born, our brains are constantly being influenced by external stimuli. From school to movies to the internet, we are constantly being conditioned to act in a certain way. In an over-stimulated society, it is easy to form impulsive thoughts, because that is all we are constantly being fed. What we don’t realize is that our brains chemical make-up is molding itself through this process, until we eventually get to the point where it becomes extremely challenging to self-recognize what the issues actually are.

This is why we should applaud those who have crossed the line, yet still have the will power to recognize it and admit that they need help. Anytime we talk about disorders of the mind, we enter a tricky area. For most of history, psychological dependency or illnesses have never been understood. They’ve always been ‘taboo’. It is great that we live in the day of age where people have the proper education and the options to make the change. With physical diseases , it is easier to recognize the symptoms and properly diagnose. But with mental diseases, they are mostly invisible to the average-eye, so they in turn become more difficult to recognize and treat.

If you know anybody who is struggling, try to remember to not get mad at them. You are mad at the disease, not them! Deep down, they are often beautiful passionate human beings. For anybody who has the tenacity to become obsessed with an impulsive negative trait also has the capacity to do the same for a positive trait. In this sense, it is their strength that has turned into a weakness. And even though it may appear dim, let us never forget the light that shines through them. Let us support them on their road to recovery and always let them know that they are loved for who they are.

// Posted by Tony Mamo