Addicts have a knack at making themselves believe addiction delusions so that they can go on living their lives without consequence or treatment. They do this by rationalizing their habits, particularly their drug or alcohol use, or even behavioral addictions such as gambling.
These addiction delusions, paired with enabling behavior from family members as well as society’s misconceptions about addiction, provides a framework that doesn’t help the addict. Instead, these help the addict continue on a downward spiral.
Below are the 5 Addiction Delusions that many addicts adhere to, completely believing until to them, it’s the truth. Even their own family members and friends may also believe these delusions, keeping the addict from getting the help they badly need.
5 Addiction Delusions That Keep Addicts from Getting Help
1. This is my choice, I can stop anytime I want to. While using drugs or alcohol as well as engaging in certain behaviors such as gambling or watching pornography, is their choice, addiction is not. After continued substance abuse or engagement in certain behaviors, your brain can rewire itself as addiction develops. Soon, your impulses and compulsions takes the wheel and with this, you have no choice.
2. I can’t get addicted to legal drugs. Painkillers and prescription drugs still change the brain’s reward system in the same way that alcohol, illegal drugs, and behaviors do. Prescription drugs are not only addictive, they can cause overdose and are therefore dangerous.
3. Look at me–I’m not an addict! People, even the addicts themselves, have a certain mental picture of what an addict is. Usually, for them, an addict looks destitute, is prowling the streets, is jobless, and without anyone to care for them. However, there’s such a thing as a functional addict, proof that addiction can take on many forms and doesn’t choose who succumbs to it.
4. Rehab is punishment. Many think that rehab is punishment for addiction, but this is far from truth. Treatment is treatment, and this is just what the addict needs before things take on the worse turn in active addiction.
5. Treatment doesn’t work. Treatment is a life-long process and relapse may happen. However, that doesn’t mean treatment failed. For some, it’s part of the recovery process, and yet there are still those who were able to get on recovery without relapsing.
There is no miracle cure or overnight solution for addiction. In the same way that addicts can’t just stop whenever they want to.
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