Addiction: How We Get Stuck and Unstuck in Compulsive Patterns and Behavior

What is addiction and how do we know if we are addicted? Speaking sociologically we are addicted because we live in addictive societies that turn us into consumers and materialists. Speaking biologically we are addicted because that is how we are hardwired. Speaking spiritually we are addicted because we seek spiritual satisfaction through things other than God. Humans can be addicted to most any object ideology and belief but they cannot be addicted to the true God for reasons disclosed in this text. As this book demonstrates addiction is a pattern of learned behavior that utilizes ancient mental pathways designed to promote survival and reproduction. When neural connections intended to promote eating reproduction parenting and social relationships are diverted into addiction their blessings can become curses. While heredity parenting trauma and additional psychological and sociological factors play significant roles in compulsive behavior addiction is essentially a developmental disorder a way to manage an environment that feels threatening and overwhelming. Change (getting unstuck) is possible but it requires five ingredients: acknowledgment resolution substitution human help and divine help. Because addictions represent complex interactions between biological psychological social and spiritual forces the solution must be holistic as well. Designed as a study guide for groups or individual use this book approaches the topic comprehensively examining the nature of addiction; its cause symptoms consequences and means of recovery.