Multiple Addictions & Denial

The term "multiple addictions" usually conjures up images of a terribly troubled individual plagued by various addictions to pills, sexual perversions and alcoholic beverages. In short, a virtual “circus”. Actually, an extreme case such as this is not usually the norm. Many times the extreme image we raise in our minds is just a way of avoiding the issue of multiple addictions in our own lives. We already have the problem and we use the method of denial in the same way that an extreme addict or alcoholic would use it. We simply say “That isn’t me”. Multiple addictions affect everyone in some way. If the problem has become deadly serious, you may be lucky enough to have others around who will help you. If things still haven’t gotten that bad, then coming to an understanding of the problem may be the first part of the solution.

Oftentimes, people refuse to accept this problem in themselves because they don’t feel they have the strength to overcome it alone. They rationalize it away, calling them “bad habits” and invent the scapegoat image of a drug addict lying in the sewer with a needle hanging from their arm. The image helps to chase away their own very real problem and procrastinate the solution. In and of itself, “Procrastinators Anonymous” is one of the most popular 12-step groups today. It boasts of thousands of members who all deal with this very real problem. Creating a scapegoat image is just another way of displacing our own issues onto the face of another imaginary person. Multiple addictions affect everyone and it is really just a matter of getting honest with yourself about whether you want to quit something or not.