The Voice of Addiction
An addiction disorder is powerful and persistent. The voice of addiction has the ability to make the most absurd rationalizations seem reasonable when trying to talk us back into video games. We have found it a tremendous help to learn to recognize its voice and to know that we do not have to believe its lies or do what it tells us to do. When bombarded by urges to game, the addiction seeks to break down our defenses. It reminds us of good times we had, of gaming friends, and of release from care and boredom. It never speaks of the grueling hours, lost sleep, missed opportunities, neglected health, work problems, relationship problems, promises to quit, or feelings of shame and frustration.
Don’t push it away. Reel it in and deal with it.
Whenever we feel emotionally upset or struggling with urges to game, we can pause to examine the thoughts plaguing us. Often we quickly recognize the voice of addiction and decide on the spot to stop listening to its deceptions. We do not have to believe or be controlled by them.
We can choose instead to talk with a friend, sponsor or recovery buddy.
We can “play the tape through to the end” and vividly imagine where gaming will soon return us.
We can expose the lies to the light of day, picking apart their flimsy logic and absurd rationalization.
By constructively dealing with urges, we sap them of their power. We reinforce our resolve to stay off games today no matter what. With repetition, we reinforce the mental association of gaming with the avalanche of problems it inevitably brings.
Once we become wise to the voice of addiction’s usual deceptions, its new tactic may be to create as much negativity and emotional pain as it can, to make us vulnerable to relapse. Through negative self-talk, resentment, self pity, shame, guilt, fear, and anger, the voice tries to drive us into pain and toward desperate relief seeking. If it triggers self-loathing, it can easily lead to bad decisions and relapse. It is powerfully effective, which is why so few addicts recover and why we need a powerful program of recovery.
We must learn to promptly recognize the voice of addiction in all forms. Sometimes recognition is enough to drain the voice of its power. Often we need to also talk about it with an understanding friend.
We can’t make the voice of addiction disappear entirely, but we can constructively deal with it and lessen its grip on us. Over time our good habits can become so automatic that we hardly notice the voice anymore.
