The concept of guilt as an integral part of the life cycle of addition may be new to many seeking to understand addiction and its resolution. Guilt, in its simplest terms, means to feel sorry and ashamed as a result of having done something wrong. It is a feeling of having done wrong, or having failed in an obligation. We have all experienced it, and likely know only too well what a dark and heavy burden guilt can be.
Guilt and Addiction
The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction, authored by Gary W. Smith, Executive Director of the Oklahoma-based Narconon Arrowhead drug rehabilitation and education center, sheds new and much needed light on the cause of addiction, and its resolution.
Smith details the Three Barriers to Recovery the addict must overcome in order to achieve successful recovery.
The Third Barrier to Successful Recovery is identified as Guilt.
The author points out that the addict feels guilty because he or she has committed dishonest deeds against those people he or she cares about; and guilt is an integral part of the life cycle of addiction.
Discussed earlier in the booklet is the fact that addiction starts with a problem, and alcohol or drugs are chosen by the person as a solution to relieve the discomfort being experienced by not being able to solve the problem. Following the adoption of drugs or alcohol as a solution, physical and mental complications follow; ending-up in a serious decline in the individual’s quality of life.
Smith notes that for a drug rehabilitation program to be successful, it must help the addict to face his or her transgressions—the violations of the rules or agreements or laws to which the person subscribed, thus enabling the person to clean-up the wreckage of his or her current life which “has resulted from the addiction and dishonesty.”
Most people are basically good, with a sense of right and wrong, and having no intention to hurt other people. So it is for the addict before addiction. But as the cycle of addiction progresses, drug cravings along with the other mechanics of addiction, will begin to dissolve the person’s self-control. They will get into situations where they are saying and doing things which they know in their heart are not true, or right. These damaging and dishonest things are being done to cover-up and continue the drug use.
The addict thus will become trapped in a vicious cycle of drug use, hiding the fact of the drug use, lying about it, and event stealing to support further drug us. And at each turn, the addict commits more dishonest acts—each one creating more damage to his or her life and relationships.
Herein lies the guilt, as none of these harmful acts are truly overlooked. Rather, as the author states, “every misdeed is committed to memory.” And as time passes, these memories of guilt accumulate, acting as triggers reminding the addict of his or her dishonest acts.
Simply put, the guilt is very uncomfortable, and thus can prompt the addict to use more drugs in an effort to temporarily relieve this unwanted discomfort. It is in this way that guilt contributes to maintaining the trap of addiction.
The Third Barrier to Successful Recovery: Guilt
Smith notes that “guilt acts as another strap in the harness” which keeps the addicted person trapped in their addiction. The guilt the person feels as a result of the dishonest deeds committed against those he or she cares about is “an integral part of the life cycle of addiction.”
The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction contains the vital information that research done by author and humanitarian, L. Ron Hubbard, in the early 1960s, resulted in a heightened understanding of the basic goodness of man; and the way a person’s attitudes and behavior changes after the commission of transgressions.
Based on his research, Hubbard then developed techniques enabling a person to obtain relief from their past misdeeds, and to acquire a fresh, new viewpoint towards life. When these principles are applied in the context of addiction treatment, they have been shown to help addicts recover from their addictions.
It is a new look, and one essential to helping an addict turn the corner to recovery. The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction is a must read for anyone whose life has been affected by substance abuse.
For more information on The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction, please contact Narconon Arrowhead at 1-800-468-6933.
