Crossing The Line Towards Addiction

[Luba]

I've been thinking quite a bit about this topic especially this week.

Yesterday contributed to a HUGE epiphany while celebrating my birthday at a casino, which I quickly say I've only gone twice on two birthdays. First I will talk about the gambling and a real moment of presence. My husband, the wonderful man, knew I might like to go to the casino because I go for fun, and see how much time I could put in for an allotted amount. I've never spent more than I said I would, except my usual two dollar bets with one or two different people I've betted with through my life work. I digress, as I only want to talk about yesterday and the moment of what could have been crossing the line for me. My husband gave me money to gamble with and extra for something I've been talking about buying, so $50.00 was allotted to gambling and not a penny more. Anyway, I'm sitting there at a slot machine having a great time and having fun listening to the upbeat inside machine person when I happened to hit something to give me extra credits to play with. After about two and a half hours, having spent the $50.00 and ending up with 19 cents I couldn't do anything with, I looked in my purse and here was an extra $5.00 what could have been a crossing-the-line to play just one more time. WHAT A MOMENT and I say that in capital letters because I was SO PRESENT in it! Decision time is I believe we all have that could lead to what I call that EXTRA moment of WHAT IF? That moment that I believe could be leading to any addiction. After that moment, I got up from the chair with the $5.00 STILL in my purse and have been thinking about it on-and-off and maybe starting a discussion here about addictions.

I was also amazed at actually how many people were at the casino on a Tuesday early afternoon. I naively thought that there would hardly be anyone there which probably shows that gambling could be a problem at any given time, any given day.

Now on to what could lead to a food addiction, also that feeling that the extra bite, extra chocolate, or a handful of chips won't cause a problem. Needing something to feed that feeling that I can't exactly identify, which I now believe I'm on the road to getting there, I hope.

I don't know about drug addictions or sex addictions, but I hope this topic brings up discussion for any addiction there is on the planet to help ourselves be the most peaceful we can ever get to be.

[Rosie Sanchez]

What a thought provoking thread Luba.

It is that saying "there but for the grace of God" which crosses my mind when I am at that point of "decision" and I walk away, always have done, but will confess to being tempted.

Addiction, as you say, can be anything. Children on the interrnet gaming, buying that candy bar on the way home that you don't account for in your mind, even watching your favourite soap opera.

We all make those decisions every single day in those small, seemingly insigificant choices!

[Luba]

We all make those decisions every single day in those small, seemingly insigificant choices!

You are SO right, Rosie, love your thought provoking response as well!

I've read several books on being present in each moment, and I TOTALLY think that would help when approaching something that could be harmful or something that could provide a lot of pain afterwards.

I also would like to discuss why we continue to do certain things that we know we didn't feel good about later, then to realize it's either an addiction already or could easily become one?