The Crisis of Addiction - Childhood Trauma and a Corrupt Culture

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I’m fighting alcoholism. It ruined my relationship with my wife and family. It started in college and i downplayed it. I’m 6 months sober and healing everyday. Cheers!

Childhood trauma can lead to an adulthood spent in survival mode , afraid to plant roots , to plan for the future , to trust , and to let joy in . It's a blessing to shift from surviving to thriving . It's not simple , but there is more than survival .

"I have absolutely no pleasure in the stimulants in which I sometimes so madly indulge. It has not been in the pursuit of pleasure that I have periled life and reputation and reason. It has been the desperate attempt to escape from torturing memories, from a sense of insupportable loneliness and a dread of some strange impending doom." Edgar Allan Poe

“The question is not why the addiction, but why the pain.” ~ Gabor Mate

There are cases when a child grows into a loving family, but it's destroyed by the corrupted system and sick society that cut his wings and brainwashes him into losing self-confidence and accepting society's sick rules.

”You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” - Marcus Aurelius

"Not all addictions are rooted in abuse or trauma, but I do believe they can all be traced to painful experience. A hurt is at the centre of all addictive behaviours. It is present in the gambler, the Internet addict, the compulsive shopper and the workaholic. The wound may not be as deep and the ache not as excruciating, and it may even be entirely hidden—but it’s there. As we’ll see, the effects of early stress or adverse experiences directly shape both the psychology and the neurobiology of addiction in the brain." - Gabor Maté

Just 22 days ago I dug myself out of a 10 year Opiate addiction with the following phrase: “No One Can Save You; You Can Only Save Yourself.”

This comment section is like a great therapy session for all of us. It's really nice to see so many people opening their troubled hearts. It seems like all we need is love, indeed.

Painfully poignant as ever. Not going to be too obvious but this cuts deep. Best of luck to the others that know the horror of the cycle.

Its a wonder that any of us get through childhood alive – let alone to become functioning adults.

To me, addiction is the result of the shame and pain felt from sustained psychological injury caused by physical and/or psychological trauma that isn't accepted as a legitimate injury by society. The shame that comes from such trauma stems from the fact that society finds one to be weak if such trauma causes a psychological injury. It's embarrassing to express painful feelings as the result of a traumatic experience of a psychological nature. This results in the individual using coping mechanisms that are addictions to mask these injuries to give society the facade that you are impervious to such injuries. Eventually the addiction overwhelms the injured and it becomes detrimental to everybody causing trauma to the injured and to those around the addict. Now the cycle continues and multiplies.

I know a man who smoked heavily all his adult life. Around 60 he got throat cancer. He gave up smoking. He told me he'd tried many times to give up and constantly failed. But when he got sick he succeeded and he said "It was the easiest thing I've ever done". I think habits and addictions seem big when we have them and smaller when behind us. Addictions are truly crippling, and are definitely a part of us trying to tell us something.

Starting at 13 I got blind, falling down drunk whenever possible. I did every drug I could find. I’m now 55 and still haunted by my fathers tyrannical, narcissistic, cruelty.

“The very best thing you can do for the whole world is to make the most on yourself.”

Using psychedelics with intent helped me more than I ever imagined they could... they're so much more than the party I thought they were when I was a kid

Now imagine a society that creates environments and catalysts that become childhood trauma purposely.

Thank.you. I've been attempting to get people to understand what causes addictions for years. What most don't understand is that emotional neglect is child abuse/trauma as well. Being a gas lighted scapegoat is child abuse/trauma as well. Every scapegoat that I've ever known had fantastic character and strong personality. Don't allow anyone to bring you down

My mom was a neglectful Narcissist who covered up the abusive methods of our psychopathic rather. Both were diagnosed later in life. I was an alcoholic until age 32, when I forgave my parents and discarded them forever. My father recently died and I was able to properly mourn instead of hate him thanks to having forgiven him. Haven't had a drink in 2 years. Mom's addiction was abusing religion, worshiping herself. Dad's was booze. They were both addicted to their horrendous methodology.