This is http://www.essayz.com/a8811062.htm Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words. {Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.} ========================================================== %RECOGNIZE ADDICTION DEPENDENT PROCESS SUBSTANCE 881106 Because collusive games of mutual self deception play a central role in addictive and codependent behavior it is exceedingly difficult for participants entrapped in such behavior patterns to recognize and deal with their situation. It helps to know what to look for in order to be able to recognize such entrapment. The use of any substance and the participation in any process becomes part of an addictive and/or codependent behavior pattern whenever it significantly threatens personal and communal integrity. The threat may not be direct, overt or immediate. There is no clear boundary between substances and processes which are essentially addictive and those which are not. The essence of addiction does not lie in the nature of the substance or process which is focal to the addiction. People who are entrapped in addictive behavior patterns will often shift from one focal substance or process to another substance or process; e.g., from alcohol, drugs, food, sex, work, analysis, personal relationships, theorizing, etc. to any other in the list. The focal substance or process can change without the essence of the games of mutual self deception changing in any essential way. Recovery of health entails transcending the essential aspects of the games of mutual self deception, and the recovery of both personal and communal integrity. Most substances and processes which play focal roles in addictive behavior patterns are substances and processes which in appropriate contexts can play integrative roles in the lives of people and their communities. Compulsive prohibitions against such substances and processes are often part of an addictive process of seeking to gain control and become perfected. The process of trying to overcome addiction will itself often have in the character of the addictive process. Sincerity, conviction, belief, dedication, willingness to sacrifice, etc. are not sure signs of transcendence of addictive behavior patterns. They may play central roles in an addictive process. The use of any substance and the participation in any process becomes part of an addictive and/or codependent behavior pattern whenever it significantly threatens personal and communal integrity. Compulsive efforts to achieve control over human behavior patters; e.g., to attempt to achieve perfection in some moral, ethical, spiritual, or technocratic sense, these are part of addictive processes to the extent that alienation and disintegration result from the efforts. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================