What are Addictions and Why Must I Address them for Health Care Issues?

In order to suppress emotions, we have to create technique to deny, minimize, blame, substitute, and ignore emotions. We did not have a choice about this as children. We had agree with our caretakers perspective on the world, and create similar or complementary patterns in order to belong and to survive.

These are called addictions. When I first heard the word addiction, I was offended, as I do not have the substance addiction most portrayed in media except for food. I now believe that the word is accurate. The struggle that I endure in order to confront and remove addictions are some of the hardest things I have done.

As a naturopathic doctor, I see that most health issues are results of addictions. For example, I have an addiction for control, and I have health issues that are outcome of this emotion. I have painful joints because my ligaments are tight and inflamed. As I started to challenge the addiction and release the fears, my joints felt lighter. I also have addiction for comfort, and as no one could meet my emotional addiction as a child, I turn to food. I do not eat based on what my body need but to comfort the fear of feeling emptiness. Another example is fear of insecurity, and became a workaholic to compensate. This means eating a lot of carbs and sugar to keep cortisol going, and I now have auto immune illness and early stage diabetes.

First we have to address the addictions to remove the layer blocking the emotions that are also causing health issues. By addressing addictions, we will be addressing how we are causing a lot of pain not only to ourselves, but also to everyone around us and the environment. I have come to inner peace after 8 years of battling strong addictions, and even though I haven’t released the emotional layer under it, I feel lighter and happier.

Love,

Dr Dharm