Anxiety and Addiction
Anxious people feel overwhelmed by life circumstances. They worry unrealistically about calamities that will likely never happen. The worry snowballs into panic and impulsive behavior which only increases the anxiety. Suffering mounts as stress hormones flood the nervous system. Mindfulness therapy, using cognitive, meditative and imaginal techniques to expand awareness, unties the dysfunctional mental, emotional and physical knots created by too much anxiety.
Addiction happens when an anxious mind cannot find another way to cope with stress. Substance abuse, hypersexuality, gambling, eating disorders and other addictive behaviors temporarily numb the pain of massive internal anxiety. A frightened mind cannot think logically or reach out for spiritual solutions. Even though addiction is a dead end, it persists until the sufferer in taught how to calm the panicked mind and reducing impulsivity.As mindfulness therapy gradually reduces anxiety, stress hormone output diminishes, normal brain dopamine levels increase and the doorway to higher consciousness opens. Mindfulness therapy offers a cognitive and spiritual path for those who desire it.
For more information on anxiety please see my anxiety page.
For more information on addiction please see my addiction page.