When the body is broken, we address the pain. We aren't ashamed; we aren't embarrassed. But the fractures in our emotional body are treated much differently.
Due to ignorance, shame, or just plain avoidance, emotional pain is often neglected. But pain is pain, no matter its source -- it is uncomfortable and unwanted. If you haven't been taught how to deal with emotional pain directly, you will inevitably deal with it indirectly.
This becomes the doorway to self-medication. Not only does it alleviate the pain, it also feels good and keeps you distracted from having to address the real issue(s).
Though not a comprehensive list, common types of self-medication include:
- drugs/alcohol
- no-strings-attached sex
- gambling
- overeating
- pornography
- excessive tv/video games
- push/pull toxic relationships
Notice the trend? By overindulging in entertainment and pleasure, we temporarily flood the brain with feel-good chemicals, such as dopamine and endorphins. It's as though we're trying to trick ourselves into believing we're okay. But the trick never lasts. Before long, the pain returns and we start craving our next fix.
To stop the self-scamming, start by acknowledging the pain. You may not know why or how it got there, but give it room to surface. Half the battle is acceptance. The rest is simply learning. Books, support groups, counseling, etc. all provide valuable insight into healing broken emotions. The tools are available; the choice is yours.
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