Jack Varnell responds to Tom Matlack’s post on addiction.
I am not always sure that in my life my experiences after active addiction equate to “risk taking” per se, but a willingness to charge forth with less regard for outcomes surely does. An ability to withstand, and survive the world, as it comes is the greatest gift, though I get tired. Tired, I believe to a point where the “average Joe” may simply call it quits. For that I am daily grateful, because I’ve needed it. So, with that in mind, I think the premise of the article is right on.
Where my frustration comes in is that in ongoing discussions and commentary about addiction and its causes and conditions, we always want to explain or understand, and while these things are not without merit, ultimately addiction is a 10-cent word to describe away a much bigger and global issue. Sure, dopamine is affected and all the rest, but the issue, I think, is more about a human condition, not just a medical one. Gamblers have similar responses, sex causes similar responses, as I am sure success does, and a feeling of unshakable safety do.
Look, I am a retired addiction counselor. I get the medical aspects, and even agree, but what happens so often is that the old adage “If you’re not one, you can’t possibly understand” often gets propped up as the proper view. So we explain it. It allows people to sit in their comfort zones and point fingers at the Amy’s of the world, and say, “oh isn’t that tragic” when another junkie bites the dust, or even worse, “one less doper committing crimes, clogging the jails, or wasting our tax dollars while corrupting our daughters.” Isn’t the truth of the matter that those who point the fingers or preach the loudest are also as equally addicted to success, the media, stress, money, power, food, gambling, or the likes? Is the man or woman who has a heart attack from working 18 hours a day to keep up with the Joneses any less an Amy Winehouse than anyone else?
And now that the latest “rumor” is that an unattended self detoxification may have caused her seizure, what shall we do if that turns out to be true?
Tom Matlack’s original post.
Thanks for adding to the dialogue Jhon, I believe that your statement “As a recovering addict/alcoholic I am often driven insane by my own drive to satiate my craving and perfect my latest project and these :things seem to have a detrimental affect on my family much like my addictions did years ago. ” as well as “Addictions are their own animal and for people to point their sticky fingers and judge an addict have never known the heartbreak that comes with one or being one. ” both accurately represent my main point and that is the fact that there… Read more »
Jack, On the whole I agree with your premise but do not think that addiction is nearly as wide spread as you seem to believe. There are people who literally work themselves to death and it is often seen as a tragedy by those around them. Those people are addicts without a proper drug to call home. As a recovering addict/alcoholic I am often driven insane by my own drive to satiate my craving and perfect my latest project and these things seem to have a detrimental affect on my family much like my addictions did years ago. Luckily I… Read more »
Jack,
I completely agree. The only difference between Amy WInehouse and Johnny work-a-holic is the social perception of the addict’s addiction. Alcohol, drugs, sex, and gambling are associated with crime and weakness. They are cheap, easy, and effective deterrents of reality. They fullfill the craving quickly with minimal energy. If working 18 hours a day was the easy way out, it too would be placed with these addictions.