AM I AN ADDICT? Probably are!

But, just in case you're not sure, you can take our test. The first step in getting help is to admit you have a need. Until you realize that you have a problem, not even God himself can help you. His hands are tied!

ADDICTION TEST

A good way to find out if you’re addicted to anything is to ask a series of questions about the habit, behavior, addiction or compulsion. You might fill in the blanks

o “____________ gives me a sense of “high,” or excitement. When I engage in it, nothing else seems to matter. It gives me a sense of power, control, or loss of it.”

o “I have reached levels of tolerance to ___________. That is, it takes more and more __________________ to give me the same feeling. As a result, I find myself searching for more opportunities to act out.”

o “I have come to feel dependent on (person or) the urge to __________. Often believe I could never stop _________________. I could never imagine life without this impulse being in control.”

o “I experience cravings (sudden, intense urges) which may continue long after I stop the behavior”..

o “If I don’t _______________, I feel a sense of withdrawal; loss or that something is missing. The tension, anxiety, anger, sadness, boredom, emptiness, irritation, and/or hopelessness become difficult to handle.”

o “I day dream about doing this over and over. I can’t stop thinking about it. I could never give up the obsession.”

o “It seems the only way I can calm down or feel better is to ________________. Acting out satisfies or quiets the obsession.”

o “I often do ________________in secret and hide my behavior so no one will know about it. I am afraid others will find out and judge me.”

o “There are periods of time that I feel intense guilt, shame and remorse for my behavior, but the drive to act out is so powerful that it usually overpowers my sense of reason.”

o “People tell me that it seems that something is wrong with me. They say I am warm, loving, kind, and exciting one minute, and cold, manipulative, detached, and harsh the next.”

If you checked three boxes or more, it’s probably time to seek help!

The most common addictions we work with are:

Anger Management:

The most common area of control and struggle we have seen in people is anger. This is the umbrella problem, that is, the covering under which the majority of other problems and addictions fall. People become addicted to rage. Anger addiction becomes a pattern response. Many people work through addictions without ever dealing with their anger.

Substance Addictions:

I have never met an addict who didn't have a tremendous source of pain in his or her life. That pain and, most of all, what we have come to believe about that pain causes us to seek self medication. This self-medication may range from overeating to heroin. The problem with self-medication is that there are no boundaries or limits. It goes out of control!

Sexual Addictions:

People become addicted to staring at naked bodies and sexual acts. The media and entertainment industries have trained us to look for opportunities to fixate on these. The internet has made easy access to the same. Sexual addictions are actually relationship breakdowns. The addiction is always tied in to a deep source of belief or pain.

People Addictions:

This may sound like a strange term, but we find that many of us are in trouble because we have become addicted to pleasing, fixing or controlling others. When addicted to people, we lose our own identity. Much of our time and energy is spent in trying to be accepted by others. Not only does this never work, but it is also exhausting!

HELP ME! HELP ME OUT?

If you feel desperate and really believe you are ready to get help now you can do the following:

· Respond to us in the "Talk Back!" section

· Order a product that seems specific to your needs

· Visit our Recovery for the City meetings