Addiction To Thinking

As familiar as we are with addictions, whether it's food, alcohol, drugs, work, technology, or sex, to name a few. Rarely do we consider thinking as an addiction, yet one of the primary factors driving many of our addictive habits.

To suppress our addictions, we often resort to extreme measures to curb our cravings. However, we may be missing a vital step, namely understanding what thought processes caused the addiction in the first place.

Anyone who's embarked on a new fitness routine or diet will likely agree; initial enthusiasm and willpower often diminish as we slowly creep back into the same old habits—perhaps feeling more disappointment than when we initially began. We drag our reluctant bodies through intense routines, hoping one more press-up will squash the nagging thoughts.

Many addictions run almost like a computer virus, unnoticed and unfiltered through the subconscious mind, as we continually process between 50-60,000 thoughts per day.

Day-to-day choices and decisions arise from this subconscious computer designed to constantly scan the external environment for danger, believing basic human needs are under threat, primarily food, clothing, and shelter.

When we feel under threat, our first response is to seek safety, familiarity, comfort in pleasurable feelings, and instant gratification from food, alcohol, drugs, sex, and technology. Whilst temporarily relieving us from perceived pain, habitual pleasure-seeking maintains a perpetual loop of avoidance and suppression.

We've become so accustomed to living in this perpetual state of unrest that we barely notice its existence. Until exhaustion, ill health, or a life crisis occurs.

The following article explores The Computer Mind 

What lies at the root of our addictive thought patterns?

Why identifying our thoughts is the key to understanding addiction?

How do compassion and choice affect addictive habits?