You might be an addict if……
The affable down-home comedian, Jeff Foxworthy, carved out a successful career for himself initially with a panoply of one-liners built around the introductory phrase “you might be a redneck if…” Aside from being amused by the comedian’s wit, it occurred to me that his notion of predictable symptoms for a human condition is sound.
With that in mind, in thirty years of working with individuals suffering from addictions ranging from alcohol to gambling to food, certain endings to this article’s title jumped out at me. Here is a list of a few such warning signs:
You might be an addict if:
• you find yourself worried about what people think about your ________ (eating, drinking, gambling, shopping, Internet use).
• you have made promises and attempts to “manage” your troubling behavior, only to return to former patterns of conduct.
• you are deceptive with your loved ones about your “habit” by minimizing your involvement (i.e. having two drinks at a party while sneaking four before or after the event; ordering a salad for lunch while stashing candy bars in a purse or car console).
• your addiction takes up an inordinate amount of “space” in your life through worry, expense, or alienation.
There are myriad other symptoms that could be listed, but the best indicator may be found in the following whimsical example: Broccoli
Do you hide broccoli?
Do you lie about how much broccoli you consume?
Do you spend excessive amounts of money on broccoli?
Have you unsuccessfully attempted to cut down on broccoli consumption?
If you’ve answered “no” to the above questions, you DO NOT have a broccoli problem. Now substitute “broccoli” with an issue of possible concern in your life and see how many “yes” responses are produced.
If you think you may have a problem or addiction, you do. Every problem has a solution. Are you up for the challenge?
If your “habit” is causing discomfort for you or a close member of your family, then now is the time to address it.