Splendor In The Grass

 A Coming of Age

Alcohol addiction has been around for centuries, and its early days were marked by a lack of understanding about the nature of addiction. Alcohol was often seen as a social lubricant and a way to relax and unwind. It was not until the 20th century that alcohol addiction began to be recognized as a serious problem.

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Video gaming addiction is a more recent phenomenon, and its early days were marked by a similar lack of understanding. Video games were often seen as harmless entertainment, and there was little concern about the potential for addiction. However, in recent years, there has been growing awareness of the dangers of video gaming addiction.

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Video gaming addiction is becoming a serious problem. To validate its seriousness, I want to compare the coming-of-age of alcohol addiction to where video gaming addiction is at now.

1. Availability: Alcohol has always been readily available, but video games have become increasingly accessible in recent years. With the advent of handheld consoles, smartphones, and tablets, people can now play video games anywhere, at any time.
2. Social acceptance: Alcohol use has always been socially acceptable, but video gaming addiction is still stigmatized. Many people still view video games as a waste of time, and they may not take the addiction seriously.
   
3. 
   Symptoms: The symptoms of alcohol addiction and video gaming addiction are similar, but there are some key differences. For example, people with alcohol addiction may experience withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, tremors, and nausea. People with video gaming addiction may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and difficulty sleeping.
4. Treatment: There are a variety of treatment options available for alcohol addiction, including counseling, medication, and 12-step programs. There are also a growing number of treatment options available for video gaming addiction, but they are not as well-established as those for alcohol addiction.

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1. Both alcohol addiction and video gaming addiction are serious problems that can have a devastating impact on individuals and families. It is important to be aware of the risks of addiction and to seek help if you or someone you know is struggling.

988

 

Suicide Prevention:

If you ever have a chance to intervene and help someone going through a suicide crisis and have surveyed the scene for safety, do not worry about not knowing what to do or say. Follow your heart to that person.  988 on your phone will connect you to someone who is trained and they will guide you.

Burnt Offerings

 Released Through Unrequited Channels

A few nights ago, I could not sleep and I was excessively worrying about a particular situation that I had under control. It was a situation that I had handled before. So why was I worrying so much? I felt an almost apocalyptic worry over this situation. In my head I spiraled thousands of situations
of how this particular situation and other situations would spawn off of it. I started having straight up old school panic attacks. I was using all my challenging tools to show myself that this situation did not warrent this level of anxiety, but they just were not working. And then I remembered.

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Everyone experiences anxiety which is a normal human emotion that keeps us alert and motivated. Repression is a psychological defense mechanism that pushes uncomfortable thoughts and feelings out of our conscious awareness. Which sounds great until it isn't because that anxiety does not actually leave rather it hangs around out of sight and deep in mind.

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The mind will hold onto that anxiety and release it when the mind feels that it can be done so safely. A podcast that I was listening to reminded me of this defense mechagnism. With my anxiety that night my awareness was heightened enough to realize that the situation I was dealing with did not warrent this level of anxiety and I let go of it.

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My thought challenging tools immediately became effective and I felt my anxiety burn away. I came back to the present and enjoyed the peace and quite in and around myself.

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This was a huge milestone for myself. For once I did not attempt to bury my anxiety or put out the flames by using alcohol or maybe even getting high. I haven't dealt with panic attacks like that in several years, and several years ago they would have sent me running to the liquor store, or looking up an old acqaintance.

 

Cognitive and CBT works. Your mind is yours to control. You have to get in, lay down the ground work and reclaim your territory.