Addiction's Perceptions

Do you see the bunny? Or do you see the duck?

We’ve come across these types of “trick images” before.

Perception plays a huge starring role in addiction. Each of us is a being which is capable of believing harmful “imaginations.” Full-blown addiction doesn’t happen overnight. It is built, thought by thought, experience by experience, perception by perception.

“I can do this.”

First, there is the Genesis; it begins by that contact moment. We encounter that “thing” which rapidly gets out of our control.

But, in its first form, it often didn’t start out that way. It may have appeared appealing and harmless. That “first” drink, snort, binge, diet, gamble or adrenalized behavior promises us it is “manageable.” Somehow, even if we know or see others struggle and bottom out with the addiction, we believe we are different. We can handle it.

Following this line of thinking, we are poised for destruction.

“Lest he should fall...”

Yet, we don’t see it as such because we are lulled into a false sense of security.

Again, often that first contact with our addiction usually doesn’t create the worst- case scenario bottom. We can get drunk and the destruction doesn’t automatically happen. We can get high and the destruction doesn’t automatically happen. We can starve, binge and purge and the destruction doesn’t automatically happen. We engage in the extreme and the destruction doesn’t automatically happen.

But just because we lucked out once- or even repeatedly- doesn’t guarantee this will always be the result we experience.

 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

1 Corinthians 10:12

For we’ve only been blessed, protected and fortunate. And that is not our doing. It is not our arrogant reasoning keeping us safe...

 “I’m invincible.”

 “Human pride will be humbled, and human arrogance will be brought down...”

Isaiah 2:17

Addiction’s perception can convince us we’re in control of our lives. Therefore, if we are IN this control, we can operate in our self-appointed God status. And that’s the problem.

Addiction is a god. And we can easily come under its seduction. The idol lies to us, reassuring us we are, in fact, all-powerful.

We can go along believing that theory. Perhaps we’ve even had experiences which seem to underscore it as truth. But eventually, we trip and discover our fall...

 “Falling short...”

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Romans 3:23

Humility and sobriety are intertwined. One cannot exist without the other. Romans 3 is not about humiliating groveling. It is about realistic AWARENESS. Awareness is not debilitating fear. It’s acknowledgment we have limits. But addiction insists otherwise.

Addiction is never full; it never has “enough.”

And so, the next tricky addiction perception we can fall into asserts another dangerous lie, screaming deprivation.

“I’m hopeless.”

Feeling deprived, incorporating such feelings as loneliness, delayed gratification, facing truth and physical/mental/emotional withdrawal, we arrive at this conclusion which, not surprisingly, urges us to use our addiction as that much-needed pain reliever.

We are hurting and joyless. What’s the point in living?

“A Bruised Reed”

But, even in this seemingly forlorn state, we underestimate Divine Mercy.

“A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.”

Matthew 12:20

Right where we are, in whatever messed up condition we are in, Matthew 12 reminds us of one important thing: it is not over. Addiction loves to convince us there is nothing good ahead. It spotlights death and pointlessness.

And it sets us up for another unrealistic lie:

“I should be cured already.”

But, deep down we all know it’s more complicated than instantaneous healing. Piggybacking Matthew 12’s description of the bruised reed, we need to take that into account when it comes to our addiction and recovery. The bruise is a wound under the surface.

“The Heart Knows Its Own Bitterness.”

Likewise, trauma and difficult issues are often hidden from view.

 “The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.”

 Proverbs 14:10

It takes diligent work; it takes uncovering. It takes our vested interest in our transparent recovery.

We cannot mistake the supernatural for the unrealistic.

That may contradict the faith stance. After all, doesn’t the supernatural defy our everyday circumstances?

Yes, it can. But it still doesn’t change or replace the necessary work we need to do. There’s a saying within the faith community: “don’t lose your healing.”

It’s common sense. If we are doing something harmful, if we get a reprieve, a merciful rescue or a clean bill of health, those realities do not grant us license to return to destruction and expect to still have a healthy outcome.

“Let all things be done decently and in order.”

1 Corinthians 14:40

The Most High will do many things for us. But if we want to overburden the concept of “miracle,” we are gambling and should not expect carte blanche concerning what we now know to be wrong.

Our perceptions, no matter how appealing, will not undo this spiritual theory of gravity. We can choose to jump from a skyscraper. It won’t change the consequence we will be pulled down by natural gravitational forces.

We have to humbly become aware of our perceptions. We are not too clever to avoid being misled by them.

And, if we look at how our perceptions can lead us into dangerous waters, we must also see the other side of that coin as well.

Our perceptions- or, more specifically, the stubbornness concerning our perceptions- may hinder us. Where’s the good news in that concept?

Well, if we’re humble and willing to face and change things, imagine what power resides in a different choice and a different behavior.  Imagine the power which comes from a different perception (Isaiah 55:8-9).

There is more than one side to the story. And that, perhaps, is one of the greatest challenges to the addict’s beloved addiction.

“For now we see through a glass, darkly...”

1 Corinthians 13:12

There’s a better, a different way. How are we willing to see things?

Is our perception serving us well? Or is there something else beyond our finite sight and selves?

I think it’s worth it to say yes.

Copyright © 2020 by Sheryle Cruse