Addictive behaviors of all kinds including alcohol, drugs, and a wide range of behaviors are also ways to check-out. For Carl Jung, “every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol or morphine or idealism.” (1960) Addictive behaviors of all kinds are erratic, impetuous, fractious ways to cope with life. Vitriolic high-risk addictive behaviors inadvertently and frequently make for our own predicaments. In devolutionary times we often discover unhealthy counterproductive ways to cope that run the risk of becoming chronic. At some point in time a person decides to take the entry on-ramp and chooses their addiction <—> ultimately it will have to be their choice to exit the off-ramp. That is, at some point in time a person signs-in to their addiction and only they can sign-out. I view addictive behaviors as selfish, self-centered, and obsessive-compulsive. They take the form of persistent and unceasing behaviors like gathering stuff, hoarding, dogmatic religion, sex, gambling, endless work (workaholic), and even social pathology (crime or domestic violence). There are unhealthy addictive eating behaviors like obesity, anorexia, bulimia, and toxic chew & spit. The eating disorders of obesity (gluttony) and anorexia (starvation) are at different ends of a continuum. Obesity (to eat away), and anorexia (without appetite) often transition into each other. Addictive behaviors originate from the sources of insecurity, low self-esteem, loneliness, selfishness, and solipsism.
