While I was an addict, my mind treated me like a horse already doomed to race and that can only aspire to be killed. I told myself to wait for the moment of complete abstinence to start improving the quality of my life in all respects, doing it sooner would been just a waste of time. My existence resembled remaining motionless in a waiting room, but the reality is that I had always been looking for the thing I respect and appreciate most in this world: FREEDOM.
Freedom that I found in abundance in the gray area, in that bridge of transition from black to white, in the moderation that, obviously, by stimulating me less, only created disinterest in me. But once I tasted it, I discovered the possibility of being able to do everything while staying clean. Between addiction and the search for abstinence, I experienced such an interesting journey that it made me lose track of my final destination: you arrive when you arrive! Since I have accepted myself for who I am, life has become much more peaceful, without too many expectations, but above all without judgment.
I still hear that voice that wants everything, but I listen to it without identifying myself and the objective is to learn more and more how to get up, because I have already been an expert on how to fall.
It has been a long journey, years that are now far away, and I had to go down this path to understand how much I would like to go back home.
If I had had these tools at the time, perhaps I would never have been an addict, but I would not have been able to make this journey inside and outside of me.
Extract from the book 'Light and Invisible' - Sana Barada
Questions that I have been frequently asked during my workshops / events in different cities around the world:
- How can I tell if I have developed an addiction?
- How can we help loved ones (parents, partner ...) who struggle alongside those they love to overcome together the addiction that has ruined their life?
- What are the differences and similarities between addiction to substances (drugs, prescription medications, alcohol, nicotine, etc.) and lifestyle addiction (love, food, video games, gambling, pornography / sex, etc.)?
- How could food possibly be a drug?
- How could behaviour towards food possibly be an addiction?
- Is there such a thing as an emotional addiction and how
does it work?
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