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Understanding and Escaping Addiction

Why is it so easy to fall into addictive behavior? How can we prevent or escape it?

By Gillian Bethel

Addiction is very cruel. Whatever form it takes—from substances to behaviors—it’s a hard taskmaster.

“Addiction feels like you’re drowning, and the substance is the only thing keeping you afloat. But in reality, it’s dragging you deeper into the abyss.”

“It’s a love-hate relationship with the very thing that’s ruining your life. You hate it for what it’s done to you, but you can’t let go.”

“Addiction is like trying to fill a void that can never be filled. You keep chasing something that’s always just out of reach, and it leaves you feeling empty inside.”1

Then why do we allow it to take hold? It’s because it offers the instant pleasure we crave—the dopamine rush.

Dopamine is a chemical messenger released by the brain when we experience pleasure. There are many healthy activities which help to maintain ideal

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References

  1. What Does Addiction Feel Like?,” Clinic les Alpes blog, Mar. 20, 2024

  2. Laura Keyes, “What is Dopamine?,” BBC Good Food, Sept. 24, 2024

  3. Lauren Dummit-Schock, “Addiction & Avoidance: The Neuroscience of Numbing Pain and How to Heal,” Embodied Wellness & Recovery, Feb. 5, 2025, www.embodiedwellnessandrecovery.com.

  4. Ibid

About the author

Gillian Bethel is the associate editor of Last Generation magazine.

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