I found this video to be pretty insightful : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5ZYV-IMIUU

In the video he talks about how all addictions are an attempt to avoid the emptiness of existence and the contemplation of our own eventual non-existence. The way to overcome addiction permanently (as opposed to replacing it with another distraction) is to come to terms and embrace this emptiness.

I found this compelling and helpful. I am interested to hear the reaction of other people on this message board...

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Tulku/reincarnated Buddhist master died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1987. Here's a man who could conjure rainstorms with his mind and he couldn't stop drinking here in the western world. Not to be a contrarian, but I'm fairly certain as TSM asserts this is largely biological.

I thought about that. I think the theory still makes sense because certain people are biologically more predisposed to find alcohol to be an effective remedy for angst. Other people might use other means to address existential angst that more appropriately matches their biological proclivities.

Are you suggesting Trungpa's alcohol use was due to angst? Never mind existential angst!?

No. I cannot speak to his state of mind. I suspect it is possible to want to drink to excess and not be "addicted" per se. In fact, a person with zero existential angst might see a condition of cirrhosis of the liver as relatively insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

When mice get addicted' to alcohol in a lab, or monkeys, or pigs or whatever- is that because of Avoidance of Existential Emptiness?

Animals get addicted through there opioid receptors just like humans.

I think the whole idea of the Sinclair method is that addiction is a biological process rather than a 'disease of the soul'.

There is definitely a biological component to addiction. I am not suggesting otherwise.

I do think that a lot of people find ways of distracting themselves from things that bother them. So the issue is, if a person's behavior intended to distract themselves becomes an addiction what happens when they give up that addiction? Do they replace it with something else or do they confront what they are trying to distract themselves from?

'I do think that a lot of people find ways of distracting themselves from things that bother them' I think humans, probably all animals are probably slightly bored or anxious, at least slightly, most of the time. I believe this is so we constantly learn about environment, discover new things, are aware of threats etc it's just an evolutionary thing rather than 'Existential Emptiness' which implies a 'psychological' aspect.

"The way to overcome addiction permanently (as opposed to replacing it with another distraction) is to come to terms and embrace this emptiness" It's fair to say at least academically/scientifically that Freud/Existentialist philosophies which dominated early 20th psychotherapy have essentially been debunked and written off long ago (in most western countries you couldn't study to be a Psychoanalyst even if you wanted to). If the cure of addiction lay with Freud/Existentialist philosophies they would have implemented and been successful a long ago.

"if a person's behavior intended to distract themselves becomes an addiction what happens when they give up that addiction? Do they replace it with something else or do they confront what they are trying to distract themselves from" there is no magic way of getting rid of anxiety that all animals feel unfortunately. There is nothing to confront. Hopefully we make good choices about how we deal with our anxiety rather than bad choices- going for a run rather than inject heroin but once we're free from alcohol then we have at least some choice.

I can speak from my own experience. I suffered from anxiety for many years which I medicated it with alcohol and other things. This was how I became dependent. I was able to overcome the anxiety through psychotherapy where I came to terms with various issues. Unfortunately, once the anxiety was no longer an issue I had an issue with alcohol.

I'm not saying this is true for everyone but it was very true for me. I posted this video because I thought it might be helpful for someone else who is on a similar track. I certainly did not mean to upset anyone or get into an argument.

Sorry Deuce- I'm quite argumentative just ignore me.