Harbans Nagpal

Here are my thoughts on the subject of addictions. At origin, addiction is a psychological illness, not a physical illness, although its effects are extremely physical. It has to do with certain unresolved , unconscious wishes, desires, that create such a lack, an incompleteness in the conscious mind that the only escape from the discomfort is the release produced by the craved for substance ( cannabis, drugs, alcohol, food, nicotine) or activity (sex, shopping, gambling...). Once triggered, the craving is unstoppable : " Quick, give me something! Give me something! " and the addict runs to escape the discomfort in the mind. There are many possible final outcomes, types of addiction, but note that the mental pain, the psychological lack, is anterior to the craving, gives rise to the craving, is the real cause of the craving, And this is what needs repairing. To conquer this lack, this emptiness that precedes the craving, causes the craving, you need a competent therapist, best of all a psychoanalyst, who understands this process and its origins: the unconscious thoughts, that are causing the trouble. And these are nearly always to do with mother, father or similar important relationships or incidents of your childhood. The patient does not know why he is in this pain, why he feels this emptiness. He only feels the effects, the discomfort, the hole. But there is something going on at the back of the mind, that is producing this situation. Something more powerful than his conscious mind, more powerful than all his will power. And this is what needs repairing. It is not a hardware problem to do with your nerves, your genes, your brain, your hormones or your enzymes. It is a software problem, a psychological problem, of your unconscious and conscious mind and thoughts. And this is repairable. Take a look at my website for a longer discussion and my method of treatment. http://www.nagpal-psychoanalyst.com/