In June of 2015, Johann Hari released this TED Talk entitled, “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong.”
Hari proposes that addiction, rather than a physical response to a chemical hook, is instead a human response to our environment. He boldly suggests that, for example, the reason everyone present for his TED Talk isn’t drinking vodka instead of water is that they each have bonds and relationships for which they want to be mentally and emotionally present.
Essentially, addictions are a replacement for human bonding. Because humans have an innate need to bond and connect, those left without that opportunity cling to other things. Addiction is an alternative form of bonding when human relationships are absent.
If we consider this new perspective, then we start to understand why everything we’ve been doing thus far to battle addiction has been ineffective.
At Seattle Sober Living, we believe that community and accountability create a foundation on which men recovering from addictions can repair their own relationships. Contact us today to learn more about our relationship-centric path to sustained sobriety.