I am an addict!

     And so are you. Addiction comes in many forms beside alcohol.
The number one addiction today is the SCREEN/cell phone/gaming/TV bingeing.

    The screen is a false idol---especially the cell phones. Cell phones should not be on in church and no younger family member should even BRING one into church! The temptation to have eyes on cell phone is too great. Over 3000 deaths a year from distracted drivers or even when people are walking. (FYI--there are no cell phones in Heaven ---do you still want to go?)

   Gaming and too much screen time also can cause the child's brain to be rewired so to speak, some in the positive direction ---but first-person shooter and action genres often stand accused of stirring aggression and causing violence and addiction.  Parents you need to be informed! 
       Comfort food--when we are emotionally stressed, sad, weary or discouraged---we deeply feel-maybe if I eat something I will feel better. This is being a carboholic addict. We are temple of God and to descecrate that temple by eating just to be eating, that will destroy the temple you are before your time. "At least 2.8 million people die each year due to being overweight or obese." 

    Smoking, we all know, is addictive and a killer too, with prolonged use.  VAPING, now, has become used more by the younger generation, who under the false belief---believe, vaping is not addicting or harmful.  WRONG!!  It is WORSE! 

     Because we all deeply need to be loved or know that we are loved; our addictions become strong.  Many, maybe all,have deep seated hurts of rejection or abuse from the past---there are several addictions that come from these emotions.
      The need to own materialistic items that will clutter up our lives, or drive us into deep debt from buying what is not needed, for one. Remember God tells us to ask for only what we NEED and not what is not needed. * FYI --The best place to get the best deals--Thrift Stores!  Use your money wisely please!  Being deep in DEBT will contribute to other addictions too!
     These emotions also lead us into extreme make up use, tattoos, bling---as we all want to be 'noticed', admired and 'liked' by others around us. If we feel a deep insecurity feeds this type of addictions.
    Pleasures of the flesh comes in different forms; but we all want to 'feel' loved. IF there is no spouse in our life then that 'loving feeling' or orgasms are sought in different ways. Tragically--because of past abuse, this type of addiction causes behaviors that are harmful to others too!
     The end result of any addiction in our life, is a deep anger with ourselves because of our weakness and the continued behaviors that are destroying the temple we are. We literally hate ourselves and hate the addictions in our lives.
     Seek help in support groups. Know you are not alone and others need your gift of understanding of this addict's journey we all travel daily.  Yes ALL are addicted.   You do not have to be an alcoholic to go to AAA meetings, you will be welcomed.  
Get counseling if possible to deal with past traumas. Be sure to daily spend time with God and also recieve the SACRAMENTS faithfully. Daily read and 'digest' the WORD of God as this is the ONE  ADDICTION that is very positive and healing in your life.  God is the answer to all ailments, mental, physical and spiritual.  He leads and guides us on right paths daily.  Our Shepherd will never let us be lost!   

   Remember, "thou shall not have 'false idols' before Me and thou shall not kill,"  are the two commandments that we must consider that we are breaking as long as we stay in an addicted lifestyle.  So daily we  pray---
    "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."