The Hydra, in the greek mythology was a "water snake" of sorts with one immortal head.
The 9th Head was the immortal one.
The number 9 is significant in numerology.
Now, even if you are not into numerology I added that in so that you can begin to think differently.
Even entertaining a notion that you would never have ever thought you would consider, makes new neural pathways and connections in your brain.
That means you CHANGED!
Just from thinking about something that you might not give any credence to and giving it some thought/pondering.
So, this "article" is really about change and how Alcohol is like the hydra in that it, in a way, will make your addiction to any other drugs IMMORTAL!
WHY?
Well, let's check out this passage from "food junkies" which I recommend to anyone that suffers from ANY addiction at all AND to anyone that is trying to "Assist" a person by learning about how addiction works so that you can develop some compassion for them instead of pity: Along with the ability to speak their "language of recovery."
By the way - there is a big difference between pity and compassion!
Yep, just a quick search and I found an article that I bookmarked and I am going to read again.
Great writing! http://beingraluca.com/pity-empathy-compassion/
The Hydra story is so fitting!
In the story, Hercules had to get some help from a friend! (ed note: I deleted this part if you are listening to the audio..it was redundant and reading it out loud helped me to see that! I hope you are enjoying the story in audio! #BEEP)
Addicts don't need pity...they need compassion.
From Gambling to sex to cloud-9 and LSD, each drug/behaviorbehaviour (ICanadiandian..I keep the U!) that is a "drug of choice" activates a dominant brain chemical pathway.
There are three main ones: Serotonin (relaaaax, chill out, peace), Dopamine (seeking, intensity, decision making, perception and RUSH, I want to feel something), and endorphins (I am in pain, please let me sleep, I don't want to feel ANYTHING) - my descriptions.
I have a wee bit of experience with this stuff
"Alcohol, addictive drugs, gambling, and FOOD can all fire up the reward pathways to heights that our evolutionary brains cannot achieve naturally. These, and intense behaviors that provide excessive gratification or anticipation, like shopping or internet games (or upvotes! my note), can hijack the limbic system: that primitive and crucial part of our brain. They give a big payload of "happy neurochemicals" to the nucleus accumbens, which results in the artificially high load of expectation that is the euphoria of intoxication." - Dr. Vera Tarman, Food Junkies, pp. 51-2
Whats up with Alcohol then?
It stimulates ALL THREE PATHWAYS equally.
"Alcohol provides access to an abundance of all three neurochemicals; that's why alcohol intoxication can give the drinker an enhanced effect of all three experiences: Safety, sociability, excitement, and a numbed, pain-free state of mind. Small wonder it is so universally popular." Dr. Vera Tarman - Food Junkies, pp. 51-3
So, if you got off the crack, smack, cigs, meth, oxy etc...thats AWESOME!
But, if you think for a second, even a NANO-second that you can drink after you quit your "drug/drugs of choice"
I would begin to think again.
And I would make alcohol the LAST THING you should ever consider imbibing if you want to remain sober.
So, instead of reaching for that drink and reminding your brain what your drug of choice felt like, why not go and investigate the number nine and also what your life path is.
While I did say "Fuck Sylvia Brown, and..." plus some other stuff to one of my significant others a long time ago...I changed.
Now, I consider everything first before I dismiss.
And I try it out too.
The only KNOW-ledge is the knowing from when you have DONE something or EXPERIENCED it YOURSELF.
Plus, its good DISTRACTION!
See, DISTRACTION is one of the keys to keeping on the path of sobriety (from all drugs...alcohol is a SUPER drug) and learning something different (guitar, hobbies, schooling etc) will benefit you both with the distraction as well as the increased neural plasticity, which is the key to change.
I'm a life path 5 - I gotta stay on track!
And I am a health scientist.
The esoteric and the "solid" can exist in the same space.
Be like Hercules in life but remember, surrender is not the same as giving up...but thats for another article eh?
Open your mind:)
*Want to read-along with Coach_fusion on this article? - Your Audio Companion to this article> Me, reading to YOU! https://drive.google.com/a/wizwam.com/file/d/1bsiUWmcSnviPxf0-vX8LroUcfdxIRCzK/view?usp=sharing
P.s. if you are a whale reading this: I see 'articles' on absolute DRIVEL being upvoted and making hundreds of dollars. Where are the "whales with quality content sensor upgrades"... I had 37 upvotes and got .03 cents on one! #curation #practical #information #usefulposts #rewardforcompassionposts :)
