Verdict: not guilty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nobody is ever guilty of a present addiction. Moreover, guilt can make one even more addicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One may consciously have come dangerously close to addiction in the past, then fallen into it. Still, the present addiction is not \u2018under control\u2019 \u2015 therefore, no guilt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nevertheless, there is an ever-present responsibility to try to find what may relieve the addiction. Whether taken or not, this responsibility doesn\u2019t make one a bad person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why your addiction is you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not only essential to know but also to feel and realize this possibly challenging insight deep inside. Why? Because it\u2019s true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cutting out some of your flesh is painful. Cutting out some of your mind is also painful. Moreover, it may leave a scar that never heals. Therefore, it\u2019s better not to do this. It may be extremely tough and damage you forever. No wonder your mind can be very opposing. This may then be wrongfully interpreted as the strength of the addiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being auto-aggressive in trying to cut yourself may be the really harsh thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus, it\u2019s better to be tolerant.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not \u2018weakly tolerant,\u2019 of course, but \u2018strongly tolerant\u2019 \u2015 again and again. You can tolerate yourself as the addicted one with the urge to transcend the addiction. This is: to transcend yourself, which may take a lot of work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And you may need for this a lot of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In asking for support, again, don\u2019t be weak.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, there is no need to feel weak in asking for support. Weak or strong, it can be either one to a large degree. Which of both it turns out to be may depend on how you \u2018see the addiction as you\u2019 and on your sense of responsibility that comes together with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s weak to ask for support of which you know that it will strengthen your cravings \u2015 and it\u2019s weak to give it to you for the sake of some warm feeling of empathy. Therefore, I wouldn\u2019t give it to you even if you asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s strong to ask for supporting who you are for the sake of becoming stronger as who you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This \u2018who you are\u2019 encompasses the addiction.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, transcending yourself is what you need to do \u2015 in the process of inner mental growth. You can see addiction as a s constellation of mental-neuronal patterns in your mind\/brain. The needed growth lies in disentangling them, thereby opening yourself as a total person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This may be the most frightening thing you ever did. Nevertheless, the addiction is eventually your soul crying out for wanting this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s a very positive message, in principle.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The addiction may still kill you, but it\u2019s not the shouting part that may ever do so. It\u2019s the not-listening part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deep listening to yourself may show you the (possibly long and winding) path toward integrating the addiction. Like salt in water, it doesn\u2019t go away but changes dramatically. You don\u2019t cut it out. It becomes your salty water \u2015 which may even turn out to taste well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t underestimate the challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do see it as an opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do put in the growth\u00a0\u2013 the changing your addicted mind<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a lot of effort and ask for positive support in any way possible!<\/p>\n