Gladness and Addiction

One of the biggest questions regarding addiction is: why are some people susceptible to addiction? We know that many people can try addictive substances or activities yet only a percentage find these overwhelmingly addictive. Here I hope to present my thoughts on this intriguing subject.

Peace of Mind

The main difference, I believe, is whether the individual is currently satisfied with their own sense of being. If they feel in control of their lives and happy with themselves then addiction is very unlikely, even if they participate in what might be considered addictive activities. People in this state of being find addiction difficult to understand, as they really can take it or leave it. They are content in their minds and even with busy or challenging lifestyles can easily contextualise stresses and achieve an inner peace of mind quite easily.

Some individuals however suffer a constant inner turmoil marked by self-doubt, worry, and concern. They find peace of mind very difficult to achieve and even when they don’t face challenges they struggle with concerns about their self-worth, their lack of achievements, or future problems. Through some form of conditioning event, they cannot simply find happiness or contentment with what they have.

We can divide people into two categories: those that are fundamentally content with themselves and their life, and those who have a chronic dissatisfaction which manifests as intrusive thoughts and leads to difficulty finding peace of mind.

Switching Off

If we are content with ourselves and life, we find it quite easy to ‘switch off’. This means we can quieten our thinking minds and easily become absorbed into a purely sensory process, like listening to music, watching a film, or reading a book. We can ‘escape’ the rigours of daily life and forget about things for a while. This is powerfully restorative and enables us to cope with all manner of stressful tasks.

Once we become troubled — experiencing constant worry or dissatisfaction — we find switching off very difficult. We cannot concentrate on a book, film, or music and are denied this helpful ‘break’ from thinking about things relating to our lives. We cannot, until our circumstances or our views change, simply switch off, and this ultimately affects our mental well-being.

Although this chronic overthinking can be quite subtle, its ongoing presence prevents the mind from totally relaxing. Individuals may cope with this problem for many years without recognising it as a problem, adjusting to poor concentration and difficulty in switching off.

Gladness

Gladness arises naturally once normal thinking ceases. If we become totally absorbed in music or an activity, we automatically feel a sense of joy. Gladness is a type of joy that arises when we feel that everything is or will be okay, allowing us to let go of all worry.

People content with themselves and their lives have access to joy and peace of mind. Those who constantly overthink and are dissatisfied find accessing joy difficult, making them susceptible to activities that artificially induce gladness.

Addiction

All addictive activities or substances temporarily distract or obstruct the normal state of thinking. As children, we may be rewarded with sweet foods for good behaviour. The high associated with a gambling win is akin to gladness; we take a risk, and when it pays off, we feel joy. Alcohol and other addictive substances interfere with thinking, providing a break from worry or overthinking.

In individuals happy with their lives, the cost of gambling, overeating, or intoxication isn’t worth it — they already access joy through life satisfaction. For others, however, the temporary cessation of thinking is powerfully addictive. As soon as the high wears off, they return to worry and overthinking.

It doesn’t matter what the substance or activity is; if it is distracting enough to switch off dissatisfied thinking, it becomes addictive for those who cannot otherwise achieve peace of mind. This is why most addictions are progressive — the addiction itself generates more overthinking and worry.

The Solution

The first part of the solution is understanding the mechanisms that drive addiction. Recognising that constant overthinking and the inability to switch off is the root allows one to explore alternative ways to help the mind relax. It is not the substances or activities that are inherently addictive — it is the relief they provide.

“The bliss of a mind without remorse surpasses all worldly pleasures.”
— Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.29