[Addictions]

Being Alcohol free - Is this an option for you? - 8 min - VIDEO

2010-01-28T23:47:00.000-08:00

Masturbation - How to kick it as an addiction? - Master your sexual energy through tantric sex practices

2009-02-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

Yes!

Absolutely believe that this is the ultimate way to go!

It works a million times better than suppression approaches!

http://vitalcoaching.com/tantricsex.htm

Masturbation addiction - Why suppression strategies don't work too well

2009-02-09T03:56:00.000-08:00

The best way to get rid of a negative addiction is to replace it by a positive one.

If you try to simply block the flow of your sexual energy and sexual instincts, you go against very profound instincts that were embeded in you.

The best is not to block!

It is to redirect!

Tantric sexual expression is a valid path to solve the suppression dilemma.

It gives you a sexual mastery path!

Check it!

http://vitalcoaching.com/tantricsex.htm

Masturbation - what behavior changes can get rid of the addiction

2009-02-09T03:45:00.000-08:00

Here are some key ideas to put in place to start shifting a masturbation addiction:

Maintain sexual stimulation but don't lose semen or much less frequently
Express more your sexual energy with a partner
Channel your energy into fitness training or Yoga
Master your sexual energy through tantric sex
Etc.

There is more to say about this of course.

An addictive behaviour is related with some inner frustration or feeling trapped.

The addictive behaviour is usually one of the pathways used to escape a reality you don't like.

So, if you change your reality or circumstances and rebuild your life around exciting targets and a life style you REALLY love, the addictive behaviors get kicked out that way.

Master your sexual energy through tantric sex practices!

This last one is the one that resonates best because it gives you a healthy and dynamic way to express your sexual energy without using suppression approaches.

Check this:

http://vitalcoaching.com/tantricsex.htm

Masturbation - The other main challenge is not overstimulation, it is the excessive loss of semen which is associated with masturbation

2009-02-09T03:41:00.000-08:00

That's the other big challenge for men.

If you can explore the paths of self pleasure without losing semen (or at least too frequently) than you will discover that self stimulation actually opens door s of energy in your system that you did not even know you had.

Check this!

http://vitalcoaching.com/tantricsex.htm

Masturbation - In 90% of the cases, the problem is not the actual practice, the problem is the negative emotions, shame and guilt associated with it

2009-02-09T03:40:00.000-08:00

Again, remember that in 90% of the cases masturbation is NOT an addiction, only a healthy behaviour.

Remove the guilt or shame associated with it and you get healthier instantly!

REALLY!

the problem is not the actual practice, the problem is the negative emotions, shame and guilt associated with it.

How to kick a masturbation addiction

2009-02-09T03:34:00.000-08:00

If you are definitely within the "addicted" territory and you know it, you kick out a masturbation addiction in the exact same way as you would kick out any other form of addiction.

You train new behaviors
Redirect your energy
Replace it by a positive addiction
Etc.

Every addiction requires its own set of strategies, so in the case of masturbation, you want to tap into strategies which are unique to that specific behavior.

Masturbation? - How much is too much

2009-02-09T03:27:00.000-08:00

There is no given rule of course.

It is really up to you.

If you are desperate to regain control over your sex life because you masturbate and lose semen every day, then obviously we are within the sexual addiction territory.

On the other hand, if your daily self stimulation practice feels nice, healthy and uplifting, you are not within the territory of an addictive behavior.

If your practice has no negative impact on your physical or mental health, it is okay to engage in having as much pleasure as you want.

Again, for men, the boundary is usually not how self stimulation you perform, it is rather how frequently you lose semen.

That's the element that can have a negative impact on your health.

But even that fact is not 100% proven...

Masturbation and guilt

2009-02-09T03:19:00.000-08:00

Guilt is close to useless.

It does not help!

So, if you remove the guilt feeling which creates probably 80% of anypotential negative impact of a masturbation session, what is left?

Is masturbation still bad for your body as a cigartte can be bad for you?

Again, if there is no excessive ejaculation (for men), sexual stimulation and self pleasure IS HEALTHY!

There is nothing wrong with it.

Of course, if you decide to follow an ascetic path and embrace the rules of a monastic life, you might have other rules which are dictated by the tradition you embrace.

I am not her to judge any tradition!

I respect that at 100%.

Monastic life has its own set of rules and these rules will vary from tradition to tradition.

It's up to you decide what tradition you want to embrace and how much of it you want to follow.

Now, if the message I send out is:

Sex is healthy
Nothing to be ahsamed of
Self stimulation or self pleasure is as healthy and encouraged as any other sexual activity

Masturbation + ejaculating too frequently

2009-02-09T03:15:00.000-08:00

Yes! This can happen.

Again, it is an addiction if you know it is too frequent for you, want to stop but can't.

sexual stimulation IS HEALTHY.

There is nothing wrong with it.

It is a very healthy and empowering way to explore your sexuality and can help you train new skills (like lasting longer during sex) and open new channels of energy in your system.

Now, if every masturbation session leads to ejaculation, that's a totally different story.

Excessive semen loss leads to energy depletion.

You end up being more tired and physically much more vulnerable...

More on this coming soon

Masturbation is only an addiction if you are enslaved by it

2009-02-09T03:11:00.000-08:00

In probably 80% of people, masturbation is NOT an addiction.

They practice self pleasure, enjoy it and it is all very healthy, and stimulating.

It is an addiction if you actually are addicted!

It is an addiction if masturbation sessions are too frequent, you don't like it, want to stop it but can't.

Now, in most people's lives, masturbation is simply a healthy sexual practice and it is perfectly ok and encouraged to keep exploring it.

Yes! Masturbation can be an addiction - TIP

2009-02-09T03:05:00.000-08:00

It is an addiction if it is out of control.

In other terms, if you feel enslaved by a behavior that you don't like and makes you miserable, then it is an addiction for you.

For men, especially if there is loss of semen every time you masturbate, this can have very negative consequences for your health.

If you lose semen every day, your stamina or life force can feel depleted, your immune system weakend.

More on this in future posts...

Positive addictions?

2007-10-17T23:57:00.000-07:00

Yes!

Definitely!

If you can't stand missing the gym or you must eat healthy every day, it can feel on the edge of being alienating...

But, the positive effects of this addiction can be even greater than its negative impacts.

For instance, being addicted to fitness gives you health and energy!

Now, you can as well feel totally enslaved by this "gym addiction" and actually want to get out.

It is a fine line, I totally agree.

More on this coming soon

Perfectionism?

2007-10-17T23:52:00.000-07:00

Perfectionism? Addiction? Mental disorder?

Associating perfectionism with a mental disorder sounds a bit strong.

Perfectionism is not a "clinical term" so I don't think it is the thing to do anyway.

But, perfectionism can be addictive and self destructive, yes!

If being a perfectionist ruins your life and makes you totally disatisfied, it can be seen as a form of addiction.

It can be a form of positive addiction too if it is a mind pattern which helps you perform better in life for instance.

Overspending

2007-10-17T23:48:00.000-07:00

Overspending can be totally alienating.

Why? Because it stresses you up and forces you to try earning more and more to finance an expensive life style.

Chemical dependency = Physical dependency - LINK

2007-10-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

Physical dependence refers to a state resulting from habitual use of a drug, where negative physical withdrawal symptoms result from abrupt discontinuation.[1] From the point of view of the dependent person, "dependence is duress," argues addiction researcher Griffith Edwards.[2]

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_dependency

Drug rehabilitation topics - LINKS

2007-10-06T07:52:00.001-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Drug_rehabilitation

Alcohol abuse topics - LINK

2007-10-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Alcohol_abuse

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers - LINKS

2007-10-06T07:50:00.001-07:00

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers

Alcohol abuse

2007-10-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

Alcohol abuse, as described in the DSM-IV, is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. It is differentiated from alcohol dependence by the lack of symptoms such as tolerance and withdrawal. Alcohol abuse is sometimes referred to by the less specific term alcoholism. However, many definitions of alcoholism exist, and only some are compatible with alcohol abuse.

About 18% of American adults have had an alcohol abuse problem at some time in their life, in addition to about 12% who have also had an alcohol dependence problem. Significant correlations exist between alcohol abuse and other substance abuse disorders.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_abuse

Addiction recovery groups - LINKS

2007-10-06T07:44:00.001-07:00

There are a variety of addiction recovery groups and methods other than those that follow the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Pagans in Recovery
SOS International [1]
SMART Recovery [2]
LifeRing Secular Recovery [3]
Women for Sobriety
Secular Organizations for Sobriety
Rational Recovery
The 16-Steps for Discovery and Empowerment [4]
Narconon [5]
LDS Family Services Addiction Recovery Program [6]

See also
List of Twelve-Step groups
Twelve-Step program
Self-help groups for mental health

Twelve step program - LINK

2007-10-06T07:40:00.000-07:00

A Twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles for recovery from addictive, compulsive, or other behavioral problems, originally developed by the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for recovery from alcoholism.[1] The Twelve Steps were originally published in the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous ("The Big Book") in 1939; more than 25 million copies have been printed in many languages.[2] This method has been adapted as the foundation of other twelve-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Co-Dependents Anonymous and Emotions Anonymous. As summarized by the American Psychological Association, working the Twelve Steps involves the following.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-step_program

Pathological gambling - LINK

2007-10-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

Extreme cases of problem gambling may cross over into the realm of mental disorders. Pathological gambling was recognized as a psychiatric disorder in the DSM-III, but the criteria were significantly reworked based on large-scale studies and statistical methods for the DSM-IV. As defined by American Psychiatric Association, pathological gambling is an impulse control disorder that is a chronic and progressive mental illness.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_addiction

Gamblers Anonymous - Effectiveness - Stunning fact!!!

2007-10-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

Some studies have shown that less than 8% of those who initially attended GA remained in the program and abstinent from gambling for over a year.[5] These results improve somewhat if members are involved in additional therapy, or if one or more of their family members are involved in Gam-Anon or Gam-A-Teen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamblers_Anonymous

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PS: That's less than 10% success rate!!!

Gambling addiction - LINK

2007-10-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

Problem gambling is an urge to gamble despite harmful negative consequences or a desire to stop. The term is preferred to compulsive gambling among many professionals, as few people described by the term experience true compulsions in the clinical sense of the word. Problem gambling often is defined by whether harm is experienced by the gambler or others, rather than by the gambler's behavior. Severe problem gambling may be diagnosed as clinical pathological gambling if the gambler meets certain criteria.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling_addiction

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambling

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambler%27s_fallacy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamblers_Anonymous

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/20questions.html