Saturday, August 2, 2014

I Promote Fighting. Here's Why.

I've never been much of a runner, so when my fight or flight response is triggered it seems like a no-brainer. I stand and fight. I fight a lot of things. I used to use my fists. I've learned to use my words.

Words like the one on this bracelet. I wear it every day (literally--to bed, in the shower, swimming, it doesn't come off).

Yup. Just my everyday arm and my everyday bracelet doing our everyday thing.

It opens a door to have conversations. People ask me what I'm fighting/why I promote fighting. They're usually shocked at my response.

Four years ago I had the opportunity to meet my first Fighter. He gave me a card with something about Fight the New Drug (FTND). My curiosity was piqued. I had just begun working in addiction recovery, and wondered if pornography could actually be comparable to traditional drugs and alcohol.

Four years later I've come to my own answer.

Addiction is addiction is addiction. I don't care if its sex, drugs, food, shopping, exercise, etc. It is insidious, it is no respecter of persons, it is self-seeking, and it only quits when there is nothing else to be taken. At least, that's how it used to end.

The truth is, nobody can stop an addiction anymore than a person can stop a loved-one's cancer or diabetes. It can be easy to judge those who are addicted--to ask why they can't appreciate the lives they have, their attractive partners, promising careers, why they just can't choose to stop. 

For those who have moved beyond the "why" and into the "how", there are still unanswerable questions. There is no answer to the heart-broken family/friend/loved one who asks, "How can I fix it? How do I make them stop?" It has to be the choice of the person who has the disease to have it treated, and in most cases requires life-long monitoring/upkeep.

Every day I'm fighting--working to put myself out of a job--to help people treat addiction and to educate about prevention. Some really amazing people are doing the same. They're over at Fight the New Drug. They have non-judgmental, research-based information to help people gain understanding about Pornography. They have also developed an online program to help those who have already found themselves trapped by addiction called Fortify (click the link to apply and find other FTND materials).

And to you I say, join the movement. Become a fighter (want your own bracelet? You can buy it here along with tons of other awesome Fighter swag).