My Drug of Choice and The Addiction So Many Deal With Today

In today’s world, addiction and drugs play a huge role in society and the media. It seems every day we are hearing about another celebrity going into rehab. In other articles and shows, we see those who have dealt with similar issues all their lives.  Many of us watch this stuff for entertainment purposes and may feel detached from the whole thing. After all, why would we feel directly tied to anything like this, especially when drugs or alcohol have not hit close to home?

We go on to watch things about people who have other weird addictions or obsessive disorders such as hoarding. We have sympathy for these people and wonder what sort of thing has to happen to make someone choose such a lifestyle? The idea of saving everything to that extreme is ridiculous to some of us. Again, we do not suffer from these issues, so we are fine, right?

I forgot to mention, most of us are watching these shows on TV’s which are likely to have been purchased within the last few years on some form of credit because they were in the high $100’s or even into the $1000’s. Also included with this TV is a home theater setup. This system was way more money than was available in cash at the time of purchase. However, it was needed to ensure the best entertainment experience. How is the show being broadcasted? Glad you asked! It is being sent to the TV cable box or satellite per the monthly subscription of 300+ channels for an outrageously priced fee. This is all worth it though in the long run. It is money well spent when you consider the 1-3 hours wasted each night in front of the system.

The Decision WE Made

When Jordan and I got married, we had NO MONEY and a mountain of debt. It was not necessarily due to poor decisions, but it was still debt as we got started on our life together. We could not afford luxuries like cable, big TV’s, or a home theater system.  Our hand-me-down slightly wavy TV brought us some entertainment with the addition of $8.99/month Netflix subscription. Now, over 5 years later, we have still yet to invest in cable or satellite. We have made the addition of Amazon Prime Video and a digital antenna, but have not missed cable. This type of luxury to give up would be difficult for some. After all, how would you watch your shows? The irony is the shows about addiction and the need for rehab are actually addicting to those who watch them! This is further exacerbated by the extra stuff we buy to make the experience more enjoyable.

Yes, I am basically saying we are doing it right, and others could change. We have become immune to this need to spend more on luxuries and the need to have nice things…

Except, I am writing this to you all in a plush leather office chair with a wireless keyboard. In addition, I am sitting at a nice mahogany desk with two 32″ floating monitors and a 48″ flat panel TV used as a third monitor.  All of this is with a custom built computer and a 5.1 surround sound theater system.  

Whew, glad I haven’t fallen prey to the same desire for luxurious spending as some many others! Right…

On This Episode Of “My Addiction”

It is easy to see my comment was in jest. Although, yes it is easy to sit back and think we are immune to some of these crazy things in the world, we really are not. Consumerism is a huge addiction I,  like so many others, are addicted to. We want what we often cannot have, and we strive to get it in whatever manner possible. This would include maxing out credit cards, living with extreme debt, and struggling to make ends meet just for some luxuries. The truth is, we should all be in some form of rehab for this. However, society has not made this type of behavior a problem, rather it encourages it to drive their own profits.

How Do We Kick the Habit?

Well, there are many ways you can try to kick this habit. Unfortunately, in a world where everything is willing to give you a “fix” for your addiction, getting help is tough. One option is to check out other blog posts here on the website. Another is to seek professional guidance from debt counselors or recovery programs (Yes, they really do exist for things like this). Most importantly though, you need to admit you have a problem! If you don’t admit it to yourself, there is going to be very little anyone can do to help you in the long run. Sometimes it can be good to have a support group or friend. They can be there when you really need to talk. You can do this though! Remember, we are all in this together!

As always, you can email us at [email protected] if you want to converse with us.