Truth Counters: Deceptive Reasoning Processes of Addictive Thinking
Do you agree with the following thoughts or statements? Please rate yourself honestly.
1. I can prove to you that there are reasons why I’m involved with my addiction, and why I need my addiction. “I need a hit and here’s why….” “I can’t make it to my Addictions class because…..”
2. I live for the moment (this second or this minute). “I just want to feel good now”
3. My addiction is a solution to dealing with life. “I have to use pills (or cut, or eat, or drink) because my life is such a mess.”
4. Others seem to see that I have an obvious problem, but I don’t. “What problem?”
5. There’s a reason why I need to use my substance. “I’m not an alcoholic, I drink because…..”
6. There are people in my life who are behind this addiction. “If you had my man (or my boss, kids, etc.), you’d use drugs too.”
7. I can define right and wrong for you in such a way that you should be able to see what I’m doing is OK. “If you define the terms, it wasn’t really sex.”
8. “I don’t think my life is ever going to be better.”
9. “I get treated really badly.” “I’ve been belittled all my life.”
You can understand the deceptive reasoning processes of addictive thinkers, and learn how to think with truth.
1. Addictive thinking
“I need it and here’s why.”
Addictive thinking protects the addiction by building a wall of evidence around it. They say “I need a ___________” and then build a case for this conclusion. They have elevated their thought processes above the commands of God’s Word.
Right thinking
Read Psalm 119:9, 11. What standard is necessary to understand what you need in your life?
I need the Bible, not my stinkin’ thinkin’.
2. Addictive thinking
“I just want to feel good now.”
Addictive thinking has a restrictive sense of time – minutes or seconds, rather than weeks or years. Focused on the immediacy of the high, the future is not in their frame of reference. Grave consequences come as result of long process and won’t occur in minutes, so they don’t register in the addict’s thoughts. They don’t realize the truth that if we choose to do the things that feel good now, there will be difficulty later.
Right thinking
Read Galatians 6:7–9. To sow means to plant. To reap means to gather or collect the fruit of what has been planted. If you sow sin, what will you gather?
There’s a consequence for every action. If I do this today, it makes next year worse for yourself and the people you love.
3. Addictive thinking
“I have to use pills (or cut, or eat, or drink) because my life is such a mess.”
Addictive thinking reasons away the behavior – perhaps home life is intolerable, husband unresponsive, kids ashamed. The deception is that the addiction is the solution.
Right thinking
Read Philippians 4:6–7. When you have problems, if you want peace, what have you got to do?
I need to pray about everything, and thank God for everything, instead of turning to my addiction.
4. Addictive thinking
“What problem?”
Addictive thinkers exhibit denial. They have a lack of awareness of the obvious. They do not face the truth.
Right thinking
Read Ephesians 6:14. What must we wear around us to stand strong?
I need someone wise to tell me the truth about my addiction.
5. Addictive thinking
“I’m not an alcoholic, I drink because…..”
Addictive thinkers often rationalize. They don’t understand that they do what they do because they want what they want.
Right thinking
Read James 1:14–15. What is it that tempts you to do the thing that ends up in death?
Admit that I want to feel good so badly that I’m willing to be an addict.
6. Addictive thinking
“If you had my man (or my boss, kids, etc.), you’d use drugs too.”
Addictive thinkers often blame shift. Adam and Eve started this pattern of blaming others for our actions (Genesis 1:12–14).
Right thinking
Read 1 John 1:9. What do we have to do if we want to be cleansed?
When I agree with God about my sin, He forgives and cleanses me. Then I need to act forgiven.
7. Addictive thinking
“If you define the terms, it wasn’t really sex.”
Addictive thinkers narrowly define what is right and wrong, so they don’t have to say they are wrong. They don’t use Scripture’s power.
Right thinking
Read 2 Timothy 3:16–17. We need to teach God’s Word, let God’s Word expose what’s wrong in our lives, let God’s Word correct what’s wrong, and then train in living according to God’s Word. If we do this, what will the result be?
I need God’s Word to define what’s right, and give me everything I need for life and godliness.
8. Addictive thinking
“I don’t think my life is ever going to be better.”
Addictive thinkers tend to have morbid expectations and extreme pessimism. They deny the powerful grace of God.
Right thinking
Read Romans 5:20–21. Even if there is the worst sin around you, there’s something bigger that you can rely on. What is it?
God’s grace always trumps sin.
9. Addictive thinking
“I get treated really badly.” “I’ve been belittled all my life.”
Addictive thinkers perceive that they are always being slighted, or offended, or belittled. They have thin skin, always responding to how they are being treated, instead of returning blessing for evil.
Right thinking
Read Romans 12:20–21. When we are treated with evil, how does the Bible teach us to respond?
OK, I’ve had it bad, but my addiction is not the answer. In God’s power, I can do good to the people who’ve treated me with evil.
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