"The more we do of anything, the more we tend to do it."
Yogi Berra
Just as everyone can develop addictions to substances, we can also become addicted to
emotions and impulses. Anytime we give in to any desire or appetite, it grows. We can
become so habituated to giving them their way that whenever those feelings start getting
stirred up, we begin to feel compelled to give in just to calm them.
Eventually we can reach a point where an overindulged impulse or desire can become an
"emotional addiction" that makes us do things that aren't in our own interest
just to get its own appetite satisfied or anxiety relieved. Such a part just wants what it
wants when it wants it, and doesn't care at all about the consequences.
It's the insatiability of an overfed appetite or impulse that is the warning sign that
tells us it's an addiction. If it gets its way, it wants more. And if it gets more, it
wants even more.
Once it gets to the stage where it can push you around, from then on there's no middle
ground. Either fight it or feed it because it ‘s reached the point where it can
perpetuate itself. From then on, either you control it, or it'll control you.