12/14/2009
Whether in the world of sports, entertainment or politics it seems that sex addiction is on the rise. Or is it just more talked about? You can’t tune into the news these days without coming across yet another celebrity getting caught for unacceptable behavior and then apologizing and starting the corrective spin. The latest celebrity to begin their spin cycle is Tiger Woods. And what a spin it must be for Mrs. Woods as well.
The question most often asked is: WHY? Why a celebrity like Tiger Woods, with so much to lose, risks it all? While we cannot and must not attempt to diagnose from a distance, we can recognize the signs, the symptoms of addiction.
Addictions present certain key components such as:
- Repeated and exaggerated need to act out the compulsion
- Blatant disregard of possible consequences,
- The need for, and the presence of, an enabler or enabling system which collaborates to cover up the addictive behaviors and prevents the addict from being subjected to consequences.
Without being in a position to correctly diagnose Tiger Woods, one must acknowledge that just as Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton, David Duchovny, David Hasselhoff, and Charlie Sheen, before him, Mr. Woods also presents all 3 components for all to witness. Each of these celebrities had the veil of secrecy occasionally pulled back by the media, just enough for the public to get a glimpse. Then their spin machines covered it all up again, until the celebrity’s reckless disregard for repeated consequences couldn’t be covered up, yet another time. Tiger Woods, like many before him, got caught, and tried to minimize until so many women came out that, there was no cover big enough.
Sport jocks, movie stars and politicians are not victims of a society where such behaviors are rewards that come with fame and fortune. Addiction is a multifaceted disease that starts with the use of a stress reducer and soon shows itself for what it really is: an exaggerated unmanageable need to self-medicate regardless of consequences.
At Canada addiction center Chatsworth Pavilion we believe repetitive self-defeating behavioral patterns, dependencies and addictions represent an exaggerated need to self-medicate that is anchored in learned negative emotional imprints as well as a genetic predisposition. Until the emotional imprints are addressed, even if one stops their primary self-medicating strategy, others will appear.
As the viewing public we are curious, often mesmerized, and then confused by the behaviors of our celebrities as they battle their addictions. We are tempted to think that a fellow like Tiger Woods, who seems to be in control when he is on the golf course, cannot possibly be out of control. Yet, there he is, Tiger Woods a great athlete, a good man married to a wonderful wife with beautiful healthy children, a billionaire with extraordinary sponsors and an enviable future ahead of him, risking it all.
If one uses again and again like an addict, lies again and again like an addict, manipulates like an addict, disregards consequences like an addict, tries to get away with it one more time like an addict, finds enablers to support the behavior and can’t seem to stop until caught like an addict, then maybe just maybe, one is an addict. There is help available if one seeks treatment and recovery.
Contact sex addiction center if you need to speak with someone directly about our program services, and determine whether our Canada rehab center is the right one for your addiction rehabilitation needs.
Richard Hofman – Chatsworth Pavilion
Toll free (US and Canada): 1-866 866 5021
http://www.chatsworthpavilion.com/Canada_Drug_Rehab_Advantage.html
info.chatsworthpavilion@gmail.com
