YO-YO

"I am the Yo-Yo," says the Addict.

Yes ... life has ups and downs, and so does addiction. The Addict looks for a life where that is not the case, but it seems inescapeable.

The past few weeks have continued to be a yo-yo for the addict:

Struggles with acting out.
Mystical insights.
New resolve.
Victory.
Acting out again.
Despair.
New resolve.
New inspiration.

Up and down goes the addict.

Yo-yo.



The yo-yo can also be a symbol for the addict's tools for coping: addiction and isolation.

Y.O.Y.O.

Your On Your Own.

That's the addict. He's on his own. Why? Because his core beliefs tell him that this must be so.

The addict struggles with the following core beliefs about himself:

1. The addict is a bad and worthless person.
2. Anyone who learns the truth about the addict will reject and abandon the addict.
3. No one else will take care of the addict's needs.

YOYO.

Is it any wonder the addict feels alone most of the time. The addict cannot believe that any other option exists. He is worthless, all others will abondon him, and only he can care for himself.

YOYO.

If there is to be any hope for the addict, he must toss away his yo-yo. He must adopt new beliefs about himself and about the people around him. He must be willing to accept help from others and he must be willing to take the risk to open himself up to others. Yes ... healing for the addict must come from facing his deepest fear: he must reveal the truth about himself even though he believes that anyone who knows the truth about him will reject him.

Oh, addict ... How can you face such dangers?
Oh, addict ... How can you continue as a yo-yo?
Oh, addict ... What will you do?