Addictions are often rooted in anxiety and insecurity for Vata; ego for Pitta; and physical sensation or security for Kapha. Vata-type addictions include watching television and online social media. The constantly changing images and noise of television stimulate the Vata mind and soothe feelings of loneliness, which are common in Vata-type individuals or those with Vata-type imbalances. Pitta-type addictions have become the most acceptable and even valued in modern American society, because they mostly relate to perception of status and American ideals of "success". Pitta-type addictions include respect, ambition, career, education, power, control, conspicuous display of wealth, drama, and substance abuse. Kapha-type addictions typically manifest in hoarding and food behaviors.
I thought that I would highlight the influences of dosha on addiction today because, although we typically think of addiction as being related to excessive intake of food, alcohol, or drugs, there are many other addictions that are extremely prevalent in American society that we do not even recognize as problems. These addictions to social media, prestige, drama, celebrity, having recognized and respected status, power, and career; are all contributing to a prevalence of dosha-imbalances and related disorders in our culture. Here is a list of just a small portion of these disorders: anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder, workaholism, autoimmune diseases, neurological illnesses, allergies, eating disorders, discontent, depression, chronic fatigue, loneliness, isolation, anger, jealousy, and volatility. Dosha-unbalancing life practices, such as binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix, become harmful when they persist over time and become addictions. Some addictive behaviors, such as watching TV, are more apparent to the person engaging in them. Other addictions, such as having social drama in one's life, are more difficult for individuals to recognize because the ego causes denial on the part of the addict. For someone addicted to their career, the ego might cause them to say something like, "I love my job. Is that so wrong?" Or, "I have to work that much. What would they do without me?" When the ego is making decisions and justifying addictions, we make excuses for our behavior or deny that it is causing problems in other areas of our life.
The role of the ego in our health is vital to address if we want to have a happy mind and a happy body. The odds are good that, if you have a dosha imbalance, some level of addiction is involved. Is that addiction energetic, emotional, or behavioral? Your Ayurvedic practitioner will know and be able to provide you with guidance for treatment, including referrals to other specialists if necessary.
I thought that I would highlight the influences of dosha on addiction today because, although we typically think of addiction as being related to excessive intake of food, alcohol, or drugs, there are many other addictions that are extremely prevalent in American society that we do not even recognize as problems. These addictions to social media, prestige, drama, celebrity, having recognized and respected status, power, and career; are all contributing to a prevalence of dosha-imbalances and related disorders in our culture. Here is a list of just a small portion of these disorders: anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder, workaholism, autoimmune diseases, neurological illnesses, allergies, eating disorders, discontent, depression, chronic fatigue, loneliness, isolation, anger, jealousy, and volatility. Dosha-unbalancing life practices, such as binge-watching your favorite show on Netflix, become harmful when they persist over time and become addictions. Some addictive behaviors, such as watching TV, are more apparent to the person engaging in them. Other addictions, such as having social drama in one's life, are more difficult for individuals to recognize because the ego causes denial on the part of the addict. For someone addicted to their career, the ego might cause them to say something like, "I love my job. Is that so wrong?" Or, "I have to work that much. What would they do without me?" When the ego is making decisions and justifying addictions, we make excuses for our behavior or deny that it is causing problems in other areas of our life.
The role of the ego in our health is vital to address if we want to have a happy mind and a happy body. The odds are good that, if you have a dosha imbalance, some level of addiction is involved. Is that addiction energetic, emotional, or behavioral? Your Ayurvedic practitioner will know and be able to provide you with guidance for treatment, including referrals to other specialists if necessary.