Paul John Moscatello

Substance abuse is the product of a conditioned dependency, a state of perpetual escapism, typically motivated via the desire to relieve oneself of the constant anxiety of living in a state of fight or flight within our generally unforgiving, hyperactive society; however, this “coping mechanism” only perpetuates one’s suffering in the resulting degeneration of physical health and cognitive function, ironically rendering people literally prioritizing their self-destruction as an essential component to their well being.

We are both culturally and institutionally encouraged to prioritize habits that mask our symptoms so that we may carry on with the oppressive routines that we unconsciously consent to, rather than recognizing pain as an indication to make change in some area of our life. We should be harnessing the fear of prolonged suffering, as inspiration to secure more desirable circumstances.

We need to discipline ourselves to consume with caution. If we do not master our compulsions, we are at the mercy of corporate strategists campaigning illusory salvation, like sirens luring us to shipwreck, they seek to capitalize on our unfulfillment and lack of willpower. We need to truly consider our competence and actually take initiative to empower ourselves before assuming our inadequacies and yielding to our consumer-escapist conditioning.

Substance abuse is the product of a conditioned dependency, a state of perpetual escapism, typically motivated via the desire to relieve oneself of the constant anxiety of living in a state of fight or flight within our generally unforgiving, hyperactive society; however, this “coping mechanism” only perpetuates one’s suffering in the resulting degeneration of physical health and cognitive function, ironically rendering people literally prioritizing their self-destruction as an essential component to their well being.

We are both culturally and institutionally encouraged to prioritize habits that mask our symptoms so that we may carry on with the oppressive routines that we unconsciously consent to, rather than recognizing pain as an indication to make change in some area of our life. We should be harnessing the fear of prolonged suffering, as inspiration to secure more desirable circumstances.

We need to discipline ourselves to consume with caution. If we do not master our compulsions, we are at the mercy of corporate strategists campaigning illusory salvation, like sirens luring us to shipwreck, they seek to capitalize on our unfulfillment and lack of willpower. We need to truly consider our competence and actually take initiative to empower ourselves before assuming our inadequacies and yielding to our consumer-escapist conditioning.

Sit with her and express yourself authentically, emotionally, and unfiltered; perhaps your condemnation will incur such a state of self-disgust, that she will find motivation like never before, to transcend her self-deprecating behavior.

All you can do is emphasize the magnitude of opportunity that she squanders and highlight constructive alternatives, but you cannot force perception; people have to directly experience the sensations that highlight the value of living, and develop connections personally that yield an inspiring awareness toward life. If she continues to remain apathetic, then you cannot afford to care any longer. 

Your empathy in conjunction with the unwillingness of your sister to consider her health and the consequences of her decisions on others, will start to weigh down on you like an anchor, and you will begin to neglect your own well being.

We grow as individuals, not as a collective, resulting in the difficulty of maintaining relationships with those unwilling to meet us halfway in our initiative. You ultimately have to choose between squandering your own potential through consenting to paralyzing relationships, or forge a path that will inevitably draw the attention of more responsible, like-minded individuals.

I heavily suggest staying away from alcohol and the various opiates making up the spectrum of painkillers due to the crippling dependency that easily develops, and the resulting physical and mental degeneration.

Psychedelics, although far from necessary, can be utilized as conveniences to disestablishing conditioned behavior and irrational perspectives; it should be noted as well, however, that rampant abuse of them can potentially render your cognition in such a consistent state of flux that you’re practically catatonic.

I would suggest that strategy and moderation is key; they should be utilized to promote initiative and enhance perception/connection with Reality, not as an anxiety based, compulsive method of escapism. This highlights the thin line between self-empowerment and self-destruction.

I heavily suggest staying away from alcohol and the various opiates making up the spectrum of painkillers, due to the crippling dependency that often develops, and the resulting physical degeneration.

In regards to psychedelics like marijuana; although far from necessary, they can be utilized as conveniences to disestablishing conditioned behavior and irrational perspectives. I also know individuals; however, whose rampant abuse of them has rendered them practically catatonic and cognitively inept.

I would suggest that strategy and moderation is key, they should be utilized to promote initiative and enhance perception/connection with Reality; not as a fear based, compulsive method of escapism. This is the thin line between self destruction and self empowerment.

Substance abuse is the product of a conditioned dependency, a state of perpetual escapism, resistance to the pain of circumstance, avoidance of the inevitable risk in living authentically; ironically rendering one prioritizing their self destruction as an essential component to their well being.

This is typically motivated via the desire to relieve oneself of the constant anxiety of living in a state of fight or flight within our generally unforgiving, hyperactive society; though only perpetuates this suffering in the resulting degeneration of physical health and cognitive function.

We need to discipline ourselves to consume with caution. If we do not master our compulsions, we are at the mercy of those who seek to capitalize on our inadequacies; such as the illusory salvation in a pill, bottle, box of cigarettes, or perhaps even a television screen.

The suffering of others does not invalidate your own, yours is simply implemented more subtly. You, like all of us living in modern civilization, have been subjected to probably more than a decade of fear based cultural conditioning in oppressive institutions feigning empowerment; leaving you feeling trapped in a labyrinth of anxiety and repression.

Utilize those same compulsions that prompt immersion in escapism, whether that be substance abuse or general distractions, as motivation for self empowerment; regardless of preconceived notions of your limitations. You are not merely a slave destined to cope with submission, learn this within the direct experience of your initiative to make change.

Create a list of desired accomplishments, challenge yourself, challenge others, work out, refine your diet, etc. You want to strategically organize a lifestyle that acts as friction against any oppressive circumstances. Remain patient during this process, it will manifest in subtle increments, as you and others acclimate to the changes you’re invoking.

I heavily suggest staying away from alcohol and the various opiates making up the spectrum of painkillers, due to the crippling dependency that often develops, and the resulting physical degeneration.

In regards to psychedelics like marijuana; although far from necessary, they can be utilized as conveniences to disestablishing conditioned behavior and irrational perspectives. I also know individuals; however, whose rampant abuse of them has rendered them practically catatonic and cognitively inept.

I would suggest that strategy and moderation is key, they should be utilized to promote initiative and enhance perception/connection with Reality; not as a fear based, compulsive method of escapism. This is the thin line between self destruction and self empowerment.

Heroine promotes feelings of pleasure that are not necessarily healthy; similarly (though perhaps in a way that is initially less obvious), one may over-indulge in the comfort of vicariously living through characters and fantasy, a dependency that inhibits one from optimal living.

Escapism is essentially an unproductive “flight” response to experiencing the insecurity of recognizing oppressive circumstances, the resulting avoidance of the inevitable friction that progression in Reality may entail at times. Rather than compulsively indulging in distractions, a productive response would be to acknowledge unfulfillment and utilize the fear of prolonged suffering, as motivation to persist through the tribulations that entail realizing one’s potential.

The behavior to overindulge in entertainment (television/books/video games) is a product of the fear based conditioning that we’re subjected to, that instills repression and anxiety, rendering most people little more than passive observers. These various outlets for escapism are the perfect drug to temporarily subdue the pain of submission, ironically sustaining it.

We forsake our opportunity to experience the vivid sensation of our existence, in favor of the illusory security of simulation, surrendering our will in the product of someone else’s, rather than the empowering education of direct experience. We must choose carefully the creations we decide to empower with our attention, the influences that we carry with us and may unconsciously propagate.

You convey an obvious level of self awareness, thus your plight is clearly not one of a lack of understanding, but a lack of will.  Your avoidance of necessary pain will perpetuate a cycle of unfulfillment.  You need to begin persisting through inevitable discomfort.  Find security in your initiative to construct a routine focused on self sustenance, ensuring optimal health to endure the friction that attempting success entails.

Cultivate discipline as a means of having better control over your thoughts.  Working out consistently and making sure that you are getting more than enough nutrition is absolutely essential to your health, and will aid in diminishing ADD symptoms.  Begin and end each day with reviewing a list of desired accomplishments, editing and checking off components as you progress.  Balancing caffeine intake can also dramatically aid in focus, as well as removing oneself from hyperactive sensory phenomena, such as television, video games, and surfing the web.

Anyone consuming drugs should ensure that they do so responsibly.  Moderating drug use as a means of disestablishing conditioned thought patterns and expanding awareness is very different from drug abuse to numb the senses as a means of escapism.  Self Empowerment > Self Destruction.

^The most popular question on this blog.