Humans can be oddly complex at times... They are constantly trying to fill up from the outside what should come from the inside. Addictions like drugs, drinking, over-eating, shopping or gambling...what are some others?

Have you ever experienced this or watched while someone else self-destructed while trying to "fill up the hole"?

I have a terrible sexual addiction, and I find that I must try to.."fill up that hole"

Yes I see it all the time. I got two friends into AA recently. I do need to fix that hole where the rain comes in and stops my mind from wandering, where it will go...

Yeah, I've been there. Been clean 15 years. Discovered life and have been living it ever since. Watched many die that couldn't be saved. No matter how much help you attempted to give them. Death is not peace to a tormented soul. Its just solstice for those around them that suffered with them.

I have seen it happen occasionally and its never pretty to watch

Jewel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Rjfyc7Gnc
M.Smith[RIP}

I know a few women that spend their way through lifes "ups" and "downs". They must have the buzz.

That's pretty deep, LHB...& very true.

I know a woman who should be living a very satisfying life...her husband has a great job, they have a very nice house...& yet the water (or whatever) is always getting turned off because she would rather go on shopping sprees...for crap! She actually comes home HIGH from it...but it doesn't last long...

True, true. I have 25 years behind me. While I may have issues that I know make me have my own..."Manhole" issues, I do my best to fill the.."Manhole" with the best medicine..."love, my thoughts, and good conversation"....Jeez, I think I just puked on everyones computor screen.

Would most of us still be here mingling if we didn't have a social void, a hole to fill...?

I think that may have made a lot of people on here...shake a little.

This site could be one :P

Are you implying that I should have a soul?

I don't know if it relates but people trying to fill holes realize they have a cross addiction personality eventually. From alcohol to drugs to sex to gambling to relationships to spending habits. They often swap one addiction for another because of their addictive personality. They quit drinking and become codependent in their relationship. They quit drugs just to blow their income and lives in a casino. They trade their sex addiction for shopping sprees. The best advice I can give to stop the cycle of cross addiction is to take time to discover yourself. Upon getting help and helping yourself with addiction DO NOT get into a relationship with anyone for at least a year after rehabilitation to keep yourself from being cross addicted to that person in a relationship. And then channel positive things into your cross addiction. Find positive things to be addicted to. Volunteering time to charities, underpriveledged kids and families, the elderly, the soup kitchens, the homeless shelters, the red cross. Become an active member of your community. Donate time to local civics and local events. And work for your environment. Go plant trees, flowers, wildflowers and flora. Take all that energy you used to be codependent and destructive and channel it into the positive and make a difference in this world. Being good can be just as addicting. But the results from filling that "hole" with good will have a lot more lasting value. That "hole" will be sealed with pride in accomplishment. That "hole" will be embellished with love of actually caring for others. That "hole" will be adorned with the spirit of being selfless. That "hole" will be so full of life and strengths you will be amazed that you didn't think of doing it much sooner. And last but not least pick and choose your freinds wisely. You will find out you don't have very many freinds. But the ones you do have will be golden. Its so true. When I sobered up I found I had a lot of "fairweather" freinds. When I wasn't buying- they were not my freinds and were not around. Loser user freinds are just that. And they prey on your misfortunes. It is true that misery loves company. Get rid of them and never let the leeches back in. Clean house. You will find all of the sudden that you have good freinds that hold core beliefs and share your newfound respect for life and sharing, and doing right in your short time on this rock. Those are your freinds.

As for my mingle2 addiction? Yeah it fills a hole alright. When I'm on here- I'm at work. I use the site to kill hours and hours upon countless hours of boredom. I'm not nice and cozy behind a pc or laptop. I'm traveling across michigan right now. I have a blackberry duece daisychained to a blackberry pearl with bluetooth and auto dictation transmitting over satellite. I talk- it sends. Got a heads up display. Isn't technology grand?

Booze and dope work for awhile, and ultimately make the hole bigger and deeper.
Sex, money, food, control, status, adrenaline, etc, etc.

Clean and sober 27+ years.

Witchy Woman be seeing you

Maybe...One of These Nights.

woa- deep thought! I like

Thank you. Life is life. You can enjoy it and be happy. Or you can choose to be a miserable, whining, blamer. Which makes more sense? I will take the happy meal please.