What does a broken window have to do with the impact of addiction on a person’s life? Although multiple analogies can be drawn, in this instance, we explain how to redirect your situation to prevent it from worsening. Whether you believe you may have an addiction, it has been diagnosed, you are in the recovery phase, or your goal is to prevent relapse, this article will be of interest to you.
You will already know that any addictive behavior brings with it various problems that negatively affect the patient’s quality of life. Often, addiction can arise from a mental disorder or vice versa. It has been proven that the risk of dual pathology is very present in people with addictions or mental illness.
Bearing this in mind, it is crucial to raise awareness about the importance of prevention, care, and recovery, not only focusing on the substance or addictive behavior but also paying close attention to behavioral alerts and the affected person’s psychological conditions.
On this occasion, we are talking about a condition that often affects addicts, but also those suffering from pathologies such as depression, among others.
What is the broken window syndrome?
This syndrome takes its name from a social experiment conducted in 1969 by Professor Philip Zimbardo, whose conclusions have since been applied in all kinds of contexts: social, urban planning, corporate and labor, and even personal and psychological.
This experiment was initially conducted to observe the behavior of an affluent neighborhood and a troubled one towards an “abandoned” vehicle parked on the street. While initially, the vehicle only suffered vandalism in the troubled neighborhood, when a car was left, visibly damaged, in the good neighborhood, it also suffered additional damage.
The conclusion? When something is perceived as not only unprotected but also neglected, society becomes more destructive towards it. When we perceive something damaged, we think that if it is already neglected, there is no need to act with the same care or respect with which we would treat something in good condition. Think of a friend’s car: if you get in and find it dirty, you won’t mind putting muddy feet inside. If, on the other hand, it is immaculate and you notice that the owner takes great care of it, you will try to be as respectful as possible not to spoil it.
Work on your self-esteem and regain your motivation
The same thing happens to you as with this last car, with which the experiment was originally done, or with any other possession, object, or place. If you don’t take care of yourself or treat yourself badly, adopting and maintaining harmful habits, you yourself will promote a deterioration that will increasingly worsen. This occurs especially in people with mental illnesses, addictions, and/or dual pathology. Feelings derived from these conditions, such as guilt, weakness or vulnerability, and the stigma they are subjected to, greatly affect them. If help is not sought in this situation, recovery, although possible, will be more complicated and difficult for the affected person, as they will have to climb out of an increasingly deep hole.
The benefits of self-care
To avoid unwanted self-destruction, the first step is to recognize your worth and realize the reasons you have to fight for yourself. Letting addiction or illness drag you down or engulf you is not an option, and therefore you must find those motives that drive you to achieve recovery.
The development of addictions is considered multifactorial, as there is no single reason that is the sole trigger. Even so, it has been shown that people who have significant deficiencies or do not have a good quality of life—with hobbies and interests or aspirations, moments of rest, or a satisfactory social life—are more prone to developing an addiction.
Therefore, one of the best complementary actions that can be undertaken to prevent an addiction, recover from it, or avoid relapse, is to look after one’s own well-being. Creating habits that give us control over our lives and provide satisfaction will improve the situation and create the perfect context for recovery.
You don’t have to do it alone
If you are struggling to control and overcome an addiction or dual pathology, it is always best to seek professional help. Not doing so can be counterproductive, as failed attempts, which should not make you feel bad because they are part of the process, can cause very harmful feelings capable of sinking you even further.
Far from being a sign of weakness, going to a therapist will provide you with the necessary tools to leave your pathology behind safely and permanently. As we have seen at CC Adicciones, where we have been helping people regain control of their lives for years, overcoming addiction is always possible.
Following a structured process, developed by professionals specialized in addictive behaviors, is key to minimizing the collateral damage that an addiction can cause.
To stop the broken window syndrome and start working on your recovery constructively, contact us! We are the addiction detox center that offers everything you need to achieve recovery. Contact us at our 24-hour phone number or through the form available on our website. Bet on yourself and achieve it with the best professionals. We will be at your disposal without a waiting list and adapting the entire process to your needs.
There is a way out, always!
