Our Society: Addiction and More Uncovered

Hear the voice of everyday people — collection of stories and experiences

by Gabriella Kőrösi, PhD, MN, RN

This book is dedicated to the memory of

Bagóczky József my uncle who died at age 19 — alcohol related car accident

and to everyone else who has been hurt or lost related to addiction

Many people had been supportive and inspiring to me so I could create this book. Both of my wonderful children told me, just write that book mom. My mom. I could have not done this without all the stories provided and the encouragement love and caring from my family and friends, nurses, doctors, counselors, teachers, professors, friends who are dealing with addiction and staying sober; and children, wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers of people who are dealing with addiction currently. Thank you for speaking up, sharing your stories and life experiences. Thank you for all the people who read this book while in progress to provide feedback, ideas and encouragement for me to continue writing. I would like to say special thanks to my friends and family for believing me and encouraging me to go on.

Chapter 1

1. Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are amazingly beautiful and complex creatures. I have been really lucky the last few weeks to see a hummingbird every day. It is summer and they like all the flowers around the house. When they come, I just stand very still and watch them, enjoy the beautiful company. One of the favorite foods for them seems to be the Chinese lantern. The little birds are amazing, their colors are beyond words, the fast way they flap their wings and fly is spectacular. They make very beautiful bird songs as well. People love them. They are astonishing little beings.

Well, so far, I have not met someone who does not like hummingbirds.

They are very beautiful and delicate creatures and have to fight to survive every day. It is truly amazing what their little bodies can endure. They have a very fast beating heart, extreme wing fluttering, have to drink nectar very frequently or they would starve to death. Many die during their first year. They are also able to control their temperature and heart rate which go down very low and slow at night and beat very fast during the day. It is a unique moment when someone can see them sitting on a branch. Hummingbirds also fight for their food and chase other hummingbirds away who are trying to get to the flower or the feeder.

Hummingbirds and people dealing with drug and alcohol addiction have a lot in common.

I believe all people are very beautiful, no matter what disease process, or habit-forming issue they have to deal with.

Addiction is very a complex phenomenon. When someone is dealing with addiction, they have a strong urge and craving to get their next dose. Deep into addiction, people many times fall into a trap and all they know is how to live their addicted life. People told me that they kept using drugs because of the fear of what will happen to them if they don’t. The fear included that they will die if they do not get their next dose or that they will get very sick.

Many people die of addiction within their first year of use.

Drugs and alcohol can increase and decrease a person’s heart rate to a point many times that the heart cannot take it anymore and can result in fibrillation or heart attack. The heart can also slow down too much and can cause death. Getting to food for the hummingbird or the next fix for someone with addiction is the same process, a need to be filled. In both cases there is the knowledge that if this desire is not filled a person will become sick and start to withdraw. Withdrawal from substances can be very dangerous and could cause death.

There is no choice in the matter. Life or death is at the stake.

There is one major difference between a hummingbird and a person who is dealing with addiction. It is hard to see beyond the addiction and find the beauty in the human being. People won’t judge a hummingbird, while people would judge someone who is dealing with addiction. Nobody wants to be addicted to anything especially if it is causes detriment to self and others. There are many addictions that people can get caught up in. These could include but not limited to smoking, vaping, using any device for smoking any harmful substance, food, gambling, sex, social media, gaming are some examples.

People get caught up in a web that is hard to unweave. The goal of this book is to change some judgmental perceptions and uncover some false perceptions about addiction. This book will share my experiences and ideas with many others who I have interviewed including professionals from the addiction world, counselors, people from the medical world including but not limited to doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, nutritionist, police, prosecutor, mothers of addicts, youth, priests, families, and friends who know people with addiction as well as individuals who are currently addicted or have been addicted to any substance.

Originally published:

Our Society: Addiction and More Uncovered. Hear the voices of everyday people — collection of stories and experiences.

Copyright @ 2020. 1st addition on Amazon KDP.

2nd addition Jan 2021 Barnes & Noble

By Dr. Gabriella Kőrösi

ISBN: 9798577493752

All rights reserved.

Thank you for reading,

Gabriella

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