Have you ever sat and watched Celebrity Rehab w/ Dr Drew, Intervention, Hoarders, or even that newer show about the folks with strange addictions? All these shows are about mental health and behavioral health issues that have gone wild right? You probably have frowned infinitely many times at each episode and sometimes even laughed, cried, or just reacted in complete disgust. What's my point? We are no different than those folks. You and I are born with the same genetic, psychological, mental material and ability to become addicted to something. Let's keep it as real as possible. There are just some addictions that are more acceptable than others. There are folks that are addicted to working out, drinking, tanning, smoking, learning, collecting things, religiosity, etc. etc.

In case you are wondering what my addiction is I have to be honest in saying... Control. Yes, I am addicted to being in control of my life, it's outcomes, where I am going, how am I getting there, who I will marry and my next move. I have gotten to the point I prefer to drive a long distance before I subject myself to the uncertainty of a plane ride. No, I am not afraid of flying. I fear the questionable air quality more than the flight itself. I actually hate not knowing WHEN we are leaving. I hate not knowing for certain the gate will be clear when he plane arrives at my destination. I despise not knowing how many folks will be on the flight. There are so many other things I could mention but I will spare you. I love being in control to the point where uncertainty and lack of clarity makes me anxious. In previous jobs I have taken on more work than what was required of me because I did not what anyone to mess up my client files/medical charts. What if my chart got audited? What if Medicaid shows up? What if a physician calls asking questions? What if? What if? What if? I admit sometimes I did the secretary's duties if it involved one of my client's because I didn't want to have to go back and fix it. No faith in people fueled by perfectionism which exacerbates the need to control.

Hey who doesn't like being in control? But to be obsessed with controlling your life's outcomes is unrealistic and can cause a sense of perfectionism that can be deadly. It can even cause you to actually lose control rather than gain more control. An example of those lose of control is depression and anxiety. I am not saying you will get to the point where you need medication (some of you will) but it will still cause challenges and potential health problems like acid reflux, migraines, hypertension and ulcers to name a few.  Don't believe me look up how emotions impact health in your free time. There is no such thing as having complete and total control so to obsess about it is pointless and self defeating. There will always be variables you cannot see or you cannot grasp. Instead of obsessing about what you cannot control manage what you CAN realistically control such as who you spend your leisure time with,  the time you wake up, what you read, how you spend your money, how you connect with your deity, what you eat, when you sleep, the type of education you receive, who you will marry, etc. Better yet thing of this concept as managing not controlling....control has such a negative connotation. Yea...manage has a positive ring to it.

Because I need to follow my own advice/recommendation, I am taking this time in 2012 to take control over my spirituality, career and the company I keep. This includes more meditation, more reading and especially less male distractions that are unfruitful. Those are three things I KNOW I can control and I will. No longer do I need to obsess about the future. I am living in the now and if I ...or we cannot get control over our addictions and manage the things of the NOW we won't make it to the future anyways.

Sidenote: If you have a serious addiction or dangerous habit please seek professional help NOW and ASAP or call 877-579-0078.

Yours Truly,
TamSherese aka Dr Tam