« Addiction reflects an inner malaise. There is no judgment to be made on this way of acting. Many beings flee and drown their difficulties, thus thinking of putting them at bay. This is of course an illusion because the real problem is the relationship they have with themselves. There is a lack of esteem, a lack of love, a disrespect for oneself.
There are different objects of addiction, other than alcohol: tobacco, work, sport, food, games, the Internet, even meditation. Everything can be a source of dependence, it's a question of dosage.
For humans, it is a form of escape to escape what they cannot live with or what they feel is unfair in their life. For example, spending a lot of time at work to spend less time with family. Spending time playing sports can give you a good self-image in your current society. But here too it is a leak. »
The floor is given to Arnaud. He reviews his life
« The scenes pass by and I see my body again which disgusts me. He gives me the image of a sub-human. I see myself, drunk, half unconscious, on the dining room table, my arms bathed in the sweet liquid that has spilled.
(...) My bottle has become my confidante, my friend.
I didn't realize I was falling into this. It came little by little. We don't realize it! Of course, I loved drinking, and then it became a habit; afterward, a need, a way to create a family with friends (who are not friends anyway!), “bar pillars”. It's a way of delaying going home. And to disgust the other with oneself, but we are not aware of that either. All this is not very encouraging...
The images still scroll. I am crawling on the ground to climb up like a larva on my filthy bed.
Other images follow: the departure of my wife, Liliane, humiliated, broken and who couldn't take it anymore. A thought comes to me: "It was I who broke her like this! I inflicted my suffering on her! I am the executioner and the victim." I collapse with shame, with fear, I'm a monster!
I don't know how or why, but I know that I am only judged by myself. I seem to be crying, crying like I never knew how to do.
From here, I understand everything about everything, and even beyond! »
What happened when you left your body?
« When I passed to the other side, I was surprised... Surprised to see that I was still alive. Also surprised to see that I hadn't fixed absolutely anything. I felt dirty, and then this feeling of waste made me angry. Against myself. I wondered how I could have wasted all my chances, all the opportunities that had been given to me.
Alcohol has been with me for several lives. I've been in fatal accidents because I was drunk, and then I did it again. »
Why have you rewatched the movie of your life over and over again?
« I had difficulty realizing that my parents loved me, that they had taken care of me, that my wife loved me as well as my son, my friends, my brother. They all had their hearts wide open, enormous. If I had known how to fucking see the life I would have had! This is what I wanted to see again several times. I said to myself: “No, that’s not true, that’s not possible!”
Even my guide, my soul too, spoke to me inside! What we call intuition, I had it and I never wanted to listen to it! I always did the opposite of what she told me. »
Are you still digesting what you saw?
« The anger begins to pass. If I can tell my story, it is because my guide is next to me, it is he who suggested that I speak to you. He told me it would be beneficial for me.
So I decided to listen, for once. I told myself that my experience could perhaps be of use to someone, to prevent them from missing out on their life, like me. I wish it could just cause a little shock in them so that they get back on their path, the one that their soul has decided to follow and so that they no longer waste their time with alcohol.
Listen to your little voice when it tells you to stop. Your little voice is you, it's not someone else telling you: "It's not right to do that!" And then if you need help as a human, ask for it and accept it. »
Do you know what's next for you?
« I'm finally going to get out of this place where I locked myself up, I've been around it. My guide wanted me to talk to you and, by telling you about my life, I understood it better. I understand things better. If you had told me, I wouldn't have believed you. You see, this path is made from oneself towards oneself. Thank you my guide!
He's here, he's coming to get me. Well, this time, I think I'll follow him. »
Thank you for your testimony. One last thing to convey?
« I hope it helps!” Above all, I want to say that no one is to blame. You don't have to make someone feel guilty by saying, "It's not right." Tell him: “Everyone does what they can, but we can always do better! »
✩ ✩
We return to Arnaud's guide
Is it possible to help them?
« The person must become aware of their condition. It's not magic! You have to be able to touch her sensitive spot to wake her up, so that she realizes that she is putting her life on hold by being dependent. »
How to do it?
« Those you see sinking into addiction are beings in great pain, lost inside themselves. So, instead of showering them with reproaches, send them light, kindness, love. Support them even if it is difficult, even if they reject you, keep going, try! Know that it is not you they reject but themselves.
Often, however, they do not lack anything materially, but they seek to fill themselves with video games, food, etc. because they feel an emptiness within them.
Speak to them heart to heart, soul to soul, even if you think they are not listening to you, and do not use reproach or your fears. They would curl up into their shells. »
No, it's not easy. It takes a lot of love and great inner strength. I didn't succeed with my son whose video games spoiled his best years. It is true that I did not benefit from the advice in this Guide.
(V. Bobée and V. Germont, 'Follow your soul, it knows the way')