Is there a connection between Addiction & Parasites?

Addiction is a complex, multifaceted and multileveled phenomenon that has been observed throughout the centuries in every walk of human life. You can find addiction everywhere. It extends beyond the realm of drugs and alcohol. It is encompassing behaviors such as gambling, shopping, eating, porn, internet and electronics use. It’s any kind of abuse in general really.

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by a compulsion to engage in a particular behavior or consume a substance, despite the negative consequences it may bring. Compulsion stems from alterations in the brain's reward system, which leads to an intense focus on seeking and obtaining the object of addiction, often at the expense of other aspects of life, including relationships, work, and almost always our personal well-being and can have far-reaching consequences, both for the individual struggling with the disorder and for society as a whole.

On a personal level, addiction can lead to physical and mental health problems, financial difficulties, strained relationships, legal issues and it can be a matter of life or death as it can have a significant societal impact, contributing to increased healthcare costs, crime, and lost productivity.

If we were asked to paint the picture of addiction, we would see a heavy dark cloud looking like a monstrously huge Octopus that is above us in the collective unconscious realm of humanity, globally in every human, with many legs being very steamy gray like, spraying heavy and hypnotizing smoke. The legs would be like Octopus legs with the suckers on them. Infinite number of legs. This monster would suck the vital energy off of humans. It would be fed on the energy provided by humans doing certain compulsive behaviors and the repetition of those behaviors would be his daily meals. The more its fed the more it grows. By now 2023 we would have it everywhere on the whole planet surrounding every corner, every city, every village, every human being alive, consuming our vitality, living our life, with the sole target to fully cover up the Earth and make it its own habitation.

Everyone would be glued on one of his leg suckers and would be tricked into feeding the “monster ship”. We can picture addiction as a humongous alien parasite-like phenomenon that has concord our planet but humans cannot see clearly because of its smoke.

There would be infinite choices written on its legs. Some legs would be larger than others with more capacity to suck from humans.

One leg would be called sugar addiction. Another would be alcohol, or cocaine, marijuana, junk, porn, gambling, speed, smoking, talking too much, eating too much, being hyper, junk food, sleep too much, procrastinate and all kinds of brain altering drugs and bad behaviors that you can think of is actually part of it. One leg would be the ego leg, egoistic behavior, egoistical choices.

There’s no clarity in addiction. We lose the ability to navigate our own vehicle. All humans, readers and everyone that is alive at this moment in history and the past 100 years at least have ALL been in the past or are in the present moment addicted to something or another in our lives.

Here is a list that might be a good example of the addictions of today:

1.     Substance addictions: Alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, opioids, pharmaceutical drugs, chemicals, other drugs and anything that can alter the brain's chemistry and create a physical and psychological dependence.

2.     Behavioral addictions: Pornography, sex, gambling, gaming, shopping, over sleeping, procrastinate and other activities that can create a psychological dependence and interfere with daily life.

3.     Food addictions: Sugar addiction, dairy addiction, meat addiction, overeating, binge eating, junk food, overeating and other eating disorders that can create a physical and psychological dependence.

4.     Technology addictions: Social media, smartphone use, internet use, and other digital devices that can create a psychological dependence and interfere with daily life.

5.     Egoistic behavior: Addiction to power, control, status, attention, false humility, spiritual ego, fanatic, dogmatism –ism, -ism, -ism…  and other behaviors that can create a psychological dependence and interfere with relationships and daily life.

6.     Social behavior: Addition to be correct in rotten and obvious broken system, being socially correct, being more of the king than the king himself! Want to be part something that everyone else is without recognizing my own unique soul’s purpose.

It is important to note that addiction is a complex issue, and many people may struggle with multiple types of addictions simultaneously. Seeking professional help and support is often the most effective way to overcome addiction and improve overall well-being.

I am going to give you an assignment, here and now.

Assignment 1:

Think of at least 5 addictions or addictive behaviors you have been or still are addicted to and write them in a clean page one by one leaving some space under it.
If you can’t be sure of your own addictive behaviors, ask your significant other, friends, your family or your phycologist  to tell you some of your addictions. We can’t see ourselves clearly but we can definitely see the other’s! I suggest that you use this opportunity to ask others about it, not to get upset but to become a better person. This goes for everyone and I don’t mean that someone is not a good person, I mean that we as humans are here to evolve and become better persons. We are not born knowing everything. We are in a learning process.

Assignment 2:

Choose a person that you think is packed with addictive behaviors, one person that you can clearly see his/hers addictions and write at least 5 of them in a clean paper leaving some space under each addiction.

Once you complete the assignments 1 & 2 read the following paragraph:

The development of addiction is closely linked to the brain's reward circuitry, specifically the mesolimbic dopamine system. This neural pathway is responsible for the pleasurable sensations associated with rewarding experiences, such as eating, social interaction, and sexual activity. When an individual engages in an addictive behavior or consumes a substance, the brain releases dopamine, which creates a feeling of pleasure or euphoria. Over time, repeated exposure to the addictive substance or behavior can cause the brain to adapt to the increased dopamine levels, resulting in a decrease in the effectiveness of the reward system. As a result, individuals may find themselves needing to engage in the addictive behavior more frequently or intensely to achieve the same pleasurable effects, ultimately leading to a cycle of addiction.

In short, addictions have to do with love. We need the nipple of the loving mother, the hug of the stoic father, the embrace of the caring partner but instead we get the sucker of a monstrous parasite. We are lost in our needs and the clouds are heavy and dark smoke of this humongous Octopus monster has been spraying on us for thousands of years. We are a lost society, searching for love. Love is Home. In love, we are found. Self-love is the most difficult task of this generation. In order to be able to give love one must first give love to oneself. The minute one starts to love one-self (self-love), the same minute one is able and wants to give love to others. The more we tap into self-love the less able we become to tap into the octopus’s suckers anymore.

Assignment 3:

On the paper that you have written your own 5 addictions, write under each one of them, what of the above 6 subjects might be the issue of the need/addiction. Is it a Substance addiction, Behavioral addiction, Food addiction, Technology addiction, Egoistic behavior or Social Addition.

Now, do the same, find which of the subjects his/hers addictions fit best for your friend’s list as asked in assignment 2.

Addiction is a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Some individuals may be more susceptible to addiction due to genetic predispositions, while others may be influenced by environmental factors such as exposure to drugs, stress, or trauma. Psychological factors, including mental health issues, personality traits, and coping mechanisms, can also play a significant role in the development of addiction.

Overcoming addiction is a challenging process that often requires a multifaceted and multidimensional approach to treatment. In many cases, recovery is an ongoing process that requires continued effort, support, self-awareness and the most important self-love. Self-love is the act of valuing and caring for oneself. It is often misconstrued as selfishness or arrogance, but in reality, self-love is crucial for overall well-being and a healthy relationship with oneself and others. In addiction rehab clinics and retreats, self-love is not given much attention, but it is a vital part of the healing process. Self-love is being creative, it is not an overnight process, but rather a journey that requires patience and practice. It can be mistaken in many ways and acted out in an egoistic way. It takes time, courage and inner power to overcome it.

To support your efforts towards self-love, start by finding a light within you.
It can be your humor, your light heartedness, your seriousness, your achieving capacity, your monkey-like muscled body, your lovely hands, your amazing hair, the great way you cook food, your way with fashion that turns heads, your sex appeal, your love for simplicity and simple daily tasks such as gardening, washing dishes, singing solo, drawing your inner issues and then burn the papers in exhalation, taking fotos in your camera, it can be as simple as your everyday breath. Stick to your breathing and ask it to guide you to your next creative project. Take 3 deep breaths now and allow your body to be filled with this air of creativity. One of the mottos to overcome an addiction is “Let the bad go out of you, let the good enter you”

The phrase "let the bad go out of you, let the good enter you" refers to the process of releasing negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and replacing them with positive ones. It is a common saying used in spiritual and personal growth contexts, encouraging individuals to let go of negative influences and make space for positive ones.

In practice, this phrase can be applied in several ways. For example, it may involve letting go of grudges, resentment, guilt, blame and anger towards others and replacing them with forgiveness, compassion, and understanding.
It may also involve releasing negative self-talk and self-doubt and replacing them with positive affirmations and self-love.

To "let the bad go out of you," you may need to take a look at your beliefs, habits, emotional roller coaster, your actions and thought patterns that may be holding you back or causing you stress. Identifying these negative influences can help you to release them and make space for more positive ones.

To "let the good enter you," you can focus on cultivating positive habits and attitudes, such as gratitude, gentleness, self-care, and kindness towards others by doing good and not expecting anything in return. By embracing positive influences and thoughts, you can create a more fulfilling and joyful life.

Use "let the bad go out of you, let the good enter you" as a powerful reminder to focus on what truly matters in life and to let go of anything that may be hindering your personal growth and happiness. The more goodness, light, vitality you pour into your glass of life/ your body/your mind/your emotional body and your daily life, the less of garbage/toxicity/parasites you will have to focus on.

Assignment 4:

Let’s find out some ways to practice self-love and add them, ground, land them to our daily life and practice during the week, in weekends or whenever feels best for you.
My recommendation is to start by giving everyday at least 10min of self-love caring practices every day.

Find which self-love bundle of joy is best for you at the moment and write them right next to each of the subjects in your previous assignments.

1.     Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and compassion, just as you would treat a good friend.
The recommendation is to pray or speak kind words for at least 10min x 3 times per day.

2.     Set boundaries: Learn to say "no" to people and situations that do not serve you, and make time for activities that make you happy. 
The recommendation is to say "no" 11 times per day to your closest people, friends or family as a start.

3.     Prioritize self-care: Make time for activities that nourish your body, mind, and spirit, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time in nature.
The recommendation is to get yourself into a personal challenge of 30 days of exercising or meditating or spending time in nature for at least 20 min per day.

4.     Practice positive self-talk: Challenge negative self-talk and replace it with positive affirmations.
The recommendation is to use language that is kind and supportive to the mirror for at least 10 min per day for 30 days or take a book with good, gentle polite writing and read it for 30 days in the row at least 10min per day.

5.     Forgive yourself: Let go of past mistakes and practice self-forgiveness. Recognize that you are human and are capable of making mistakes.
The recommendation is to make a small session and write in a piece of paper all your past mistakes and ask yourself to forgive yourself for each one of them. After the whole process is done, put the papers in a small ceramic jar or your fire place or any other fire and burn it all in a releasing way.This is something you can repeat once a month until there’s nothing left to burn…

6.     Embrace your uniqueness: Celebrate your individuality and unique qualities. Don't compare yourself to others, but appreciate what makes you special.
The recommendation is to write in a piece of paper what you think you are unique for, ask your friends, family therapist, what they think you are unique for and read them out loud every day for 13 days.

7.     Learn to love your flaws: Accept and embrace your imperfections. They make you who you are and add to your uniqueness.
The recommendation is to write down your flaws, asking your friends, family or therapist about it and read them carefully for 13 days until you recognize them in your everyday life. Once you recognize your flaws in the daily life, stop and observe where they come from, what they want to attract and why. Then stop the narrative and act in a different way. Say, let me think about it, yes, please, I’m sorry and thank you.

8.     Cultivate gratitude: Focus on what you are grateful for in your life. Appreciate the small things and express gratitude for them.
The recommendation is to write down all that you are grateful for, every little thing. Take your time to find every little aspect of your life that you are grateful for and write it down to this magic notebook of yours, to keep and read whenever you lose hope in the future.

9.     Surround yourself with positive people: Spend time with people who uplift and support you. Avoid toxic relationships that drain your energy and self-esteem. The recommendation is to focus on creative projects, in creative projects usually you will find quite healthy individuals.

10.  Practice self-acceptance: Accept yourself as you are, flaws and all. Recognize that you are enough just as you are.
The recommendation is to get off your high horse. Meaning see life as it is not as you fantasize it to be. Find out what others think of you and accept that not everyone around you loves you or even likes you and that’s OK since you also don’t like or love everyone around you. Its only human, it’s very helpful to start running, exercising, fasting, meditating, or just being creative with anything you have at ease, since it makes it easier to accept oneself when we are sweating and are in the middle of a run J …

Connection to parasites:

Some studies suggest that certain parasites can influence the behavior of their hosts, including potentially affecting aspects related to addiction.

One of the well-known examples involves the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This protozoan parasite has a complex life cycle, and its primary host is a member of the cat family. However, it can also infect humans and other warm-blooded animals. Research has indicated that T. gondii may alter the behavior of infected rodents, making them less fearful of predators, which increases the likelihood of the parasite being transmitted back to its primary host, the cat. While the effects in humans are not as well-documented, some studies have suggested potential links between T. gondii infection and changes in human behavior, including potential associations with mental health disorders.

Regarding addiction, there have been some studies suggesting a correlation between T. gondii infection and changes in human behavior. For example, a study published in the journal "Addiction Biology" in 2016 found that individuals infected with T. gondii had an increased likelihood of being involved in a car accident. While this does not directly imply a causal relationship with addiction, it suggests that the parasite might influence certain behaviors.

The mechanisms behind these behavioral changes are not fully understood, and it's essential to interpret these findings with caution. The field of "parasite-induced behavioral changes" is still relatively young, and more research is needed to establish the extent and nature of such interactions in humans.

It's important to note that while parasites may have some influence on behavior, addiction is a complex phenomenon with various genetic, environmental, and psychological factors at play. Substance use disorders involve changes in brain chemistry, reward pathways, and other neurobiological aspects that are not fully explained by parasitic infections alone.

Parasite-induced behavioral changes refer to alterations in the behavior of a host organism (addition) caused by parasitic infections. These changes are often adaptive for the parasite, facilitating its survival, reproduction, and transmission to new hosts. The phenomenon has been observed in various host-parasite interactions across different species. Here are some notable examples:

1. Toxoplasma gondii:

   • Host: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including humans.
   • Behavioral Changes: In rodent hosts, such as mice and rats, T. gondii has been shown to alter behavior. Infected rodents display reduced aversion to cat odors and may even be attracted to them, making them more susceptible to predation by cats. This behavior benefits the parasite by completing its life cycle, as it can only reproduce sexually in the gut of a cat.

2. Hairworms (Spinochordodes tellinii):

   • Host: Grasshoppers and crickets.
   • Behavioral Changes: Hairworms are parasitic worms that infect insects. Once mature, they induce behavioral changes in their insect hosts, compelling them to jump into water. This behavior is crucial for the worm's reproductive cycle, as it needs water to lay its eggs. The infected insect's suicidal leap into water facilitates the release of the hairworm and the subsequent hatching of its eggs.

3. Lancet Liver Fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum):

   • Host: Snails, ants, and mammals (including cows and deer).
   • Behavioral Changes: The lancet liver fluke has a complex life cycle involving snails, ants, and mammals. When it infects ants, it manipulates their behavior. Infected ants are more likely to climb vegetation and attach themselves there. This behavior makes them more likely to be consumed by mammals, completing the fluke's life cycle.

4. Parasitic Wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae):

   • Host: Caterpillars.
   • Behavioral Changes: Some parasitic wasps lay their eggs on or inside caterpillars. The wasp larvae manipulate the host's physiology and behavior to ensure their own survival. For example, certain wasp species inject chemicals that alter the caterpillar's immune response, allowing the wasp larvae to avoid detection and destruction.

These examples illustrate the diverse strategies employed by parasites to manipulate the behavior of their hosts for their own benefit. While these adaptations are fascinating from a biological perspective, they also highlight the complex and often intricate relationships between parasites and their hosts in the natural world.

The research on human addiction or changed behavior by parasites is not yet fully researched and is better called parasite-induced behavioral changes. Obviously there's a lot to learn from researching those parasitic organisms in human beings and one can only expect that these parasites in humans affect the human behavior fully because they want to survive and eat and drink and reproduce and survive, the only way to do this is if the host-the humans do as they been told by the parasites.

One can only imagine how deeply these parasitic organisms have been affecting our society in so many levels. It's almost like this society is run by parasites, not only metaphorically speaking.

Imagine liver flukes (see image below) being living inside your liver trying to get food all the time while blocking your liver's natural rhythm. You will be angry, you will be shouting and be depressed with life, because life doesn't flow inside of you.  Most of humans have many liver flukes.
Imagine having tapeworms inside your body. Tapeworms are eating a lot of food. So the human that has tapeworms is eating a lot of food and can't get weight on and so on and so forth...

Stay in tune I will go deeper into the specific behaviors of humans due to parasites in another article, meantime for more info please read the books of Dr. Hulda Clark.