I am dual-diagnosed. I have bipolar disorder coupled with substance abuse. My favorite substance to abuse is alcohol but over the years I have also been addicted to marijuana, exercise and work. I have been in recovery for nearly 12 years but I have one addiction that I can’t seem to shake: Oil.

Every time I hear President Obama or Thomas Friedman or some other pundit or politician tell me that I am addicted to oil, I think of my other addictions. How did I recover from them? Prayer. 12-step program. Therapy. Friends. Medications. A lot of humble pie.

What I did not do – ever – was blame my dealer/supplier. It wasn’t his fault. I am the addict. He supplied and encouraged me but my addiction is mine. What he did was wrong but I cannot blame him for my addiction. Getting clean was my responsibility – not his. He had the supply. I had the demand.

Which brings me to British Petroleum – BP – the multi-billion dollar petroleum company. BP is our supplier. We are the addicts. We can get all self-righteous and boycott BP but we will just find another supplier. Do you think buying gas from Exxon is any better than buying it from BP? That’s like saying that buying dope from one dealer is more reprehensible than buying from another.

What I am trying to say is every time I point a finger at BP, there are three pointing back at me. Hey, I despise BP just as much as anyone. But I am the oil junkie. I am the one who created the demand. I have a responsibility here – just as I had to take responsibility for my alcoholism and addiction. I had to take a fearless and moral inventory of myself. What was my part?

Maybe – as the oil continues spewing from a hole in the ocean floor – we should take a cue from the recovered addicts and alcoholics with long term sobriety. How did THEY do it? How did they break their addiction?

Maybe we should take the first step and admit that we are powerless over oil and that our lives have become unmanageable. And if you really want to do something to help, don’t drive your car for one day this week. Just one day. Car pool. Take the train or bus. Work from home. Ride a bike. Walk. Maybe that is how we are going to do it…one day at a time.

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From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (June 8, 2010)

    Last reviewed: 7 Jun 2010