Addictions We can become addicted to almost anything. Most of us who have one addiction have at least one or two others. Addictions indicate that something is "out of whack" in our lives, and it could possibly involve the soul. The soul needs something, but we might be trying to meet that need in an indirect way…like looking in the wrong place for a missing item because the light is brighter over there. In the beginning, many people underestimate the power of the substance or habit to which they have become addicted. Overcoming an addiction sometimes requires more time than one might think would be required at the outset. Recognition of the problem is the first step to recovery. Detoxification With substance abuse, detox is often the beginning stage of recovery. To detoxify from some substances, special conditions that go beyond what a psychologist has to offer are sometimes necessary. Examples are medical supervision of the detox process, or a retreat from the general population.