How many times have you asked this question of someone, how many time's has someone asked this of you? Speaking for my self, far to many to count. The simple answer to this is there is no simple answer. To really understand what is ticking in the mind of someone who is addicted or involved in criminal activity, or both you have to understand there outlook and perception on life it's self from there view point. I can't speak to you in scientific terms about the brain. What I can do is give you insight into understanding how someone can get to a place where addiction and criminality seem the normal thing to do.
Self-perception is the starting point to this journey down the rabbit whole. while attending countless groups and speaking to thousands of men during my 33 years of incarseration Low self-esteem and even a lower opinion of your value in life was a common theme among us all. Perceiving your self as a social outcast, not fitting into the "norms" of society starts the mold for the future self. The reasons for believing this of your self don't have to be true only the fact you do is enough. Every human being on this planet is looking to be loved and wanted and if it doesn't get this from the main stream of society we go looking for someone or something to fill this void. This is where addictions and criminality have there advantage to gain control of our belief system. From a very young age we start looking for that place to fit in and dealers are quick to "be your friend" the same goes for those involved in crime and gangs so for the man or woman looking to fit in its a natural fit. Now give this person years of involvement with drugs, gangs and crime and learning to survive in that world and develop a sense of thinking that's "normal" for that existence, change is so far from a reality they know, it dose not seem possible. They would change if the future without drugs, gangs, and crime could be seen but its so far from there reality when offered at the first sign of trouble they run back to where they know how to live and in there mind is safe. That is the devil in the details we have to understand. they need to be Hand held and walked through this mystery of sober and clean living and what we ask them to do is discard all they have ever known and trust it will be better. It is a hard thing to have the courage to walk this new road and there is an old belief system in place we have to find a way to overcome. WE can start by giving them a safe place to live and a chance to grow as a human, changing there perception of them selves building self-esteem getting them to see them selves as more then societies rejects. We need to have the ability to show them a future and get them to realize it is not only possible but reachable. there will be more on this at a later date till then this is Don: out
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