Inner pain creates addiction, depression, violence and anger. Anger is a public epidemic in the World; contaminates everything from media controversy to wars to mass shootings.

But aside from the larger toxic scale of this basic Human emotion and its connection to violence, anger affects us in our day-to-day personal lives as well, on an intimate scale.

Everything from workplace frustration to family dispute can erupt and contribute to overall stress, anxiety, and depression.

Inner pain can lead to similar rushes as thrill-seeking activities where danger triggers dopamine reward receptors in the brain, or like other forms of addiction such as gambling, extreme sports, even drugs like cocaine.

Inner pain can become its own reward, but like other addictions, the final consequences are dangerous and real, and people follow impulses in the moment without regard to the big picture.

The psychological aspect of ego fragility and injury is often seen in narcissistic personalities; the rush behind Inner pain can be triggered by underlying feelings of weakness or insecurity, a way to feel powerful in the moment and overcome those feelings.

It also helps people feel briefly in control of things they typically have no control over.

People who are raised in continuously chaotic environments, the uncertainty and volatility of inner pain might become perversely comfortable, might help distract from or escape underlying uncomfortable feelings of emptiness or fear.

The rush of drama and conflict feels familiar and produces a destructive intimacy that some might prefer than to confront other darker emotions like loss or grief or more.

As with any addiction, the first step is admitting there is a problem; and for many, this is the hardest step until unfortunately something happens that you can not take back.

It takes maturity and guts to admit your pain has become a problem, and sadly, many people have not yet stepped back to look and see how they affect everyone around them, let alone themselves. Awareness is the first step to recovery.