The Oedipal Loop: Substance Abusers vs. "Royalty"

The Oedipal Loop: Substance Abusers vs. "Royalty" The psychologies of substance abuse and of royalty may seem on one level to be worlds apart. One is, after all, literally on top of things by law, decree, and birth-the other only gets "to the top" in an illusory world created by reliance on the drug of choice.

But upon closer examination, especially in the play Oedipus the King, the mindset of the substance abuser and that of a misguided monarch turn out to be similar in an almost uncanny number of ways. It has been said that Oedipus is above all a "victim." He is a victim of fate; of the machinations of people around him; of a curse. Similarly, many people in the web of substance abuse consider themselves "victims" of their addiction.

However, this sort of view of both King and addict is something of an oversimplification. In both cases, the sense of victimization springs from a distorted reality: the addict begins with a grandiose belief that he/she is responsible for "saving the world." As one contemporary psychologist puts it: [. ]you're a victim "of the first water" then. You're responsible for the behavior of everybody in the world; and they're not doing it. You're playing the ultimate victim role then.

(http://www.marshasummers.com/innerman/victim.htm) Oedipus echoes that belief over and over in his proclamations; in fact, he not only assumes grandiosity of influence, he asserts that whatever his people have suffered, he's suffering even more: Ye sicken all, well wot I, yet my pain/ How great soever yours, outtops it all. Your sorrow touches each man severally/ Him and none other, but I grieve at once Both for the general and myself and you.

(http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.pl.txt, 2) Oedipus can be forgiven for a bit of grandiosity, as a reigning monarch with all around him reaffirming his importance.

However, his grandiosity quickly turns to another aspect of substance-abuse behavior: paranoia and its companion, "blame-throwing." Rare is the substance abuser who at first doesn't blame someone else for "driving [him] to drink" or the like-even though that is simply not an accurate picture: While some people may be born with an inherited tendency toward addiction, and some life experiences may make it more or less likely, neither genes nor experiences alone cause addiction. Rather, the path to drug use, abuse, and addiction are actions that the substance abuser chooses.

Simply stated, the addiction is the result of a series of bad choices made by the substance abuser. (http://www.coaf.org/Kinship/SAyourfault.htm) Oedipus's paranoia asserts itself most dramatically when he is confronted by Teiresias and told that he, in fact, is the problem. He first insults the prophet, then assumes a conspiracy between Teiresias and Creon to "steal" his crown: OEDIPUS Is this a plot of Creon, or thine own? / TEIRESIAS Not Creon, thou thyself art thine own bane.

(http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.pl.txt, 10) Ane even when the sage denies such a thing, the king persists: What spite and envy follow in your train!/ See, for this crown the State conferred on me. A gift, a thing I sought not, for this crown /The trusty Creon, my familiar friend, Hath lain in wait to oust me [.

] (http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.pl.txt, 10) Oedipus feverishly continues to look outside himself for the "bane" of his people, just as an addict will cling to some exterior "cause" for his/her addiction. This resistance to "own" one's responsibilities is simple denial, and another aspect of victim behavior.

Oedipus is even encouraged in his denial, both by Teiresias (who is reluctant to tell the truth of his prophecy and only comes clean at the king's demand) and by Jocasta, who begs him to leave well enough alone: "Oh, as thou carest for thy life, give o'er/This quest.

Enough the anguish I endure." (http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.pl.txt, 27) If Oedipus were a substance abuser, Jocasta would be an enabler, exhibiting "a pattern of behavior that allows the substance abuser to continue using" ( http://www.coaf.org/Kinship/SAyourfault.htm). To his credit, once the king hears corroboration of the prophet's words, and further explanation from the Messenger, Oedipus takes hold of the awful truth and pursues it to the end.

When he knows the extent of his crime, the king is ready to take his own punishment. However, even then, he reverts to grandiosity, even melodrama; rather than simply allowing himself to be banished from the kingdom, Oedipus gouges out his own eyes and insists on appearing to show his mutilation to all.

(http://classics.mit.edu/Sophocles/oedipus.pl.txt, 34) However tragic this scene may be, it is also an "over the top" manifestation of victim mentality-Oedipus, saying by his actions, "Look how terrible I am!" He even determines that his crime is so great,.