Band-Aide's on Bullet Holes

 

Filling the Void: Trauma, Addiction, and the Quest for Wholeness

Remember that scene in "Kung Pow: Enter the Fist" where our absurdly dubbed hero delivers a punch so epic it leaves the villain with a gaping, cartoonish hole in his torso? You can see the landscape right through him as if he's become a living, breathing donut of doom. Now, hold that image in your mind and let's talk about a more serious but somewhat related topic: the role of trauma in addiction.

Imagine, if you will, that each of us has a similar hole, though not quite as visible or as suitable for comic effect. This hole isn't the result of a kung fu punch-up but rather the complex, often painful experiences that life throws our way. Trauma, in its many forms, can leave us feeling incomplete, as if a part of us is missing or damaged.

For many, addiction begins as an attempt to fill that void. We stuff it with whatever we can find—substances, behaviors, you name it—hoping to become whole again. These are our temporary patches, our attempts to plug the leaks and pretend the hole doesn't exist. But as anyone who's tried to fill a spiritual hole with material things can tell you, it's a lot like trying to fill the Grand Canyon with a teaspoon. Good luck with that.

The old adage "your secrets will keep you sick" captures this perfectly. The things we hide from the world—and often from ourselves—are like the silent winds that keep the void open and raw. We can try to slap Band-Aids on bullet holes, but deep down, we know they're just going to get soaked through. And honestly, who wants to go through life looking like a mummy made of Band-Aids?

Addressing trauma and beginning the healing process can be a long, sometimes lifelong journey. It's about peering into that void and understanding what caused it. It's about recognizing that the temporary fixes we've used are about as effective as using a chocolate teapot. Sure, it's sweet for a moment, but it's going to melt into a sticky mess the moment things heat up.

Healing from trauma is about seeking out the right tools, the right support, and the right environment to start patching up the real wounds. It's about learning to live with the scars, yes, but also finding ways to stop the cycle of hurt and self-medication.

And, let's be real, it's a bit like doing renovations on a house while you're still living in it. There will be days when everything is covered in dust sheets, and you can't find the darn screwdriver, and you accidentally wallpaper the cat. But bit by bit, the structure starts to feel more solid, more like a home and less like a house of cards.

So while we may not have literal holes punched through us (and let's be thankful for small mercies), the metaphorical holes left by trauma are very real. And while filling them is no laughing matter, if we can't sometimes see the humor in our human foibles, we're missing out on one of the best healing balms available.

In the end, whether your void looks like a kung fu injury or a metaphorical abyss, know that you're not alone in trying to fill it. And remember, the journey to wholeness isn't about finding the perfect filler; it's about learning to live with the hole in a way that doesn't lead us to self-destruct. It's about turning that void into a space where growth can happen, where flowers can bloom—perhaps even a nice little rock garden or a koi pond. Now that's what I call interior (and exterior) design!-Belle-