There are a fair amount of children that have gone through that stage in which because their room is dark and their mom and dad are not in the room with them, they thus fear the darkness, and even believe that there could be some sort of monster in their room, even though there is not. Truth be told, children outgrow that stage, though, there are plenty of adults that still have a basic fear of darkness and of being alone, but they no longer believe that when the lights are out, a monster may appear.
On the other hand, however, those who battle against addictions of all sorts, and especially those addictions that seem to have taken control of their mind and body so that it would appear that they don’t have the volition to do something constructive about what they are addicted to, have a very strong tendency to see their addiction, at its worse, as some sort of monster within, that thereby wreaks havoc upon who and what they might be.
Those who are addicted to drugs or drink, typically don’t see their addiction as being something that gives them comfort but rather see it as being something that is overruling their good sensibilities so as to become something which is troubling to their being, and because they seemingly can’t conquer it, that trouble becomes a beast of burden, that will not apparently let them go. That is why so many people correctly see their addiction as an entity that is not their friend, though it may act as a friend, from time to time to keep the addict believing that friend or fiend, the addiction at least provides them with the pseudo-satisfaction that they are not ever really alone.
Those though who desire to overcome their addictions must first of all recognize that whatever that they are addicted to, which provides relief to them, at least part of the time, is not ever going to be their trustworthy friend, and when they recognize that their addiction is the enemy and that the addiction serves no good purpose, this can provide them with the impetus to attack the monster within, for until such a time that they determine that they will no longer be subservient to the monster that has ahold of them, nothing much will change.
To conquer an addiction requires not only willpower but also requires the determination to face our demons in a way and manner in which we will not compromise, but rather, we will take no prisoners, because there cannot ever be peace between that which ultimately makes us to suffer, and will not ever make good on what we need to have for a decent and satisfying life. Those with a monster within must find the strength through their own initiative or with the help and aid of valued friends and organization to slay that monster and when accomplished, to replace such with something else of merit that fills the void and thus brings serenity.