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On the nature of Addiction
May. 18th, 2003 04:40 pmAddiction is such an ugly word...
An addiction is something that is not required by an objective standpoint but is strongly desired and craved to the point of requirement by a subjective standpoint. The craving can become strong enough that other needs may be less important or ignored while pursuing the addiction. The craving may be physically or mentally or spiritually based, but the end result is ultimately the same: addiction.
Everybody physically needs a certain amount of food, air, water and protection from elements to survive and thrive. Your recommended daily allowance may vary but the basic need is there. Most everybody requires a certain minimum of socializing and friendship and mental stimulation for good mental health. Some people may do best as the life of the party, others may just want some occasional quiet time chatting with friends, still others may spend a lot of time only with books, but the principle is the same.
There are a lot of addictions out there. The most common ones are coffee, alcohol, tobacco, gambling and food. Other well known ones are adrenaline, sex, specific kinds of food and certain illegal drugs. However, the simple use of any of these substances is not an addiction. I drink a glass of red wine perhaps twice a year and have no urges to drink more. You may only drink coffee on the mornings that you can't get up without it, and those mornings aren't every day. Someone who smokes a single cigarette or a single marijuana joint every month or three likely doesn't have a smoking problem aside from how legal the substance is for them.
A good way to see if there's something you're addicted to that isn't a basic need is to see if you always want the addiction any time you have access to it and would at least consider going without one of your basic needs to get it. If you drink in spite of the sure knowledge that your job or your marriage will be destroyed as a result, or you lie when you have no need and an honest answer would be better, or you spend all of your money on cigarettes or cocaine because you need your next fix - well, you're showing some signs of addictive behavior.
Addictions are not the same as having a strong preference or a time-intensive hobby. Many people have strong preferences for certain hobbies or kinds of entertainment, such as comic books or role playing games or the occasional mixed drink. It's only when the desire to indulge that hobby or preference becomes a constant craving that it slips over the line into addiction.
Addictive behavior can be managed. Some people manage addiction by not indulging in the addictive substance at all, such as an alcoholic who is in the Alcoholics Anonymous program. Some others try to keep their use down to manageable levels, such as an alcoholic who only drinks one or two glasses of wine a day and only on a full stomach. Some people will manage a current addiction by finding a new one, such as changing from alcohol to food or sex.
Addictions are extremely hard to manage without help. If you think you may have an addiction to something then you should talk with a good therapist to see if it is actually an addiction. If it is, you can discuss strategies to manage the addiction and work at them. No single strategy is right for everyone.
An addiction is something that is not required by an objective standpoint but is strongly desired and craved to the point of requirement by a subjective standpoint. The craving can become strong enough that other needs may be less important or ignored while pursuing the addiction. The craving may be physically or mentally or spiritually based, but the end result is ultimately the same: addiction.
Everybody physically needs a certain amount of food, air, water and protection from elements to survive and thrive. Your recommended daily allowance may vary but the basic need is there. Most everybody requires a certain minimum of socializing and friendship and mental stimulation for good mental health. Some people may do best as the life of the party, others may just want some occasional quiet time chatting with friends, still others may spend a lot of time only with books, but the principle is the same.
There are a lot of addictions out there. The most common ones are coffee, alcohol, tobacco, gambling and food. Other well known ones are adrenaline, sex, specific kinds of food and certain illegal drugs. However, the simple use of any of these substances is not an addiction. I drink a glass of red wine perhaps twice a year and have no urges to drink more. You may only drink coffee on the mornings that you can't get up without it, and those mornings aren't every day. Someone who smokes a single cigarette or a single marijuana joint every month or three likely doesn't have a smoking problem aside from how legal the substance is for them.
A good way to see if there's something you're addicted to that isn't a basic need is to see if you always want the addiction any time you have access to it and would at least consider going without one of your basic needs to get it. If you drink in spite of the sure knowledge that your job or your marriage will be destroyed as a result, or you lie when you have no need and an honest answer would be better, or you spend all of your money on cigarettes or cocaine because you need your next fix - well, you're showing some signs of addictive behavior.
Addictions are not the same as having a strong preference or a time-intensive hobby. Many people have strong preferences for certain hobbies or kinds of entertainment, such as comic books or role playing games or the occasional mixed drink. It's only when the desire to indulge that hobby or preference becomes a constant craving that it slips over the line into addiction.
Addictive behavior can be managed. Some people manage addiction by not indulging in the addictive substance at all, such as an alcoholic who is in the Alcoholics Anonymous program. Some others try to keep their use down to manageable levels, such as an alcoholic who only drinks one or two glasses of wine a day and only on a full stomach. Some people will manage a current addiction by finding a new one, such as changing from alcohol to food or sex.
Addictions are extremely hard to manage without help. If you think you may have an addiction to something then you should talk with a good therapist to see if it is actually an addiction. If it is, you can discuss strategies to manage the addiction and work at them. No single strategy is right for everyone.
