What is the nature of addiction?

katiekitten

Noname's topic about the 'the walk of shame' got me thinking about the nature of addiction.

Does having an addiction mean you cant help what you are doing? Or that you can help it a little bit? Or that you can help it completely and just arent trying hard enough (essentially the religious position)?

Does having an addiction excuse what you have done? I suppose the answer to that depends on how you answered the first lot of questions.

How do you draw the line between excessive behaviour and plain greed and addiction? Wouldnt we all like loads of sex with loads of people all the time (well I know I would anyway!). But at what point does that become a sex addiction? Is there a sliding scale that goes: 'id like to but I wont', 'I like to and I will' 'I want to and I will and I dont think I will get caught' 'I want to and I will even though I know I stand to lose everything' 'I dont want to but I cant help myself'.

I think I have an addictive personality so im not asking this to imply any judgement. I think I could quite easily become an alcoholic, and I have consciously avoided other drugs because im frightened I would never be able to stop myself sliding right down to the bottom very quickly.

Does anyone know more about this? Im interested to hear peoples opinions.

bubble

I'm addicted to chocolate and I would like to eat it all day every day.

Not wanting to look like the back of a bus stops me.

fullofdoubtnow

Hi katie,

I'll try and answer you from my own experience, as one who is currently trying to break an addiction (to smoking) and, to be totally honest, struggling a bit.

I suppose smoking is one of the more socially - acceptable addictions, as it doesn't normally lead it's victims into crime, as other addictions can, but it is still a very hard habit to break, as I'm currently finding out. I think I can help what I'm doing, the drug (nicotine) doesn't totally control me, but at the same time it's very hard to go without, and there have been many times when I've had a vague idea about giving it up, but still gone and bought another packet when I've run out. I know it takes a real effort to break the habit, and I guess I have been too lazy to make that effort, until now anyway.

I've heard the term "addictive personality" many times, but I'm not sure that some people are more prone to that than others. What I am sure of, from at times bitter personal experience, is that anyone who uses an addictive substamce, whether it be alcohol, tobacco, herion, cocaine etc often enough will become addicted in some way. As for sex, I guess that's addictive as well, maybe in a similar way to how gambling is addictive, you get hooked on the act (though I find sex is more fun).

I don't know if it's what you are looking for, but there's my take on it.

Linda

ballistic

It's imporatnt to seperate psychological addiction and chemical dependence. Then just to confuse matters even more, there are psychological addictions which produce chemicals in the brain we find addictive such as addiction to heavy exercise and endorphine producing extreme sports. I think the worst possible scenario are chemical addictions which affect brain chemistry to produce widthdrawl symptoms which includes alcohol. The addict returns to drinking to alleviate the "feelings" produced by widthdrawl - that is the nature of addiction.

katiekitten

there have been many times when I've had a vague idea about giving it up, but still gone and bought another packet when I've run out

im the same with alcohol. And BTW well done for not smoking for a week. It must be really hard especially given the stress you have been under.

To what extend should society let people off if they have an addiction? Some addictions only affect the person involved, so the consequences are only visited on them, but other addictions affect the people around them.

Should we say - well they cant help it? or should they face the full consquences of their behaviour?

(I suppose its the same question with people who claim a mental illness caused them to commit a crime)

ballistic

To what extend should society let people off if they have an addiction?

I think it's very difficult for society or people to understand other people's addictions. For example, I found it extremely easy to loose weight when I needed to. I don't really understand people who say they can't loose weight and appear to be eating all the time. However, I have had trouble with drink binges over the years and some people would scorn that this is mearly a matter of self control.

lowden

What Ballistic said.

Also, alot of it comes down to self respect. Not letting any outside influence completely control us.

Addiction is a word often used loosely. It's a very serious affliction that betrays that we are 'not in control'.

I shudder at the thought.

My childhood buddy died fron a Heroin overdose.

He was seriously misguided, apart from being 'physically depedent' on opiates.

Peace

Lowden

fullofdoubtnow

To what extend should society let people off if they have an addiction?

I think people who take up a habit that is addictive can't really complain if they then become addicted, they chose to take up the habit,though their may be societal reasons, ie family background, education, that led them into it. However, I also believe in the quality of mercy, and if someone commits a crime because of a need to feed an addiction,whilst I feel they should face the consequences of their actions, I also believe they should be offerred help to cure their addiction.

katiekitten

Addiction is a word often used loosely.

I think so. It seems to be used in the way of an excuse sometimes.

It's a very serious affliction that betrays that we are 'not in control'.

Is it just another word for being not in control, but with a medical sound to it, so that it comes with a sort of 'legal excuse' attached?

I suppose after Ballistics clarification, I am thinking about psychological addictions. Because, its true, it is easier to understand chemical addictions (although still not easy to excuse them fully).

lowden

I am thinking about psychological addictions

It depends what it is you're psycologically addicted to.

Another womans husband? Or some other controversial muse.

Pyscological addictions can be equally as destructive as physical ones and have far reaching consequences.

Lowden

What is the nature of addiction?

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