Poll
Question:
Is addiction a disease?
Option 1: Yes
votes: 6
Option 2: No
votes: 2
Option 3: Other
votes: 2
What are your thoughts about this?
Physically I wouldn't say it is, but mentally yes, mental problems can be contagious.
Yup.
Quote from: "Berry Sweet"
I'll guess yes.
Quote from: "Berry Sweet"
Yes, in many cases. I'm aware of a multiplicity of professional opinions among psychologists, psychiatrists, MDs, social workers, people who identify themselves as addicts, and I could drone on about all those opinions, but you didn't ask for that.
So, my own opinion is that while there is such a thing as a purely medical or pharmacological addiction that can be stripped of other trappings, addiction as a primary disease is more complicated, having emotional and spiritual components as well as neurochemical ones.
Addiction occurs in people who are dissatisfied with their own internal state and don't understand how to fix it, so they learn instead to manipulate their neurochemistry.
To an addict, everything becomes about behaviors that manipulate the four or five brain chemicals that cause one to experience happiness, elation, ecstasy, and so on. Since the brain can make most of these chemicals without having to be chemically stimulated, the ingestion of drugs including alcohol isn't strictly necessary. This neurochemistry can also be stimulated by many other behaviors such as eating disorders, codependency, compulsive gambling or debting, physical thrill seeking, sexual behaviors including porn, love seeking, and the list goes on.
A "real addict" can and will move from one addictive behavior to another in order to mediate the discomfort of withdrawal from his primary addiction.
"Many people don't understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives."
https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/addiction-science
I've had addictions to alcohol, caffeine, drugs, and tobacco since I was twelve. Addiction aint no disease.
Quote from: "Herman"
I read addiction is a disease.
Quote from: "Peaches"
Addiction occurs in people who are dissatisfied with their own internal state and don't understand how to fix it, so they learn instead to manipulate their neurochemistry.
in a nutshell, I would agree.
Addiction isn't always a disease, but it can be. I was physically addicted to alcohol fifteen years ago.
Quote from: "iron horse jockey"
Alcohol withdrawal is a very temporary thing. Not, that I would know. I do not try to quit. ac_drinks
Quote from: "iron horse jockey"
That must have been terrible IHJ..
I'm glad you're healed now.
:smiley_thumbs_up_yellow_ani:
Its a mental illness.. You are not able to live normally without the high..
But I hate it when these speedmonkeys have started to abuse the "illness" factor..
They deserve a very limited amount of sympathy.
Quote from: "Berry Sweet"
I voted yes.
Odd that people view "addiction" as a dependency on chemicals.
There are other forms of addiction that do not involve ingesting drugs and alcohol.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
There are other forms of addiction that do not involve ingesting drugs and alcohol.
Of course there are. Gambling and video games are a couple of examples.
Exactly.
And more sinister and destructive activities.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
And more sinister and destructive activities.
Online gaming is more sinister than alcohol and drugs?
To be honest ~ food & sex are my drugs of choice... and then troll forums.
I could wake up every morning and decide that what will make me happy is to not go to work, to eat ice cream, and play online all day. A few people might blow off work and risk losing our jobs, houses, cars, etc. However, most of us will force ourselves out of bed to go to work. You make a choice everyday to either work hard or to give into the maximum pleasure sensory of your brain. I think addiction is lazy.
Quote from: "Murdock"
I could wake up every morning and decide that what will make me happy is to not go to work, to eat ice cream, and play online all day. A few people might blow off work and risk losing our jobs, houses, cars, etc. However, most of us will force ourselves out of bed to go to work. You make a choice everyday to either work hard or to give into the maximum pleasure sensory of your brain. I think addiction is lazy.
And laziness is an addiction.
Gambling, food, working out are all very addictive..
Its the high.
People who quit drinking or smoking, get very fat afterwards because they pick up another habit... Like eating copious amounts of junkfood and candy.
Quote from: "Odinson"
Its the high.
People who quit drinking or smoking, get very fat afterwards because they pick up another habit... Like eating copious amounts of junkfood and candy.
Working can be an addiction too.
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Odinson"
Its the high.
People who quit drinking or smoking, get very fat afterwards because they pick up another habit... Like eating copious amounts of junkfood and candy.
Working can be an addiction too.
I used to work with a woman who was only required to work 8 hours a day but she would stay for 10 hours. Then she would also come on the weekends. When you go to her desk, terribly disorganized. What does she do in all that time?
Quote from: "@realAzhyaAryola"
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Odinson"
Its the high.
People who quit drinking or smoking, get very fat afterwards because they pick up another habit... Like eating copious amounts of junkfood and candy.
Working can be an addiction too.
I used to work with a woman who was only required to work 8 hours a day but she would stay for 10 hours. Then she would also come on the weekends. When you go to her desk, terribly disorganized. What does she do in all that time?
Facebook, youtube, snapchat,instagram, photo sharing.
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Facebook, youtube, snapchat,instagram, photo sharing.
She is in the twilight of her years at the job and she's not in any of those platforms.
Does she get paid over time?
Quote from: "Odinson"
Probably a salary like I get.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Quote from: "Murdock"
I could wake up every morning and decide that what will make me happy is to not go to work, to eat ice cream, and play online all day. A few people might blow off work and risk losing our jobs, houses, cars, etc. However, most of us will force ourselves out of bed to go to work. You make a choice everyday to either work hard or to give into the maximum pleasure sensory of your brain. I think addiction is lazy.
And laziness is an addiction.
Is it, or is just a bad habit?