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You might have heard the word "addiction" used many times to describe instances where people can’t do without alcohol or harmful substances. That’s what happens when a person has a strong dependency on substances. Besides this, people can also become fixated on certain behaviors and objects, which is called non-substance addiction.
This second type of dependency isn’t really taken seriously, and sometimes, people even joke about gambling or Internet addictions. The problem is, even if they’re not as visible as substance-based compulsions, they bring about similar urges, which is why they’re so scary.
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People don't think of it as an addiction because it's generally good for you, but once you get past the point of diminishing returns, being a gym rat just eats up your time.
An old friend of mine would get cranky if she didn't get in *four to five hours* of working out every single day, and she didn't listen when I told her that doing that much wasn't necessary for being healthy.
#6
It’s difficult to know when exactly an innocent love for something has turned into a dependency. To make it easier, here are a couple of signs that you can look out for:
- Lying about the extent to which you engage in that behavior
- Keeping on doing the same things even if they negatively affect your life
- Stealing or selling things to get money to fund your compulsion
- Finding that everything else pales in comparison to the feeling you get from the thing or behavior
- Noticing that your sleeping and eating patterns have changed as a result of your obsession
Addictions like overeating, gambling, excessive exercising, shoplifting, and gaming are just a few of the many non-substance addictions that can creep up on a person. They stimulate the brain’s reward system to such an extent that it can keep you hooked on the intense and joyful feelings that come after.
#9
All of us seem to be chronically on the Internet, scrolling through endless media almost mindlessly. Apart from wasting a couple of hours in our day, you probably wouldn’t imagine that social media could have such a terrifying hold on someone’s life. Internet addictions are more common than you’d imagine.
Among the youth who’ve grown up accessing the net, studies have found that nearly 5.8% of adolescents and 2.8% of young adults have an Internet-related addiction. It isn’t just that they’re constantly consuming content—the problem is that such an obsession has also been associated with depression, anxiety, and disturbed sleep patterns.
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It might seem like a spiral once you’ve become obsessed with a particular behavior or substance, but there are ways to break the cycle. Experts say that the best thing you can do is find a healthy coping mechanism instead of the addiction. You can do this by observing what triggers your desire to engage in that behavior, and then take steps to substitute it.
Since these non-substance additions are often part of our daily routine, you can change the compulsion by changing up your day-to-day activities. It won’t be easy to completely turn everything around at first, but small steps can also make a big difference.
#13
I've had certain people do that so much to me, as though everything they do or think they know is the one correct way to do anything, dismissing my experience as invalid, talking over the top of me, being rude tf about it and treating with utter disrespect. I think it's an addiction to power.
#14
Even if it doesn't get to the extent of drinking every day. Consistently binge drinking or drinking alone are slippery slopes. Denial runs rampant because most alcoholics I know are "functional alcoholics". Your liver doesn't care that you can hold a job. Your relationships will start to fail when you put alcohol first. You could feel so much better with sobriety.
Edit:spelling errors. Apologies, I'm on mobile so it's not the greatest setup.
#15
Nobody wants an obsession to completely take over their life. Sometimes the dependency may start from something as simple as starting a new video game and then spiral into something bigger if you give it power. The best thing you can do for yourself or the people you know is to keep track of these compulsions and try to nip them in the bud.
Do you have any examples of addictions like this that people seem to overlook or treat too casually?
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