Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

How to know if you’re addicted

psyche.co

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 213 posts

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#81

Post by kranner »

lelanthran wrote: post #34
rhino369 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The way I knew was by trying to stop for at least a week, if I could accomplish that, then it wouldn't be a problem. Not being able to stop for a week shows you are an addict. But being able to stop for week doesn't really show you aren't one. Most addicts do quit for weeks or even months at a time.

> Not being able to stop for a week shows you are an addict. But being able to stop for week doesn't really show you aren't one. Most addicts do quit for weeks or even months at a time. Correct. "Not doing $X anymore" doesn't mean you aren't an addict. "Being able to turn on/turn off doing $X" means you aren't an addict. If you haven't had a drink in years, but having a single one means that you now cannot do without…

> I've always said that there's no such thing as an ex-smoker; they're smokers who haven't smoked in a long time.

This kind of absolutism may end up discouraging present-day smokers from trying to quit at all. It's also not necessarily true. Some people do go from being smokers to hating the sight/smell/thought of smoking.

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#82

Post by [deleted] »

bloak wrote: post #46
GenZRiseUp wrote: post #12

That is a really beautifully designed website. I was addicted to pornography. The way I knew was by trying to stop for at least a week, if I could accomplish that, then it wouldn't be a problem. I couldn't make it past one day. I thought, maybe access was the issue - so I deleted my browsers, and within a day was reinstalling them just to watch porn. I was watching during classes, and I would go late to events just s…

Were there withdrawal symptoms in your case? If so, what were they? Years ago I read that withdrawal symptoms are an essential part of the definition of addiction, but probably "addiction" has become a somewhat broader concept since then. The article says you "might" also experience withdrawal symptoms, and I don't think I've heard of people addicted to gambling, for example, suffering from any specific withdrawal sy…

[deleted]

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#83

Post by granshaw »

anonymouse008 wrote: post #49

I’d like to throw this out there to see what comes back; has anyone thought about coding and development being an addiction? In my experience, it has fit all of the characteristics of a deeply addictive loop… There’s a strong period of hard effort for variable reward - and much of the time that reward is just the dang thing compiling. I know without a doubt I’ve hurt myself doing this more than I should and am curren…

Broadly I think society only considers “harmful” activities as addictive - drinking, porn, your usual

If you can’t stop doing something that’s societally acceptable or even lauded, you’re just “passionate”

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#84

Post by toyg »

pqs wrote: post #40
GenZRiseUp wrote: post #12

That is a really beautifully designed website. I was addicted to pornography. The way I knew was by trying to stop for at least a week, if I could accomplish that, then it wouldn't be a problem. I couldn't make it past one day. I thought, maybe access was the issue - so I deleted my browsers, and within a day was reinstalling them just to watch porn. I was watching during classes, and I would go late to events just s…

I should try to not randomly browse the web for one week. I'm not sure whether I'm able. Ups. It is so easy to jus type Ctrl-T and then news.ycom TAB.

that's a lot of letters, my firefox gives it to me with just "ne"-enter.

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#85

Post by petercooper »

pdenton wrote: post #65

The worst of the bunch is tobacco. The effect is basically nothing, but it hurts ones health and wallet. I've done cocaine, marijuana, mdma, speed, xtc pills, and some research chemicals. Protips: don't smoke, and never combine any two drugs. If you really want a certain substance, do at least the first session with someone sober to keep an eye on you. Never accept drugs from strangers and don't give in to peer press…

I've never tried tobacco, but I did try nicotine last year after seeing it discussed in ADHD circles. Noticed no effect (beyond perhaps a mild caffeine-esque sensation early on) but forced myself to try it for a few weeks. The "cloud" aspect was amusing, but I forgot about the experiment months ago and have suffered not a jot for it since. Different strokes for different folks, because apparently it's usually one of the most addictive things going, yet I'd consider caffeine or sugar to be more so than whatever nicotine was doing for me.

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#86

Post by mythrwy »

freedom2099 wrote: post #14
grvdrm wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's interesting to try it this way. Did it in the past with alcohol because I was curious how long it take to eliminate the urge (regardless of strength) to drink. Got through two months without any drinks and I'm not sure that the urge ever really went away. But I got used to tamping it down.

I really can’t relate… I drink but I never feel the “urge” to drink… I can simply stop and alcohol doesn’t even cross my mind for weeks.

Exactly the same. I can take alcohol or leave it.

With no social pressure, on my own I very seldom buy alcohol or keep it around. I don't think about it. I don't want for it, on occasion I'll have a few drinks and once in a great while a few too many drinks but it's not something I really care about one way or the other.

I've seen many people not like this. Alcohol is a central part of their life even if they aren't "drunks".

I think it must be a biological/chemical?

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#87

Post by tenuousemphasis »

camjohnson26 wrote: post #63
bloak wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Were there withdrawal symptoms in your case? If so, what were they? Years ago I read that withdrawal symptoms are an essential part of the definition of addiction, but probably "addiction" has become a somewhat broader concept since then. The article says you "might" also experience withdrawal symptoms, and I don't think I've heard of people addicted to gambling, for example, suffering from any specific withdrawal sy…

There’s a Reddit support group for recovering porn addicts, the stories over there are pretty interesting. One of the withdrawal symptoms mentioned is a total lack of interest in sex that they call “flatlining.” https://nofap.com/porn-addiction/

There's a fine line between support group and cult...

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#88

Post by mythrwy »

carlmr wrote: post #6
sumosudo wrote: post #2

Remove the offending substance and see how long or to what extent you would go to get it back.

One of the most common addictions now is cellphone addiction. But especially since the pandemic it's hard to do anything without a cell phone. You need your QR codes everywhere for testing or showing you're tested, show your vaccinations, check in to restaurants, etc.

I have a horrible case of internet addiction and have for decades but one thing I never really got sucked into was phones.

My phone lays untouched 99% of the day and even when I'm out I simply use it for maps and phone calls and messaging (infrequent, hate text messaging).

I think it's the form factor with no keyboard and a tiny screen? Just not enjoyable for some reason for which I'm actually very thankful.

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#89

Post by toyg »

JimWestergren wrote: post #28

Why such a focus of substances and no mention of the more common addictions such as video games, porn and social media?

Because those are all pretty new phenomena, so the literature and treatment culture around them are scarce. Whereas drug and alcohol rehab has been effectively an industry for decades (or even centuries - the Salvation Army was founded in 1865...).

Also, as others have said, the societal impact of substance abuse are often much more visible, directly measurable, and immediately felt.

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#90

Post by bodge5000 »

pdenton wrote: post #65

The worst of the bunch is tobacco. The effect is basically nothing, but it hurts ones health and wallet. I've done cocaine, marijuana, mdma, speed, xtc pills, and some research chemicals. Protips: don't smoke, and never combine any two drugs. If you really want a certain substance, do at least the first session with someone sober to keep an eye on you. Never accept drugs from strangers and don't give in to peer press…

Guess its just a matter of experience and perspective, because for me tobacco is the "best" due its lack of any effect on you mentally, even if it is pricey and bad for you. Though I guess Sugar is probably a bit better and has pretty much the same consequences.

Regardless of your perspective though, I'd say heroin is absolutely the worst

Post reply on HN