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How to know if you’re addicted

psyche.co

91–100 of 213 posts

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably because they're considered less harmful to your physical health and society as a whole.

Yes, ok. But such an article with such a title should at least mention them I think. Otherwise some people keep thinking it is normal spending hours daily on social media, or checking their phone 50 times a day. We should speak up and say that it is NOT normal.

It may be a writing constraint or decision by the editor to keep the article focused on alcohol and drug use, as addiction to "video games, porn and social media" may have different treatment approaches or signs of addiction (and would thus significant broaden the article's scope), though I agree with your last two sentences.

For example, consider the criteria used to describe the signs of addiction: "You need an increasing amount of alcohol or drugs to feel a buzz or high. You feel an urgency to get the first drink or drug of the day. You experience a loss of interest in other activities and an increased desire to get ‘high’ or ‘buzzed’. You try to quit or cut down on the use of alcohol or drugs but can’t. You will do almost anything to get the drug or alcohol."

You might feel an urge for these other addictive habits at the start of the day; experience a loss of interest in other activities; and try to cut down but can't. For the pull to experience an "increasing amount" of the activity for a high, that is plausible for porn (for some users, it's a want for more extreme content), but less so for video games and social media. It's also not immediately obvious—especially when compared to drugs and alcohol—that a user of video games, porn, or social media would "do almost anything" to satisfy the urge.

The bottom line is that these behaviours, while addicting, have significant differences when compared to alcohol and drugs. Speaking from past writing experience, these would require the article to significantly broaden its scope, which may not have been possible due to editorial constraints (e.g. word count). It's also plausible that the original article may have been, "The first steps to respond to a potential alcohol or drug addiction," but the editor shortened it to a catchier "How to know if you're addicted."

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#93
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 disagree. As an addict (weed, alcohol, cocaine, and tobacco if you go that way), cocaine is much harder to quit than tobacco.

But actually, telling that drug X is harder to quit that drug Y is a lie. For each person, each drug will be different. Maybe you struggle with tobacco, but that does not mean that its the worst. There's no worst, they're all equally bad.

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#94

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…

[deleted]

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Addiction can be defined as a persistent, compulsive need to use a substance, despite the negative consequences to you or others. If that describes you, you likely have an addiction.

How do you define that though? My cannabis use is certainly persistent, but is it compulsive? Maybe I'm just in denial, but it's hard for me to say. I've certainly stopped many times, but find I enjoy life less sober, so I end up smoking again. When does partaking in an activity you enjoy become an addiction? I feel like my urge to read late at night has caused me more problems than my marijuana use because of the ma…

>When does partaking in an activity you enjoy become an addiction?

When the activity is a consciousness altering chemical and you compulsively use it despite the negative consequences to you or others.

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#97
post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

I agree, but it's also worth noting sometimes the opposite can be true and it's more helpful for some people who don't want to smoke to drop the "ex-smoker" "quit" and similar language and start saying things like "I am not smoking at the moment" instead. It takes the pressure off and makes it seem like less of an all-or-nothing thing. And also means if you do mess up and have a cigarette, you've not failed, you've just had a cigarette and now you can go back to not smoking.

Not posting this to be contrarian, just on the off chance there's anyone reading this whose trying to quit and is looking for a new angle to try. If you can't quit, don't quit. Just don't smoke. This is what finally worked for me.

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#98

Recently gave cannabis a break. Been using for years as a medical user. If flower, I would smoke Felt like I wasn't anywhere near overdoing it, but when looking at cannabis withdraw symptoms... can confirm. Certainly had a problem. Still wondering if i can even go back.

Withdrawal symptoms usually last a few weeks for me. Head over to reddit.com/r/leaves if you need support for quitting. I've struggled with this a lot over the years. I'll quit for 6 months, get rid of all my paraphernalia then find myself starting up again. I keep telling myself that I'll use it more responsibly this time, but then I end up doing it every day.

Another option is /r/petioles, for those who want a moderation approach.

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#99
post #8
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Mercifully, shoes do not require identification before you go on a walk sans phone.

Somewhere in Silicon Valley, I have no doubt that the first "smart shoes" are under development.

Re: How to know if you’re addicted

#100

I serve Kambo (which is the poisonous secretion derived from a particular Amazonian tree frog) to people. It has been my savior for breaking out of addictive patterns. It's definitely not for everyone (not just considering the contraindications; it's an extremely rough experience in general). It can feel like a physiological and psychological "reset" (note, only speaking anecdotally as there is not a lot of proper re…

Looks like a bit of a mixed bag: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kambo_cleanse

Yah... I won't try to paint a pretty picture of it, but that article (as well as any other "alternative treatment" on wikipedia) portrays it pretty negatively. There definitely have been a couple of studies and papers (on both kambo and on some of the individual constituent peptides in the secretion), but the article states otherwise. In the traditional context, Kambo wouldn't ever be called a "cleanse". Traditionally, it's used by a few Amazonian tribes to remove what they call "panema" (which is essentially bad luck, mostly in regards to hunting. Not being able to bring back food has consequences for the community), to increase strength and stamina, and as sort of a "vaccine" (immunity booster). The "removal of toxins" or whatever is a hard western woo spin on it.
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