Are you addicted to anything?

[Diend]

Recently, I’ve been craving lots of things from toys, to my favorite music to my favorite junk food. The wikipedia entry for “craving” says that I am not receiving the dopamine I would usually get from everyday, healthy activities and thus I am resorting to addictive behavior…things that allow my brain to release the dopamine I don’t get from usual things. My social anxiety has definitely gotten better, but recently I’ve been seeking addictive activities more than ever and I’ve had enough.

What I want to say is that we may be using our addictions as a crutch for problems we face in real life that we have trouble dealing with. My problem is shyness, assertiveness, and motivation to be productive. Perhaps if we all begin to focus on the real problems, the cravings and addictive behaviors will naturally go away.

 

[fate12321]

well im addicted to working out a lot

 

[DukeOtakuNukem]

I nearly became addicted to alcohol, but was fortunately able to curb it before it spiraled out of control. Unfortunately, though I am feeling the urge to go back since I am always feeling either guilt from things I have done to people in the past, or pure anxiety from knowing I get frowned at wherever I go. Being frowned at from a range of people to moms, to store employees simply grew my distaste for humans, and having the guilt turn into pure hatred, as I can only handle so much frowning, ugh...

 

[MikeyC]

Give me chocolate and everyone lives.

I mean...

Perchance I may be addicted to chocolate, old bean? *adjusts monocle*

 

[jaim38]

chocolate, daydreaming, working out

 

[Psychedelicious]

Ouch

I'm addicted to anything excessively sugar and sweet. I'm also addicted to picking my skin, it's a terrible habit I really really want to break.

 

[this_portrait]

I wouldn't go so far as to call them 'addictions', but I do tend to engage in excessive amounts of internet usage and shopping, due to my lack of a social life outside of work and school. Both are bad for me because I waste time when I could be writing (as is the case with the internet) and I can barely pay my rent (shopping).

 

[mikebird]

well im addicted to working out a lot

I'm really glad you say that! Never thought of it that way! Absolutely prime need in my life.

I made a cumbersome mistake!! I replied after wrongly reading 'working a lot'. That's what I put below...

I hope you never get rejected and don't have to face the ultimate challenge to climb the mountain again. If I was like you again, I'd keep an eye out and be preparing a tactic.

I've been in cold turkey for many years, and that phrase only ever applies to the situation when your private parts have been removed from you

The very best part of my life was exactly when any my truly permanent employment after 6 solid years went hand-in-hand with my social buddies with cars (mine) and vans and regular happiness flocking with 1,000s of us internationally, which means 'support' and no loneliness.

By the way, a way to 'fit in' in the workplace was severely difficult from day one because I wasn't ready for mainstream normal couch & DVD and office people.

As for the thread of reliance, I really haven't encountered any state mentioned, although I've enjoyed a lot of deep things. Quite surprised, and lucky. Any words accompanied by career are food, girlfriend, car, home, and physical exertion of sorts.

Oh. The truth is: internet. Today's equivalent of video games when I was little. Sharing

 

[Kiwong]

pepsi maxxxxxxxxx

 

[catrin87]

tea, cigarettes and potentially alcohol

 

[Foxface]

Club Penguin sometimes.

 

[mozart87]

not anymore, and it feels so dam' weird

 

[theslowesthand]

Mainly just using computer, and chocolatey/sugary stuff (eg nutella from the jar). I am very well aware of the insidious nature of addictions (or obsessions). Both stop you from addressing the stuff you need to, in order to be healthy and happy.

Whenever i remove one addiction/obsession (if possible), its immediately replaced by another. So removing/substituting them isn't the answer. Perhap addressing them is the answer? I could start with what OP mentioned about lacking dopamine, or sth similar.

I do think that the "addictive personality" goes hand-in-hand with other things such as overactive amygdala (ie over-anxious), and perhaps lacking in some neurotransmitters or sth in the brain.

 

[Englishman]

I'm adddicted to cigarettes. I've quit before but I started again.

 

[Lea]

I don´t think addicted. In case I do something in excess, it is by my conscious choice.

 

[thegunners21]

Porn (I'm trying to quit now), internet and acquiring a muscular physique.
Man, I sound so shallow.

 

[EscapeArtist]

Re: Ouch

I'm addicted to anything excessively sugar and sweet. I'm also addicted to picking my skin, it's a terrible habit I really really want to break.

I have the same two!! Except the skin picking thing has taken a more extreme form, of like dermitillomania (theres a name for it ;o)

 

[EscapeArtist]

I like this thread, I've had a similar train of thought. A lot of people with SA lack dopamine, so it's probably more common for us to have little addictions. I like that you mentioned cravings as a form of addiction, even relating it to music and toys and such. I had never thought about that.... So I just realized where my weird addictive behaviour is stemming from! Is a craving for the past to come back an addiction to the past? HMmm... That sounds dangerous on a very concrete level.

I agree with you actually. At least for me, my addictions are what keep my dopamine low, and thus my addictions are what keep me feeling socially tired and unmotivated in general. I don't have any really intense addictions at this moment but I am addicted to caffeine (not huge amounts), sugar (and it gives me major anxiety/depression, actually), the computer and television and also music, and general escapism/fantasy. I feel as if, if all of these were to be banished, I'd most likely cease to have much problem in the way of anxiety. Especially that sugar thing! Because if I could just stick to low carb, my body would stop feeling anxious, but apparently it's a bit more difficult to stick to thanks to sugar. And if the computer one was gone, I'd get way too bored in this house to not leave the house for weeks on end.

 

[sullyS25]

Im a recovering alcoholic/addict so I dont drink or do drugs but I do have an addictive personality so anything I like, I do or use excessively. Food, exercise, sex, sweet talk with my girlfriend.....Everything

 

[akala]

probably procrastinating, i don't know i just can't stay on task sometimes...

And probably career searching...