Addictions- It's kind of a hot topic these days. And with almost everyone on this planet suffering from it,(wait, what?) this feels like the right time to talk about addictions and set the record straight.
First, let's take a look at a doctor-approved definition for addiction- Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence.
This definition is worth noting because it tells us a lot of things we wrongly assume about addiction. One of the key wrong assumptions when it comes to addiction is that we feel if we have a compulsion to do something, it must be an addiction. It doesn't work that way. Even if you feel a very strong urge to do something, it may not be an addiction as much as a very bad habit.
There's a very fine line an addiction and a bad habit. The former can often be cured through medication, therapy or a combination of both; but the latter is often permanent and the only way to remove it is to override it with something more powerful.
What exactly constitutes an addiction?
Well, to start things off, addiction is similar to a habit. Habits are formed in the most primal parts of our brain, like the basal ganglia and the hippocampus. The formation of any habit follows the cue-routine-reward process. First, there is a certain trigger, like a specific scenario or a set of events that make your brain go "Deja Vu" and tell you to do a certain activity because you anticipate a reward from that activity, based on past experiences with the same activity. For example, alcoholism. The cue for drinking could be something like a fight with your partner, the activity is drinking alcohol and the reward is your neurons being blocked so you don't feel sad.
It's a vicious cycle, really. Our brain always has the best intentions for our bodies, and it does everything in its power to keep us happy. The issue is our brain cannot distinguish between habits that are harmful to us and habits that are good for us.
And if you don't perform the said activity, you feel physical discomfort and have what people call "withdrawal symptoms."
The withdrawal symptoms are what separate an addiction form a habit. But in both cases, there is no guaranteed way of overcoming the problem.
What works for most people is to consult therapists and make lifestyle changes so they can replace the bad activity with good activity. Keep the same cue, and a similar reward, but change the activity. As mentioned before, habits are permanent. That's why a lot of people relapse back into their addictions even if it has been years since they got rid of them.
There are numerous other variables that come into play when discussing addictions, but the fact remains: Addictions are serious. Masturbation isn't an 'addiction' and internet addiction is now a real thing. If you want to get rid of your addictions or bad habits, I recommend talking about it with your friends and family, consulting a therapist, or seeking out help online.
What exactly constitutes an addiction?
Well, to start things off, addiction is similar to a habit. Habits are formed in the most primal parts of our brain, like the basal ganglia and the hippocampus. The formation of any habit follows the cue-routine-reward process. First, there is a certain trigger, like a specific scenario or a set of events that make your brain go "Deja Vu" and tell you to do a certain activity because you anticipate a reward from that activity, based on past experiences with the same activity. For example, alcoholism. The cue for drinking could be something like a fight with your partner, the activity is drinking alcohol and the reward is your neurons being blocked so you don't feel sad.
It's a vicious cycle, really. Our brain always has the best intentions for our bodies, and it does everything in its power to keep us happy. The issue is our brain cannot distinguish between habits that are harmful to us and habits that are good for us.
And if you don't perform the said activity, you feel physical discomfort and have what people call "withdrawal symptoms."
The withdrawal symptoms are what separate an addiction form a habit. But in both cases, there is no guaranteed way of overcoming the problem.
What works for most people is to consult therapists and make lifestyle changes so they can replace the bad activity with good activity. Keep the same cue, and a similar reward, but change the activity. As mentioned before, habits are permanent. That's why a lot of people relapse back into their addictions even if it has been years since they got rid of them.
There are numerous other variables that come into play when discussing addictions, but the fact remains: Addictions are serious. Masturbation isn't an 'addiction' and internet addiction is now a real thing. If you want to get rid of your addictions or bad habits, I recommend talking about it with your friends and family, consulting a therapist, or seeking out help online.
If you are in India and need help with your habits and/or addictions and you feel overwhelmed, you can try BetterFe
That is all folks. Myths about addiction- Busted.
Be happy, seek help if you need it, and don't wank too much!
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