When Is It Addiction

[JimbobDa3rd]

This discussion is exactly what it says on the tin. We have all know that certain things are addictive, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and even gaming. But when does it turn from a habit into an addiction.

The question arose to me as I was outside having a cigarette and I realised I have fallen into the habit of smoking 1 a day after lunch. And I thought to myself, naturally wanting to avoid any problems in the future, am I addicted?
A few months ago I found myself, due to stress of exams and work, developing a 3 to 4 per day habit. So I decided to stop as that in my mind was too much to be called casual, and to the most part, it was easy to stop. I never had any real cravings or withdrawal symptoms (unlike when I tried to stop having my morning coffee, epic fail)

Again is having a beer or 2 with supper an addiction, or playing games for an hour a day? What are your views, and would you say you had any addictions?

(also please don?t turn this into a IF YOU EVER DRINK/SMOKE YOU WILL DIE type of forum, we are all already perfectly aware of all the harms of said substances)

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

I'm addicted to the internet.
who here isn't? :|
and games. but not as much since I got my new pc
haven't played a console game in about a week

 

[Xorghul]

It's not an addiction if you can quit without any problem.

 

[El Poncho]

I guess it's an addiction when you say you can stop whenever you want but you keep doing it, or that most of your life is based around it or maybe you only talk/think about it.

 

[JimbobDa3rd]

It's not an addiction if you can quit without any problem.

That used to be my standpoint aswell, but then I thought of it in different contexts, I enjoy listening to music, and if oneday I stoped altogether then I would miss it and most likely start again afterr a few days, so does that mean Im addicted to music?

 

[Xorghul]

It's not an addiction if you can quit without any problem.

That used to be my standpoint aswell, but then I thought of it in different contexts, I enjoy listening to music, and if oneday I stoped altogether then I would miss it and most likely start again afterr a few days, so does that mean Im addicted to music?

Yes. But it's not a harmful addiction(unless you play it so loud that it hurts your ears).

 

[UnkeptBiscuit]

It's not an addiction if you can quit without any problem.

That used to be my standpoint aswell, but then I thought of it in different contexts, I enjoy listening to music, and if oneday I stoped altogether then I would miss it and most likely start again afterr a few days, so does that mean Im addicted to music?

I am.

IMO, an addiction is any activity that you can't stop doing, e.g. withdrawal symptoms, cravings, etc. Of course, normal body functions aren't included, because I don't consider myself addicted to pissing.

 

[LockHeart]

It's not an addiction if you can quit without any problem.

That used to be my standpoint aswell, but then I thought of it in different contexts, I enjoy listening to music, and if oneday I stoped altogether then I would miss it and most likely start again afterr a few days, so does that mean Im addicted to music?

An addiction is generally classified as a compulsive harmful behaviour, so if you listened to music until you passed out from hunger on a regular basis then, yes, it could be classed as an addiction.

The point at where you draw the line as to whether you are addicted to something or not varies from person to person. A good way to do it is to cut it out completely: if you feel cravings or get cranky without good reason (also maybe disturbed sleep) then it's a good sign that you're developing a nicotine addiction. Another big indicator is a feeling of unease, as if something is not normal, unless you're indulging in a certain habit (i.e. smoking/drinking).

 

[Florion]

I think an addiction is any activity that you are physically and/or emotionally dependent on and it interferes with other things in your life (like, your health, your relations with other people, etc.). You might be emotionally dependent on music, but it doesn't get in the way of other things (unless you're a professional musician, but then, music is your life).

You can do things like drinking and smoking and playing video games habitually without being addicted to them, but it's hard to tell unless you cut them out now and then to see if you suffer from withdrawal symptoms.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I guess it's an addiction when you stop enjoying the actual behaviour and just do it out of repetition.

 

[historybuff]

An addiction is when your habit starts interfering with your life. When you start scheduling your world around the habit. When you become emotionally dependent on that habit--then you have a problem.

Playing habitually isn't necessarily addiction--if you think it is, cut it out and see what happens.

 

[Captain Pancake]

It's an addiction when you have hardly any money, but still find the cash for the commodity.