Are you prone to Addictions?

[hurl3y4456]

I've been pondering on this topic recently and a thought came to my mind that addiction causes the brain to adapt to the new level of stimulus. Yet some of us tend to be more prone than others to fall down the trap. Of course, poor resistance to stress, curiosity, and our chemical nature dictate the magnitude of an addictive response. What I found interesting is that my friend who was addicted to alcohol abruptly changed his sleep patterns such that he slept much earlier....He told me that his tolerance for alcohol drastically decreased, and immediately I came to the realization that alcohol tolerance depends on the period in which you've adapted. By changing the cycle, his body was thrown off balance and had to re-adjust to a new equilibrium state. He was accustomed to drinking heavily late at night, however, drinking much earlier was foreign for his body in regards to processing. So, would you consider yourself prone to addictions and what do you believe causes the effect?

 

[rav3n]

Nope. Coffee's my only current addiction but when necessary, I can do without.

 

[hjgbujhghg]

I wouldn't consider myself an addict, but I'm definitely prone to addiction. I tend to seek for escapes, artificial feelings of comfort and I'm mainly prone to alternate my moods and emotion. My family had some minor issues with alcohol abuse when I was a kid. My grandmother started to drink when her mother died and her son, my uncle started to drink when he got promoted and could not handle the stress at work. It took them a few years, but they both got out of it quite smoothy, with the help of the whole family. So yeah, alcholism definitely runs in the family and I know that if I am not careful I'd end up the same. I drink far more than an avarage person, but I still can go without a drink for few days, so I guess I'm not an alcoholic just yet. I also don't drink spirits, usually it's wine, sometimes beer.

 

[notmyapples]

Yes, I form obsessions with things or activities to emotionally cope with issues I don't want to directly deal with. I am susceptible to escapism in general.

 

[Maou]

My family has a long history of drug and alcohol addiction as well as rough childhoods and domestic abuse. So yeah its mostly a genetic disposition. I took up drinking at 22 through some influence, but didnt get addicted till I started using it to cope with the extreme stress and existential, and identity crisises I was going through in my recovery phase of getting out of my shitty life. Since then I found myself relying on it to feel sociable and relaxed.

 

[1487610420]

not really, unless it's coffee, sugar, coke, gambling, opioids, adrenaline, etc.


oh and seks ofc

 

[ceecee]

I don't have an addictive personality but I smoked on and off for a long time. Drinking comes in cycles -more in the summer (probably 4-5 a week) and next to nothing in the rest of the year. Recreational drugs - I haven't smoked pot in many years and I don't think I would again but I'm not against edibles at all and now that they're legal in this state I may indulge soon. I do like a hookah from time to time, I have 3 of them and they're really great in a social setting with the right people around. Coffee and tea - I don't feel those are much of an addiction as far as addictions go but I drink decaf iced tea daily. No decaf coffee ever, I don't care if it's midnight.

 

[/DG/]

Not addicted to anything in particular...I don't smoke or drink or do drugs. But I can easily become obsessed and addicted to some things for a time. Self-control is a difficult thing at times.

 

[hurl3y4456]

I wouldn't consider myself an addict, but I'm definitely prone to addiction. I tend to seek for escapes, artificial feelings of comfort and I'm mainly prone to alternate my moods and emotion. My family had some minor issues with alcohol abuse when I was a kid. My grandmother started to drink when her mother died and her son, my uncle started to drink when he got promoted and could not handle the stress at work. It took them a few years, but they both got out of it quite smoothy, with the help of the whole family. So yeah, alcholism definitely runs in the family and I know that if I am not careful I'd end up the same. I drink far more than an avarage person, but I still can go without a drink for few days, so I guess I'm not an alcoholic just yet. I also don't drink spirits, usually it's wine, sometimes beer.

I always say "go easy on the spirits or else you may become one"...I've always had my most interesting conversations at bars, so I'm inclined to go for the social aspect. No one in my family really drinks often but in this generation, the likelihood is higher due to all the stressor's. Alcohol still is the best way to time travel though, but it's best to aim for moderation. To attain that, I believe you need to rewire the neurotransmitters and up-regulate them in another way.

 

[hurl3y4456]

I don't have an addictive personality but I smoked on and off for a long time. Drinking comes in cycles -more in the summer (probably 4-5 a week) and next to nothing in the rest of the year. Recreational drugs - I haven't smoked pot in many years and I don't think I would again but I'm not against edibles at all and now that they're legal in this state I may indulge soon. I do like a hookah from time to time, I have 3 of them and they're really great in a social setting with the right people around. Coffee and tea - I don't feel those are much of an addiction as far as addictions go but I drink decaf iced tea daily. No decaf coffee ever, I don't care if it's midnight.

Legalizing marijuana will lower the crime rate, yet certain companies will lose income in the process. Edibles are a great way to expand the mind (in moderation), reduce aggression, and stimulate oneself as opposed to alcohol which depresses the mind and increases aggression (high amount).

 

[Earl Grey]

Overall, I am confidently not prone to addictions. I see things in terms of utility for the most part and if it does not give me any, I easily ignore it.

However, I have smoked before. Physically, I was hooked onto it very easily and developed cravings very quickly (as in, before I finished my first pack ever). It was an interesting experience because it gave me some insight into why addicts are addicts and how people can become addicts. That being said, as usual, I was able to drop smoking regardless because I cognitively recognized it was not good, despite the physical cravings (DID YOU KNOW THEY LAST LONG AFTER YOU STOP? No wonder people find stopping, difficult).

Though it had 'utility' in the sense of actually giving a narcotic high, I recognized that it was a bandaid, a temporary patch, an escape, a way to numb out- and I've always hated those kinds of things. For things like alcohol, I like for the flavour itself. I have never gotten drunk. I don't understand the need to 'black out' like that.

---

EDIT: I just remembered I do have lots of coffee.
I drink coffee pretty heavily, but I have stopped before just fine. If I decide I have to cut it out, I can and will drop it easily.

 

[hurl3y4456]

Overall, I am confidently not prone to addictions. I see things in terms of utility for the most part and if it does not give me any, I easily ignore it.

However, I have smoked before. Physically, I was hooked onto it very easily and developed cravings very quickly (as in, before I finished my first pack ever). It was an interesting experience because it gave me some insight into why addicts are addicts and how people can become addicts. That being said, as usual, I was able to drop smoking regardless because I cognitively recognized it was not good, despite the physical cravings (DID YOU KNOW THEY LAST LONG AFTER YOU STOP? No wonder people find stopping, difficult).

Though it had 'utility' in the sense of actually giving a narcotic high, I recognized that it was a bandaid, a temporary patch, an escape, a way to numb out- and I've always hated those kinds of things. For things like alcohol, I like for the flavour itself. I have never gotten drunk. I don't understand the need to 'black out' like that.

---

EDIT: I just remembered I do have lots of coffee.
I drink coffee pretty heavily, but I have stopped before just fine. If I decide I have to cut it out, I can and will drop it easily.

I find the effect of alcohol is analogous to a sine function....except that the magnitude of satisfaction derived is dampened over time (liver issues, neurotransmitter modulation, exc)...The body is continually trying to seek equilibrium, yet if you go beyond the set point (high), then you'll experience a temporary low afterwards. I've noticed this effect in regards to my mood a few days after drinking, which is even more depressed. The main issue is the recovery rate will likely decreases as the addiction continues, and the mind will never get back to the initial state. I believe cigarettes can actually increase stress (at-least reduce resistance to stress over time), yet people smoke for the temporary relief (boost in neurotransmitter output)...I also drink coffee very frequently...It's actually one of the best ways to prevent liver failure due to excess alcohol.

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

Not so much as I am prone to periodic binges and benders. My addictions are heavily moderated.

 

[Yuurei]

Nope. I have a very strong sense of self-control. Especially compared to the people around me. I will never understand how a single person can go through two boxes of Chips-ahoy in an evening.

I actually took up smoking for a bit. Never got addicted, quit after about six months.

Both of my parents have addiction problems. My Mother has been a smoker since as long as I can remember and has tried to quit several times.

My Father is a far more severe case. He was an alcoholic during most of my childhood and as far as I know has been addicted to marijuana since he was a teenager. Recently he’s started to get into heavier stuff and has been to rehab several times.

But I was raised but my very staight-laced Grandparents. I’m always fascinated by the continuing arguing of “ nature v nurture”.

 

[Virtual ghost]

I am so not prone to addictions that some people feel threaten by this.

 

[Earl Grey]

I am so not prone to addictions that some people feel threaten by this.

Curious, how/why do they feel threatened?

 

[Virtual ghost]

Curious, how/why do they feel threatened?

My parents somewhat think that they have failed in being parents due to this.
If I skip "addictive" stuff in front of people their own demons can come out to hunt them or they think that I have low opinion of them.

 

[Peter Deadpan]

Yes, I sometimes have issues with self-indulgence. Luckily for me, I'm very good at cutting myself off completely cold turkey from anything. The main problem is that there isn't much in-between. All or nothing is most appealing.

 

[hurl3y4456]

Yes, I sometimes have issues with self-indulgence. Luckily for me, I'm very good at cutting myself off completely cold turkey from anything. The main problem is that there isn't much in-between. All or nothing is most appealing.

I find when I'm under a lot of stress, I tend to over indulge in food (especially sugar)...although this seems to be a normal reaction. It's as if stress depletes the body of its reserves, which causes an instantaneous reaction within the mind to project you to impulsively engage in certain acts to compensate.

 

[Virtual ghost]

To be fully honest to me addictions don't make sense even on emotional level. I went through a few hundred airstrike alerts as a child and therefore being prone to addictive stuff strikes me as pretty ungrateful thing to do towards yourself (no pun intended). Not to mention all the hard work/education, surgeries through decades, driving across the bridge that has shell holes in it, mine fields, accidents ...... etc.


Fundamentally I am survivor and addictions would just get in my way.