View Full Version : Addictions - What causes them?
I was talking to a friend of mine recently about addictions. He is a recovering alcoholic (as he says, you are never a cured alcoholic) and now counsels others on drink and drug abuse.
I was asking why it was that some people become addicted and others not. In his opinion, it is down to a gene that gives people an addictive personality and that gene can be found in people from all walks of life and social status.
What do you think? Why do some people become addicts and others not?
Personally I think adictions come from having a regular quantity of something, your body gets used it it, and bobs your uncle.
An addictive personality causes it. People that find it hard to say no.
I have had quite a bit of stuff that can be classed as addictive but luckily I do not have an addictive personality so I can take it or leave it. It is not all about getting enough of something.
Personally I think adictions come from having a regular quantity of something, your body gets used it it, and bobs your uncle.
But if that was the case, lots of my mates would be alcoholics as their intake used to be huge and regular. It seems more random than that.
An addictive personality causes it. People that find it hard to say no.
Indeed, it is the way the brain is wired. Some people are more intelligent, some people are more hands on. Addictive personality is just another quirk for the brain, sadly there is plenty of options to satisfy that addiction.
An addictive personality causes it. People that find it hard to say no.
:stupid: its all in the addicts minds or, to put it another way, its the way there brains are wired up. some people can do cocaine every weekend for a year and then just decide to stop and stop, others wont be able to
But if that was the case, lots of my mates would be alcoholics as their intake used to be huge and regular. It seems more random than that.
Most cirtianly agree. The base of it imo stems from my previous comment.
I think there is two things here.
1) Chemical dependency
2) Psycological Dependency.
Never heard about the gene theory regarding it, so I reserve judgment on that ;)
Both 1) and 2) can combine of course in various measures.
in 2) you get things like, habits, personality, emotional issues
in 1) you get things like nictotine and heroin which cause a chemical dependancy in the body, and the resulting withdrawal symtoms.
Chris Wilson
17-01-08, 17:37
I don't know, but I love them :)
I think there is two things here.
1) Chemical dependency
2) Psycological Dependency.
Never heard about the gene theory regarding it, so I reserve judgment on that ;)
Both 1) and 2) can combine of course in various measures.
in 2) you get things like, habits, personality, emotional issues
in 1) you get things like nictotine and heroin which cause a chemical dependancy in the body, and the resulting withdrawal symtoms.
So, what makes some people become addicts and others not?
So, what makes some people become addicts and others not?
Brain chemistry I believe, which is down to both genetic make-up and environment.
The same thing that makes some people phsycopathic and normal, they have a different make up where there sense of 'wrong and right' doesn't function the same. Not comparing addicts to phsycopaths just using an example.
I don't know, but I love them :)
You get a lot of work from horsepower addicts eh ;)
It must be something like genetics, I'm sure I read somewhere that you're more likely to be an alcoholic if your parents were.
Over the years I've done pretty much most things you'd associate with addiction but never became addicted. Friends I grew up with leading the exact same lifestyle can't say the same.
After a hard break up with my ex I went out every night for two years straight re-living my youth. My parents sat me down at least 3 times with their concerns over my drinking and lifestyle, they were conviced I'd be an alcoholic. I just needed a new girlfriend and knew it! They realise that now.
I know I don't have an addictive personality, I can take or leave pretty much every vice there is. :innocent:
One of my best mates brothers friends, Andy, has Autism and is ADDICTED to running. He doesn't work or study, is about 19-20 years old and runs 3-4 times a day. Would you class this as addiction or a disease?
Isn't what you're talking about called Will Power?
Some people have it, others don't.
Some want to give up...some don't really want so don't put in the effort and then regret it once their bodies become dependent.
Isn't what you're talking about called Will Power?
.
possibly BUT i have just stopped doing certain things at the drop of a hat that people would call addictive but i havent got any willpower, from stopping smoking to staying off of this site
possibly BUT i have just stopped doing certain things at the drop of a hat that people would call addictive but i havent got any willpower, from stopping smoking to staying off of this site
You must have will power then. You decide you're not going to do something - and you don't.
What makes you say you don't have will power?
I bet it goes back to you don't really want to give up fags and this site.
You must have will power then. You decide you're not going to do something - and you don't.
What makes you say you don't have will power?
I bet it goes back to you don't really want to give up fags and this site.
Yep, exactly.
You must have will power then. You decide you're not going to do something - and you don't.
What makes you say you don't have will power?
smoking mainly, i cant seem to stop and thats mainly willpower. or even silly little things like telling myself i wont go on this site tonight and spend some time with the misses and then i end up coming on anyway
ADDED: i really would like to give up smoking as my breathings messed right up sometimes and i'm only 30
I for one do not believe in will power, no such thing imho. You either do something or you don't, you either give something up or you don't.
smoking mainly, i cant seem to stop and thats mainly willpower. or even silly little things like telling myself i wont go on this site tonight and spend some time with the misses and then i end up coming on anyway
ADDED: i really would like to give up smoking as my breathings messed right up sometimes and i'm only 30
That's also your bodies physical addiction though which is much harder to overcome.
I for one do not believe in will power, no such thing imho. You either do something or you don't, you either give something up or you don't.
thats got to be a form of willpower hasent it? strong willed?
You either do something or you don't, you either give something up or you don't.
Exactly. You clearly have a strong mind with few grey areas.
Others aren't so blessed.
I'd say you're strong willed. ;)
I'd say you're strong willed. ;)
i said that too :)
thats got to be a form of willpower hasent it? strong willed?
Not really more of a choice. All this crap about I can't give up the cigs load of bull.
Not really more of a choice. All this crap about I can't give up the cigs load of bull.
is this going to turn in to a pep talk?
is this going to turn in to a pep talk?
Not at all I just do not believe in will power, load of bollocks.
Not at all I just do not believe in will power, load of bollocks.
perhaps i am slightly weak minded when it comes to smoking then, or maybe i'm not really putting any effort in
perhaps i am slightly weak minded when it comes to smoking then, or maybe i'm not really putting any effort in
Do you want to stop or not??:rolleyes:
I have said I'll do 2 months without booze after my Christmas efforts! Day 10 already!!;)
H.
Do you want to stop or not??:rolleyes:
I have said I'll do 2 months without booze after my Christmas efforts! Day 10 already!!;)
H.
but thats different from smoking. unless your an alcy that should be quite easy, you seem quite strong minded
Not really more of a choice. All this crap about I can't give up the cigs load of bull.
Not at all I just do not believe in will power, load of bollocks.
Having seen my mate decide, when drunk, "I'm going to quit smoking" and then watching him simply give up at the drop of a hat, I have to agree.
perhaps i am slightly weak minded when it comes to smoking then, or maybe i'm not really putting any effort in
Have you ever tried going for say, a week, without?
Do you want to stop or not??:rolleyes:
I have said I'll do 2 months without booze after my Christmas efforts! Day 10 already!!;)
H.
Give up booze? Is that foreign for something I might understand? :d I have tried to cut back since New Years Eve though, but all my mates are suddenly becoming more sociable this year, so it's not going so well. I'm off the pub in a bit when I've finished this pizza actually....
Do you want to stop or not??:rolleyes:
I have said I'll do 2 months without booze after my Christmas efforts! Day 10 already!!;)
H.
Did you really drink that much before? I can't imagine drinking every night.
I can't imagine drinking every night.
It must be terrible..I mean...erm.... :blush:
It must be terrible..I mean...erm.... :blush:
No wonder you're so happy all the time!
i think im addicted to porn
now ive admitted that i can start my road to recovery
Did you really drink that much before? I can't imagine drinking every night.
Some of my mates think I drink too much as I invite them out every Friday and Saturday. They seem to think that I just leave work, go to the pub and sit there, hoping to meet up with people I know.
i think im addicted to porn
Nowt wrong with that ;)
Some of my mates think I drink too much as I invite them out every Friday and Saturday. They seem to think that I just leave work, go to the pub and sit there, hoping to meet up with people I know.
What do you actually do then?
Nowt wrong with that ;)
It wreaks a bit of single male though.
Nowt wrong with that ;)
it is when you try acting out some scenes with unsuspecting females:eyebrows: i honestly thought my fist would fit:d
What do you actually do then?
It wreaks a bit of single male though.
If no-ones up for anything, more often than not I'll happily watch a DVD. At weekends I try to meet up with non-work mates, but I still invite my work mates out anyway. I've stopped asking them since Christmas as all I ever got was "you're such a al-key, always wanting to get drunk" in response, and they now think I'm not talking to them :rolleyes:
it is when you try acting out some scenes with unsuspecting females:eyebrows: i honestly thought my fist would fit:d
You're so far past the line, it's a dot to you :d
I'm addicted to Ciggys but I will give up one day
Agree with the personality thing, i have been addicted to prescription pain killers and am no stranger to drink, neither is my dad, i could be an alcoholic without doubt, having children keeps me under control, also have high stress job though, probably also addicted to sex, or w@nking as it turns out as the wife won't provide the service as often as i would like!!!
or w@nking as it turns out as the wife won't provide the service as often as i would like!!!
It is called being married mate, I am engaged and I am burning percy out at the moment as it will be all gone once I have put a ring on her finger.
It will not be an anniversary of marriage that I will be celebrating every year it will be the anniversary of her sore head.:d
Addiction: A myth - it is just lack of Will Power.
People claim ciggys are addictive.
People claim alcohol is addictive.
People claim drugs are addictive (the physical withdrawl from Opiates aside)
When I fight, I give up all of the above totally, and also change my diet to cut to my fight weight.
The only cravings I get is for food (I love my food, big time!), nothing else. And get I use my Will Power to keep me on my diet.
Is steak and icecream more addictive than nicotine? Or are they both just pleasures that we could all give up, but some choose not to, and find an excuse.
I'm sure there's a strong element of us being brainwashed into thinking it's really hard to give up smoking (and perhaps other things), which makes it easier for our will power to falter and for us to think "it's OK, it's meant to be really hard to give up".
Did you really drink that much before? I can't imagine drinking every night.
There were very few nights in this house were we haven't had at least a couple of alcoholic drinks. I will also have one or two during meetings with clients and also after footie!
I have had nights out and got completely plastered, the following night we may have had a party and got leathered again and if there was no one around, I would sit around with a bottle of Southern Comfort or Jack Daniels and lemonade. It's like drinking pop!! I drive a lot so I can't be pissed up all the time but I have found myself looking for ways to ditch the car, then I can have some booze!! Enough is enough!!
2 months for me!
H.
There's a program on BBC2 about addiction right now.
Just getting up to speed, if you pardon the expression, with this thread.
To start drinking (or smoking) we're brain washed from an early age that we need it to enjoy ourselves.
To give up smoking or drinking, we're brain washed into believing we need will power to do this- Not true.
I'm not sure the addictive personality thing works for me as a theory either.
With alcohol for eg, I've had a 20 year relationship- which ended just over a month ago.
I feel so much happier, healthier and richer. No will power was, or is being used to stop drinking.
That's the thing, I haven't given anything up.
I'd say I've got my life back, which, if anything, is a gain :)
The TV show says basically it's areas of your brain lighting up and certain chemicals released. That's for shopping addiction, drugs, alcohol, sex, computer games, whatever.
Some brains react more to these 'pleasures' than others - therefore more likely to be addicted or have 'addictive personalities'.
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