what is an addiction??

Answer 1

An adiction is something you do that the brain says you cannot live without. That is the simplified version anyway....

Answer 2

An addiction is a physical, mental, social and spiritual DISEASE which is characterised by an OBSESSIONAL desire to partake of or in ANYTHING to the detriment of the partaker. The "anything" can typically be alcohol (all forms - even cough medicine and mouthwashes), drugs (street, prescribed, over-the-counter), eating, smoking, and other behaviours deemed sometimes a joke (but believe me they are not) such as shopping, working, sex and eating/not eating. Most people (who are maybe destined to become addicts) can indulge in these behaviours quite happily, and at a "normal" level, until they seem to cross an imaginary line and then these behaviours become obsessional, out of control and literally take over the individuals' life so that they characteristically reach "ROCK BOTTOM", and if they are very lucky seek help and enter recovery. However, by this time the person may have been indulging in the most damaging of all behaviours and that is DENIAL. Many addicts will deny that they have a problem even though they have lost friends, family, house, car, job and self respect, and that is because most addicts are very respectable members of society, just about holding it all together, and do not live on park benches, or deal drugs on street corners. Eventually it all becomes too much - addicts either seek help (33%) or die (66%), out of the 33% who seek help, again 33% live and 66% relapse and die, and so it goes on leaving a very small number of survivors - in fact most addicts die, either directly of alcohol poisoning/drug overdose or the physical/mental effects of alcohol/drugs. (Or even the social ones like getting involved in fights.)

For those people from Grass Roots to Polititians who think it's OK (right on) to get blasted on a Friday/Sat night or think marujana is harmless - they should either be me or work in a psychiatric hospital and look after all the 20,30 year olds with wet brains from xs alcohol or who are literally climbing the walls from the 'harmless' marujana.

If you or anybody you know thinks they may be "addicted" I strongly suggest that you or anyone goes to the AA pages and takes from there. Both the BMA and the AMA have classified addiction as a disease and so there is nothing to be ashamed of. Indeed, there has been some research to show that there is a strong genetic link. The one thing that everyone needs to get straight is that you do not become an addict by practising hard! Just because you drink heavily most of the time does not necessarily mean you are destined to become an alcoholic, you may do, but not necessarily. You may say well that was Uni, that's all over now, good time had by all, probably have glass of wine a night finito. An alcoholic is not characterised by someone who drinks a LOT but rather on WHY he/she drinks. For whatever reason, which in my experience can only be sussed out when help is asked for, an alcoholic can only function "normally" with alcohol at his/her side. The media are always getting this wrong and preaching that MORE = ALCOHOLIC. And that is why some people can take and then leave marujana, suggesting, dangerously, that everyone else can. But some can't and go on and on.

I am personally gratified to see so many people "coming out" and admitting their addiction - "there for the grace of God go I".

Answer 3

When nothing else matters to you but the thing you are addicted to. You can have a family, a home and a good job and you give it all up for the need of alchol, drugs or other addiction.

Answer 4

An addiction is where a person is mentally/physically and/or emotionally hooked on a drug substance, food, drink, feeling, etc.

-Sincerely, Lovely.

Answer 5

An addiction is never having to say you're sorry, but that you probably should.

Answer 6

an addiction is something or someone you get addicted to and you feel that you can't do without it or them .like if you don't get it or them you will die. you let it or them take over your life.

Answer 7

Imagine yourself going a day without food, a day without water, or holding your breath for a minute.

If your cravings equal that when you don't have the substance, you're addicted.

Answer 8

chocolate ,,crisps, an all my comfort food if i havent got none i go mental,, is that a addiction... yep it is oh well i like them . im sure some people are addicted to sex but if they anjoy an don't hurt no one else that ok ..

Answer 9

An addiction is something that controls you,your life and your every decision.It rules you and you become its slave.

Answer 10

An addiction is when you start doing something(ex.drugs,alcohol),and you cannot quit it.Sometimes if you are addicted to something and you try to quit it can make you sick.