I don't understand addictions.

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destrekor

Lifer
Nov 18, 2005
28,799
359
126
Then you just don't have an addictive personality. You'll find that people who are addicted to one thing likely have addictions to other things. I truly believe the ability to become addicted to something is genetic, or at least the tendency is there.

I thoroughly agree. I just used more words the last time. :D
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,775
5,937
146
Then you just don't have an addictive personality. You'll find that people who are addicted to one thing likely have addictions to other things. I truly believe the ability to become addicted to something is genetic, or at least the tendency is there.
I am sure there is a predisposition for it.
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
I've drank for like 4 days straight then quit for a month!

That isn't long enough to develop an addiction. People don't drink for a week then suddenly they are addicts. It takes time and is often a slow process that people don't realize is even happening. I have seen many people become addicted and I have talked to a lot of addicts when volunteering with suicidal people. One guy I can single out as a prime example.

He was 26 , never drank alcohol his whole life. Attending college he went out with friends one night, got drunk his first time, made him sick , he swore it off. Few weeks later he does it again, just one night, stays clear of alcohol for a couple weeks. Later in the year he starts to go out with friends two times a week, then three, then four. Before he is aware what is happening his grades fall and he realizes he needs to stop drinking. So he goes back to studying but by now the alcohol effects have physically remapped his brain , thought processes are no longer the same as before he started using alcohol. His values change to where he honestly sees school or alcohol as being equal on what he should do with his life. Friends asking him on to go drink tips the scale towards alcohol vs studying and being alone in the room.

It is no longer a concious choice of what is more healthy because his viewpoint on the world has been distrorted. He cannot see it clearly on his own.

They use mice to study addiction because mice have a similar brain structure to humans. In mice they use they set it up so the mouse can have as much cocaine as it wants by just triggering a release. They start off really slow using once a day, but within a week are dead from overdose. When they examined the brain of the mouse they found that the part of the brain the dorsal fronto-median cortex was damaged. That is the part of the brain that stops you from doing something. It is what tells you to stop when you think of doing something like putting your hand in fire or running out in front of a car. Without it any thought you have, you think is a good idea.

The only way you are immune to addiction is if you don't have a human brain. You just haven't been exposed to the right stimulus.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
I understand the physiology of addiction. Fortunately, I don't have addictive tendencies, not because I'm superior, but because I'm damned lucky.

OP? Just a dumb ass. :p
 

F1N3ST

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2006
3,802
0
76
Is he addicted?

Terrorweapon.jpg
 

fantolay

Golden Member
Dec 6, 2009
1,061
0
0
OP... what exactly have you overcome that other people normally become addicted to... with your superior willpower?
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,581
982
126
Then you just don't have an addictive personality. You'll find that people who are addicted to one thing likely have addictions to other things. I truly believe the ability to become addicted to something is genetic, or at least the tendency is there.

I'm addicted to you Mosh...you complete me. :p
 

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
0
An addiction to something is essentially a hunger for something. The same way your body and brain tell you that you are hungry for lunch is the same feeling an addict gets for whatever they are addicted to. It is a feeling that the craving will not subside and will inifinitely escalate--you NEED lunch, you are HUNGRY, you must EAT eventually. The worst idea for an addict, that usually kills attempts to quit, is 'you've stopped eating for a day, but eventually you'll need to so you might as well do it now.' The feeling that the craving must inevitably be satisfied is the biggest killer of attempts to quit.
 

F1N3ST

Diamond Member
Nov 9, 2006
3,802
0
76
An addiction to something is essentially a hunger for something. The same way your body and brain tell you that you are hungry for lunch is the same feeling an addict gets for whatever they are addicted to. It is a feeling that the craving will not subside and will inifinitely escalate--you NEED lunch, you are HUNGRY, you must EAT eventually. The worst idea for an addict, that usually kills attempts to quit, is 'you've stopped eating for a day, but eventually you'll need to so you might as well do it now.' The feeling that the craving must inevitably be satisfied is the biggest killer of attempts to quit.

I see. Bravo.

1055311ede377d92af994818d5352eb3.gif
 

disappoint

Lifer
Dec 7, 2009
10,132
382
126
I'm addicted to reading the random thoughts of dumbasses on the internet. thanks for feeding my addiction OP.
 

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
The lack of willpower slam against addicts has always bugged me. How many people could get up every morning and do dope or get drunk day after day for years on end? Puke blood off and on for months on end. Get up the next day, take a drink, puke it up and wash rinse repeat until you can finally hold it down. Trying to find a good vein in an arm covered with sores and necrotic tissue.

Addicts suffer from an overabundance of willpower, it's just focused in the wrong direction.
 

coreyb

Platinum Member
Aug 12, 2007
2,437
1
0
it's a genetic disorder and a disease. if you want to learn about it go look around online.
 

coreyb

Platinum Member
Aug 12, 2007
2,437
1
0
That isn't long enough to develop an addiction. People don't drink for a week then suddenly they are addicts. It takes time and is often a slow process that people don't realize is even happening. I have seen many people become addicted and I have talked to a lot of addicts when volunteering with suicidal people. One guy I can single out as a prime example.

He was 26 , never drank alcohol his whole life. Attending college he went out with friends one night, got drunk his first time, made him sick , he swore it off. Few weeks later he does it again, just one night, stays clear of alcohol for a couple weeks. Later in the year he starts to go out with friends two times a week, then three, then four. Before he is aware what is happening his grades fall and he realizes he needs to stop drinking. So he goes back to studying but by now the alcohol effects have physically remapped his brain , thought processes are no longer the same as before he started using alcohol. His values change to where he honestly sees school or alcohol as being equal on what he should do with his life. Friends asking him on to go drink tips the scale towards alcohol vs studying and being alone in the room.

It is no longer a concious choice of what is more healthy because his viewpoint on the world has been distrorted. He cannot see it clearly on his own.

They use mice to study addiction because mice have a similar brain structure to humans. In mice they use they set it up so the mouse can have as much cocaine as it wants by just triggering a release. They start off really slow using once a day, but within a week are dead from overdose. When they examined the brain of the mouse they found that the part of the brain the dorsal fronto-median cortex was damaged. That is the part of the brain that stops you from doing something. It is what tells you to stop when you think of doing something like putting your hand in fire or running out in front of a car. Without it any thought you have, you think is a good idea.

The only way you are immune to addiction is if you don't have a human brain. You just haven't been exposed to the right stimulus.

wrong. addiction is a genetic disorder.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
drink massive amounts of caffine on a regular basis.

then stop cold turkey and experience the caffeine withdraw headaches.

imagine that times a thousand and you might get an insight into how coming off chemically addictive substances can affect someone and how much easier it is to justify "just one more hit to get me through this pain."