Is Addiction Unavoidable?

[britjojo]

The article on the chemistry of addiction made me think, and I started to ramble about this a little in another post.

If it is true that it is the brain chemistry and not just the choice of behaviour that causes the addiction, do you think that means that addiction is inevitable?

Specifically I mean-I can avoid smoking. Actually, I used to smoke but quit-so I stay away from them now. I avoid alcohol because I quickly end up drinking more than just socially.

But then I become addicted to the buzz from spending money. Is it inevitable? I mean, if I avoid the more obvious addictive behaviours, is my body going to find its own way to keep getting that buzz, and drag me into an addiction?

If this doesn't make sense I will clarify-its early and I am tired!

[shinningstar]

In my own opinion addiction is avoidable but it depends to the stage of addiction. Smoking is just easy to avoid and stop. But drug addiction it needs the cooperation of the person itself.

[britjojo]

Ok, yes I agree that addiction to something like smoking is avoidable. But, the question I asked was, if one were to avoid ALL of the obvious addictions, would one still end up addicted to say, being online, or watching TV.

http://www.addictionsearch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71
The above thread also touches on this a little and I think complements this thread quite nicely.

[QuietLunatic]

I really think it has to do with an individual's internal workings. I mentioned my brother in other threads: he's an addictive person--cigarettes, drugs, whatever. When he gives up one, he picks up something else. My exhusband gave up smoking tobacco and then gave up drugs and did NOT substitute something else. He just quit cold-turkey.

An Oprah show the other day had women on who had had gastric bypass to lose a great deal of weight. All of them were food addicts, and after the surgery, turned to something else--booze, drugs or sex or a combination, and all of them hit rock bottom eventually, before they could turn it around. Maybe now some of them are addicted to soap operas or posting on forums or shopping on eBay.

I believe it's something deeply ingrained or built-in, but that it CAN be fought, if you can see it and recognize it. I doubt it would be an easy battle, but still...

[britjojo]

And again I agree with you that it can be fought. But to fight it you have to be aware of it, and that often, like you said, requires hitting rock bottom.

For those who are not so aware, is it inevitable? Will you always have something in your life that takes just a little bit too much precedence?

[SingleAgain]

The figures show that something like 40% of alcoholics come by the disease through genetics. Twins, raised half a globe apart-if one becomes an alcoholic there is a 40% chance the other will too despite not influencing the other.

So from that I would say that it is possible that some are likely to find themselves with a problem one way or another.

[LW75]

Ok, yes I agree that addiction to something like smoking is avoidable. But, the question I asked was, if one were to avoid ALL of the obvious addictions, would one still end up addicted to say, being online, or watching TV.

http://www.addictionsearch.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71
The above thread also touches on this a little and I think complements this thread quite nicely.

Most people turn to whatever it is they get addicted to because they need something to get some relief from some kind of unhappiness. (I know there are kids who start drinking young and then can't stop, but I'm talking about the general addiction that people develop from wanting to feel better.)

In answer to your question, I think its natural for people to try to find relief from pain (physical or mental) and unhappiness. Some people know never to take that first drink or drug. Some know that even if they got relief once they can't turn it into a regular thing. Some people, though, may be in such pain that the short-term benefit of whatever it is they do far outweighs any long-term consequences.

I tend to think the risk of becoming addicted to something may lie more in the degree of long-term, deep-down, unhappiness a person has.

[jr_sci]

Addiction is avoidable if and only if you want. If you are strong enough to make a will that you are going to stop addiction.

[Rohitpatel]

Well yes we can stop it. I can say on my own experince that addiction is avoidable at any stages of addiction but need your own power and support from your family.

[Ronaldo]

Addiction is avoidable only if the person is mentally strong. He should have his own principles and must be a educated one.