It’s traditionally assumed that if someone is addicted to something, it’s more than likely that something will be of the illegal variety. But it doesn’t have to be the case. Addiction can realistically be associated with anything, even legal things.
And folks on Reddit were discussing their very legal addictions in this now-viral online thread. Things like sugar, chocolate, video games and the like. And that opened up a pretty interesting discussion.
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Brake fluid. But I can stop any time i want.
Sugar
That s**t is extremely addictive.
Best thing I did for my health was to stop drinking sugary drinks...sodas, energy drinks, juices, punches, even stopped adding sugar to my coffee.
If I don't have caffeine regularly I get...difficult.
I drink many cups of black coffee everyday and derive joy from my consumption. Call me an addict.
So, what is addiction?
There is no clear-cut answer to that question. Mostly because it deals with an invisible line that is crossed, and is in many cases difficult to come back to. Or, even, in some cases, flat out impossible. In that case, it’s then a game of learning to live with it and learning to accept the consequences.
Food. I've got a terrible food addiction that's comparable to my 600 lb life type of addiction. It's a real f****n monkey on my back. I don't like to talk about it on here much though because then I get a bunch of commenters on here telling me how unhealthy that is ECT. I Know! For Christ sake, I know. Anywho, I hope everyone's having a nice day. Happy St Patricks day.
Alcohol. I haven't had any in 24 years, but it's best practice to assume that I'm still addicted.
Those who get addicted essentially cross a point where their body gets so hooked and it starts demanding to feed the addiction. If not demanding more with every time on top of it. Difficulty arises from the fact that nobody knows where this line is exactly. It’s different for everyone, and once you cross it, you don’t know it until it’s too late.
Chocolate. It's a problem. I need to stop, but I'm pretty much addicted, because without it, days are horrible.
The reason why some addictions are impossible to kick is because it’s hard to understand when and if you haven't actually returned to the line between addiction and normal life. You’ve already experienced it, so you know the temptation, and thus can relapse again at any time. In that case, you often learn to maneuver around it, kinda sorta feeding it but not too much. But always living with that risk.
Tobacco but it's not the nicotine because when I quit a few years back I had both patches and gum which I didn't touch after the first few days but the physical act of smoking, whether it be cigarette or pipe, is what I craved. Vaping, with and without nicotine, also didn't satiate that craving. I love the taste, smell and ritual of smoking tobacco products.
It was a nasty case of walking pneumonia that made me quit. Two months and I had no urge to smoke again.
Sleeping.
One thing that many assume is that it’s all down to willpower to kick the habit. But, alas, it’s not just that.
There’s also knowledge on how to tackle the addiction as well as having the support to go through with it successfully. Oh, and it’s also understanding that addiction doesn’t make you a bad person. Even more so when you have identified it and made efforts to fend it off.
Really weird online games like candy crush, solitaire, this water bottle game where you have to match the colours. Beginning to feel like I'm only addicted bc it gives me a false sense of accomplishment lol gotta work on that asap.
I was totally addicted to these 3 and such ones. One morning I just woke up and deleted everything. Now it's slightly better
Saving pictures of cats on my phone…I have over 2,000
I don’t even like cats that much I just like seeing 2,000 pictures of cats and giggling about the sheer magnitude of cats lmao.
Chap Stick. It's a lifelong addiction.
There is a lot to addiction. Part of what makes it so darned difficult. And it all starts with that initial use.
The reasons why folks start using drugs are numerous. It can be rolling with a bad crowd (or even a good one), living with a bad example of a guardian or simply curiosity. Whatever the case, that one time might be the sweet relief that your body will continue to demand from here on out.
Tea. Yorkshire Tea preferably.
Guilty! But I prefer loose tea leaves, no tea bags for me. If I feel the slightest symptom of getting sick, I drink cups and cups of green tea for 'cure'. Maybe there is a placebo effect helping me but at least it does no damage to me. And yes, if I get seriously sick, I go and see my doctor.
Shopping. Sounds ridiculous but I don’t remember the last time I didn’t spend money for a whole 24 hours. Definitely working on it, but spending money can definitely become a problem. .
Initial use can evolve into abuse, which is when the person uses the substance on a recurring, oftentimes improper, basis. In other words, it’s used to a degree where it’s harmful. Some say the line to cross into abuse is when a person starts using the drug for the euphoric response or when self-treatment is performed without a doctor’s instruction.
Everything. I’m an extreme addict. Anything I do, I end up doing to the max. 3 drinks 1 night a week, rapidly becomes 200 drinks in a week. Diets turn into anorexia. Quitting a diet becomes a binge eating disorder. I take up horticulture, learn how to propagate and literally bring home 500 plants in one day. I start reading again and suddenly, I have no time for anything else because I’m tearing through a whole Rubbermaid of library books a week. You don’t even want to know how what an all-consuming issue my sex drive, caffeine habit and nicotine addiction are.
Edit: I have been treated for ADHD and Bipolar type I in the past but nothing worked. I was upgraded to C-PTSD, Autism, Schizoaffective, Anorexia Nervosa, Dermatillomania and Haphephobia. Possible Dyscalculia. You can stop suggesting ADHD and Bipolar now. Lol.
This is the effect of the Parkinson's medications , that increase the dopamine, as well. Sounds like you have a high dopamine response.
My fiancée (in a good way). I love her so much. She’s my best friend and I literally want to spend every minute of my life with her.
Over time, the person might develop a tolerance for a given drug, meaning that in order to achieve whatever result that they want, more of the drug has to be used. But the more you use, the more strain there is on the body, and the more debilitating the reaction can be in the long run.
Cleaning. Sounds good but I grew up in a hoarder house and I can literally NOT relax. I’m like 6mo pregnant right now but I still clean until it hurts .
Video games.
My Steam account is currently sitting at almost 600 games. You add in the games on my GOG and other accounts and it tops 600 easy. Then my Wishlist is pushing another 200. It sounds extreme, but my account is almost 20 years old. Imagine how big a game room I would need if I had to have physical copies of all this.
Buying a bunch of s**t on Amazon knowing if I don’t like it I can return it. Then never returning it.
And, speaking of the long run, tolerance leads to dependence. Not all dependence is considered addiction—sometimes it’s a medical means to manage a condition. However, if a given drug is being used to treat another condition, and they become dependent on it to feel good, then that’s a problem.
Pizza.
Pickles. I legit start to go through withdrawal if I haven't had any for 3+ days. In unrelated news, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 19.
Anything that clears my sinuses! Halls, vaporub, olbas. It's like walking through a wintry forest but in my nose.
If your sinuses are never clear without help, shouldn’t you maybe see a doctor? Or is it just cold/flu/allergy season?
At the end of it all, it develops into a full blown addiction. Craving it, not being able to stop, using more than it was originally started with—all of these are clear signs of addiction. More extreme signs include use of substances in dangerous situations, like when driving a car, or using it despite the health risks.
Caffeine and my iPhone.
Isn't this really all of society at this point? Except I have a Galaxy fold phone.
Unsweetened iced tea big time, Burt’s Bees lip balm, my husband and cats!
Sounds pretty awesome, so if that makes you an addict, I say rock on...
Whatever the case, seeking help is always the way to go as there is always someone out there who will try their darndest to help. American Addiction Centers might help.
So, what are your thoughts on any of this? Share your thoughts and stories in the comment section below!
Fanfiction. I have like 80 tabs open. I’ll
Spend 6 hours a day reading if I don’t have anything else to do. I read it while I’m working on crafts and stuff. I check my email at least 10 times a day to see if any of the fics I’m enjoying has updated.
It’s almost like when I was a kid and reading a book a day.
Better than using the same time watching Youtube or Netflix. Tt's also a good emotions fix, a way to cater yourself feelings joy, sadness, ect. basically from a menu.
Coke Zero.
Alcohol. And Reddit ffs.
Ditto on Reddit. I've deleted send redownloaded Reddit sooooo many times. It's the only SM besides BP that I use.
The Sims! I invest more time into my sim’s futures than my own.
Magic the m***********g gathering. Been playing cardboard crack since 1995.
Gummy worms.
If being addicted to gummies is wrong then I don't wanna be right!
Redbull, i wish it would be made illegal. it’s horrible for you, and i drink it daily….
Is that you Miss? I knew a music teacher who used to drink like 3-4 cans a day on top of like 6-7 coffees. I don't know how she survived... then again she did play brass.
Blasting guitar music into my ears at full volume until I eventually turn deaf, I’m doing it right now.
Reddit. I have a novel to write so I downloaded Limit to stop me going on reddit. Then I needed a beta reader. What's the only place to get a decent beta reader?
Oh, yeah, there you are like the dealer just hanging on my street corner. Damn you reddit.
Reddit is definitely that toxic ex you just can't stay away from. And BP is like the one you date after the ex- you *know* they're better for you but you still end up going back...
Checking somebody’s social media account obsessively where you feel like your a stalker I found myself obsessing over a couple I thought had a great life and maybe they do but it was effecting my own relationship and self esteem(I felt like a stalker) which is illegal lol.
This is just sad. Glad they at least recognize how... not good... this was.
Sex, and fantasizing about sex with any semi-attractive woman I might see throughout the day.
TIkTok.
My biggest addiction is probably vaping. I used to smoke, but managed to switch over to vapes, after my mum pleaded with me, saying I could have as many vapes as needed, as long as I gave up the cigs. Unfortunately, I’m in no position to come off the vapes, as I rely on them for alternate pain relief. I suffer multiple chronic pain conditions & I’m sadly the victim of unsympathetic doctors who’ve continuously refused to treat me with appropriate pain relief (no joke, they legit act as if paracetamol is some kind of wonder-drūg & then I get the “surprised Pikachu face” from the doctors/nurses when it has zero effect). So, I’ve had to resort to vaping, comfort foods & refusing to hurt myself in order to “exercise” at the request of physio; as last time they made me move beyond capacity, I strained my one good leg & hurt my hip, which had me crying when I had to use the loo weeks after (thankfully I’m not overweight, so I can refuse for my own benefit). Alas, this is sadly how I cope with it all. 🥺🚬🤷♀️
I'm currently going on post surgery with paracetamol and ibuprofen after l was discharged. And it wasn't a minor surgery. I wish l was joking. And I'm not even in the US, but doctors are so f*****g worried about opioids addiction that forget to treat actual pain. You have my sympathy
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I'm addicted to whatever the microchips the CIA put in my brain say I'm addicted to.
My biggest addiction is probably vaping. I used to smoke, but managed to switch over to vapes, after my mum pleaded with me, saying I could have as many vapes as needed, as long as I gave up the cigs. Unfortunately, I’m in no position to come off the vapes, as I rely on them for alternate pain relief. I suffer multiple chronic pain conditions & I’m sadly the victim of unsympathetic doctors who’ve continuously refused to treat me with appropriate pain relief (no joke, they legit act as if paracetamol is some kind of wonder-drūg & then I get the “surprised Pikachu face” from the doctors/nurses when it has zero effect). So, I’ve had to resort to vaping, comfort foods & refusing to hurt myself in order to “exercise” at the request of physio; as last time they made me move beyond capacity, I strained my one good leg & hurt my hip, which had me crying when I had to use the loo weeks after (thankfully I’m not overweight, so I can refuse for my own benefit). Alas, this is sadly how I cope with it all. 🥺🚬🤷♀️
I'm currently going on post surgery with paracetamol and ibuprofen after l was discharged. And it wasn't a minor surgery. I wish l was joking. And I'm not even in the US, but doctors are so f*****g worried about opioids addiction that forget to treat actual pain. You have my sympathy
Load More Replies... I'm addicted to whatever the microchips the CIA put in my brain say I'm addicted to.
