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Good question.
I think there is such a thing as certain people being more prone to become addicted to one thing or another. I do however wonder if it's genetic or just a lack of will power.
Addictive Personality...
Is there such a thing?
Are we born either with or without an 'addictive gene'? And can we be justified in using this 'addictive personality' theory to excuse everything we do to excess?? For example:
*Alcohol
*Cigarettes
*Sex
*Gambling
*Chocolate
*Drugs
*Women's Health forum....
Lots of us say we're "addicted" to one thing or another but is it more likely, in the majority of cases, that we just don't want to give up doing what we enjoy and what in some cases we know to be bad or dangerous behaviour?
Or do our bodies and minds condition themselves into expecting and 'needing' this activity/ behaviour after just a short space of time?
Just wondering, what do you think?
Good question.
I think there is such a thing as certain people being more prone to become addicted to one thing or another. I do however wonder if it's genetic or just a lack of will power.
Fair question...
I don't think it's genetic, at least I don't think there is a gene in the human body that makes a person addictive. However I do believe that there are somepeople who are resistant to some addictions that might be contributed to genetics.
Alcohol is a nice example of this. A lot of Native Americans have no resistance to alcohol as a result a lot of them become drunks. It's not a result of evolution with a gene that makes them drunks, it is the fact that alcohol was not introduced to their culture until what 400 years ago. And even then how long was it until it was widespread in their culture? 400 years is a blink in the eye for human evolution. In contrast there are other cultures throughout the world that had alcohol for thousands of years whos alcoholics per capita is much lower than the Native American. ...However, the Irish blow this whole explanation out of the water...
Personally I view addicitions as demons(figurativley), and some peoples demons are different then others. Some people can resist some demons better than others. But eveyone must strive to resist them.
I do think people can have an "addictive personality" as i do.
But, inner strength or weakness plays a part/role in the behaviour patterns. I think some people are addicts, everything they do is an addiction, where some find one or two things and can't give them um, mild addiction.
Personally, when i feel that i am getting too addicted to something and i know that will cause me a problem, be it health or money, or overload, i "try" to curb it and eventually i do succeed, once i challenge my MIND to it and tell my MIND that together we can focus... But, i have to wake up and smell the roses first.
I do therefore belive it's a mindset...
I think also, people with "fire" in their soul are more prone to have addictions, they are all over the place people, try anything, positive and assertive people.
Only the weak (and that's again in the mind) can't stop the addictions is a falis to me, as the strong ( don't want to in the mind) and at the end of the day that's the key, it's about using mind power if you want to kill of an addiction, not about strength or weaknesses.
CW
Do we not realise that in order to find a soul
It doesn't happen over night
if truth were to be told.
Like everything in life that's hard to achieve
you must believe!
I think of myself as having an addictive personality because I always seem to do everything to excess, nothing in moderation!
If I'm not "addicted" to one thing it's another. As soon as I conquer an addiction another one develops! Drives me up the wall.
Very good question...
Ive researched this a bit, as part of my university course... and what i found was that personality and background play a huge role in 'addictions'. Such as, a lack of self-esteem, marked depression or anxiety, physical or sexual abuse in childhood and sharply conflicting parental expectations.
For me, the most important factor of the above is parental expectations - take a simple addiction such as excessive running or something like overconsumption of food / caffeine - if youve a parent demanding that you keep fit, eat healthly etc...as a child, youre likely to rebel and over-eat or, in contrast, you'll feel the pressure and become addicted to running, keeping fit... I know this is a rather vague explanation....but hopefully you'll catch my drift
However, moderation is the distinguishing characteristic... most drinkers dont become alcoholics and most runners do not become running addicts.
The addiction begins if the runner is compulsively using his or her activity to cope with unresolved internal conflicts to the extent that they keep injuring their body or destroying work and family relationships.
Now, alcohol and drug addictions are largely controlled by the availabilty as well as social and legal attitudes towards them.....combined with the stress levels of the addict -"Physicians have the highest rate of opiate addiction of any group"
Finally, (i realise ive rambled on...and on...) since most people do not become addicts - research has shown that people whom fit into this 'non addicts profile group' are people that come from strong families, often with religious backgrounds and who have good social relations.
“As you regonise that you already own the wholeness you seek, and no one outside you can give you more than you already are, dysfunctional situations will evaporate like bad dreams exposed to the morning sun.”
Great answer miffed!
Really interesting. I suspected that addictions have alot to do with our upbringing and early influences (as so much of our behaviour does) and your findings really make sense.
It's not my fault after all
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