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juicemonkey
Stranger
Registered: 07/24/02
Posts: 764
Loc: BC
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Addiction
#1193558 - 01/05/03 05:36 PM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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I just don't understand it. I'm not talking about addiction to drugs. I'm talking about addiction to gambling, internet, eating, etc.
Are these people REALLY addicted? Or just using that for an excuse? I honestly feel theres a lot behind these 'addictions'. I for one, never believed in them. I thought people were using it for an excuse.
Well, in some way, I believe now...cause I realized...I'm addicted to the internet. I think I am anyway. I tried to not go on the computer even once today. THat was my goal. But I was home all day, with nothing to do, and naturally, I've spent a good amount of time on the computer today.
What causes these 'addictions'? Is it some chemical imbalance or something in the brain?
-------------------- I saw my mind do warp 10, hit the brakes, put it in reverse and back all over me
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rommstein2001
Rise ye Must!
Registered: 05/10/01
Posts: 3,182
Loc: South GA
Last seen: 7 years, 26 days
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Well, one sign of addiction is making excuses to be able to use the object of your addiction, so i guess if it is an excuse, it's still an addiction.
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Larrythescaryrex
teardrop on the fire
Registered: 07/19/00
Posts: 11,004
Loc: further down the spiral
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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I get withdrawl from the shroomery.
-------------------- RIP Acidic_Sloth Sunset_Mission said: "larry the scary rex verily scary when thoroughly vexed invoke the shadows and dust, cast a hex mercifully massacring memories masterfully relocate from Ur to 8th density and become a cosmic bully mulder and scully couldn't decipher his glyphs invoke the shadows and dust, smoke infernal spliffs" April 24th 2011
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Strumpling
Neuronaut
Registered: 10/11/02
Posts: 7,571
Loc: Hyperspace
Last seen: 12 years, 10 months
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-------------------- Insert an "I think" mentally in front of eveything I say that seems sketchy, because I certainly don't KNOW much. Also; feel free to yell at me. In addition: SHPONGLE
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Grav
Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 4,454
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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I will use a bastardized analogy and then jeapordize several missions.
Life is like a big field on a cold night. Everyone lives on this field, and nobody knows too much, but the more you walk around and experience different parts and people of the field, the more adapted you become to the environment. I think an addiction is like a warm fire in this field. You don't want to keep walking around in the cold, so you go and sit by the fire. If you use moderation you will only sit long enough to warm yourself and then you will continue on your way. An addiction forms when you want to be warm all the time and shut your eyes off to the rest of your environment. It is like an escape from a harsh reality. You get more and more attached to the warmth and everytime you do venture out into the cold you feel really weird and out of place, and begin to act bitterly towards other people
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Remy
Bitches Brew
Registered: 06/04/02
Posts: 1,343
Loc: Atlanta, GA
Last seen: 12 years, 5 months
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Re: Addiction [Re: Grav]
#1195417 - 01/06/03 03:39 PM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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My opinion on addiction, is that an addiction is food for the ego. When you let down your strengths against temptation, the Temper pulls you to her like a magnet. Temptation feeds the ego, and things like Meditation, Music, Medicine, and Sports feed the soul. It is important to excersise self-control (and thus balance), by resisting temptation, and feeding your soul. It is okay to indulge occasionally, but it will always stunt your spiritual growth, until you are able to resist it fully.
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Adamist
ℚṲℰϟ✞ЇѺℵ ℛ∃Åʟḯ†У
Registered: 11/23/01
Posts: 10,211
Loc: Bloomington, IN
Last seen: 9 years, 1 month
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Re: Addiction [Re: Grav]
#1195465 - 01/06/03 03:57 PM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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Hey, that was a nice analogy.
-------------------- { { { ṧ◎ηḯ¢ αʟ¢ℌ℮мƴ } } }
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upupup
guardian
Registered: 08/25/01
Posts: 889
Loc: George "I love Hitler" Bu...
Last seen: 20 years, 1 month
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Re: Addiction [Re: Grav]
#1195489 - 01/06/03 04:05 PM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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That is a beautiful way of saying a fucked up thing Grav. I like it....
I think it is mostly an excuss to be a FUCK UP......having been a person who claimed such I think I can say that.....
-------------------- Support bacteria - they're the only culture some people have.
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MountainMist
Stranger
Registered: 01/01/03
Posts: 53
Loc: Seattle, Washington
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Quote:
What causes these 'addictions'? Is it some chemical imbalance or something in the brain?
I suppose the scientific explanation is that anything that feeds the pleasure centers of the brain is potentially addicting. When you are doing something pleasurable your body releases a number of neurotransmitters called "endorphins" (among other things)that reduce pain and induce feelings of euphoria. The word "endorphin" comes from "endogenous morphine" because these chemicals are opiates like opium, morphine, and heroin. In other words, whenever you do something that you find pleasurable (and depending on the person, this could be anything from shopping, reading, browsing the web, sex, gambling, running, fighting (war gives many people an endorphin high), meditating, listening to music, looking at your girlfriend, getting off work--practically anything) you will release a chemical analogue of morphine into your brain. Endorphins are just as powerful as morphine, they are just released by the body in smaller doses than typical morphine doses. Therefore, the addictive potential of certain activities is very real. Just ask Bill Clinton, or any shopaholic.
Becoming addicted to SOMETHING is more or less unavoidable in life. That's just the way our brains are wired. I think the distinction that Remy makes between addictions that feed the soul and those that feed the ego is a very useful and important one. If one can replace one's harmful addictions with harmless or helpful addictions (such as to meditation, music, or exercise) then one will be much better off.
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Murex
Reality Hacker
Registered: 07/28/02
Posts: 3,599
Loc: Traped in a shell.
Last seen: 16 years, 7 months
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Good post MountainMist.
I have concluded that people who are ignorant and without empathy (or IDs) are more prone to addiction. They are usually greddy backstabbers too. I fucking hate them.
P.S.: I am allowed to hate- it is a human emotion.
-------------------- What if everything around you Isn't quite as it seems? What if all the world you think you know, Is an elaborate dream? And if you look at your reflection, Is it all you want it to be?
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MountainMist
Stranger
Registered: 01/01/03
Posts: 53
Loc: Seattle, Washington
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Re: Addiction [Re: Murex]
#1195626 - 01/06/03 04:55 PM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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Thanks Murex. I like your head (in all senses of the word). I don't begrudge you your hatred. We've all been there, right? As long as it comes from a pure, righteous place inside yourself, even hatred can be the voice of the angels, no?
Your hatred is not mine to judge. Keep up the good work!
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Anonymous
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Re: Addiction [Re: Murex]
#1196700 - 01/07/03 03:20 AM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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"I have concluded that people who are ignorant and without empathy (or IDs) are more prone to addiction. They are usually greddy backstabbers too. I fucking hate them."
HUH? Please explain the correlation between ignorance and addiction. Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is often hereditary, so if your father was an alcoholic there is a greater chance that you would be one too. This has nothing to do with ignorance. Alcoholism runs in my family, so I know to keep my limits with it and not abuse or even come close to that. Let's be a little more open minded and not downgrade someone because they suffer from an addiction, its a disease for some people and it truly takes strength to overcome.
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Remy
Bitches Brew
Registered: 06/04/02
Posts: 1,343
Loc: Atlanta, GA
Last seen: 12 years, 5 months
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Re: Addiction [Re: ]
#1196838 - 01/07/03 04:59 AM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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Why must so many always blame everything on genetics. Your family does not make you an alcoholic. Sure, your genetics may make you more prone to alcoholism, because some poor ignorant person/s in your family became addicted. It is ignorant to blame anything on others.
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ribbit
up till dawn
Registered: 10/31/02
Posts: 290
Last seen: 12 years, 5 months
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Re: Addiction [Re: Remy]
#1197131 - 01/07/03 07:24 AM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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i blame all of you for my shroomery addiction!
i do, i love coming here to hear what you have to say...
its all your fault!!!
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Anonymous
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By definition, you can be addicted to the internet, gambling, etc. But you can NOT have an addiction to these things.
Once people say they are addicted to something, it provides them with an excuse to continue their behavior. In my opinion, these kind of people are easily molded to fit popular culture: I am on the internet a lot, but I am not addicted to it. Why not? Because I can get up at any time and do something else if I want.
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Murex
Reality Hacker
Registered: 07/28/02
Posts: 3,599
Loc: Traped in a shell.
Last seen: 16 years, 7 months
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Re: Addiction [Re: ]
#1198089 - 01/07/03 01:17 PM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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IMO, only stupid people get addicted to drugs. People should be able to see the consequences of what they do and be able to figure out that (with drug addiction) things will only get worse over time with constant abuse- they should realize this and prevent themselves from becoming addicted.
-------------------- What if everything around you Isn't quite as it seems? What if all the world you think you know, Is an elaborate dream? And if you look at your reflection, Is it all you want it to be?
Edited by Murex (01/07/03 01:23 PM)
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Anonymous
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Re: Addiction [Re: Murex]
#1198277 - 01/07/03 02:27 PM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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Well if we were all powerful and can see into the future of our actions so clearly then maybe us stupid people wouldn't get addicted.... hmm what were you talking about ignorance again?
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Murex
Reality Hacker
Registered: 07/28/02
Posts: 3,599
Loc: Traped in a shell.
Last seen: 16 years, 7 months
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Re: Addiction [Re: ]
#1198317 - 01/07/03 02:47 PM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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People who cannot predict what will happen to them if they abuse drugs are ignorant of their future selves.
-------------------- What if everything around you Isn't quite as it seems? What if all the world you think you know, Is an elaborate dream? And if you look at your reflection, Is it all you want it to be?
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Grav
Registered: 02/06/02
Posts: 4,454
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Re: Addiction [Re: ]
#1198321 - 01/07/03 02:49 PM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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That's what makes a person stupid though, not thinking things through, and being a slave to their impulses and whatever their environment commands of them.
It doesn't mean they're a bad person, they're just not using their head and it will get them in trouble.
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Anonymous
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Re: Addiction [Re: Grav]
#1198332 - 01/07/03 02:55 PM (21 years, 3 months ago) |
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I see what your saying, but an addiction is something that grabs a hold of you before you even realize what happens. There are people out there that become addicted then have the courage to beat the addiction and thats admirable, it takes courage and strength. If you let the addiction ruin your life and you still don't take action, well then the word stupidity can be used.
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