Addictions

Some time ago when my brother and I were binge watching a Netflix series, my dad got angry with us and said you are getting addicted to it. I argued its not fair, and since its a holiday we should be allowed. He insisted that we are unable to stick to our time limits and we are getting addicted. While I didn’t feel that way at that time, later I realised he was right.

Smoking, Drugs and Alcohol we all know are bad, also they are extremely addictive. Our school and our parents from a very young age have been telling us how bad they are and we get it. But are these the only addictions? I know that things like whatsapp, Instagram, YouTube or TV etc are also addictive. But they can also be important and good for us, so I started thinking what can I do to know when it is good for me and when it is addictive?

So I decided to look at the dictionary meaning of addiction, according to cambridge dictionary “addiction is an inability to stop doing or using something, especially something harmful”

So therefore it means gaming is not bad, but if I cannot stop playing online games it is addiction and also it is harmful. Things like gambling, compulsive shopping, too much internet, adventure sports, phones, excessive gymming, workaholic, eating too much, make-up etc can all be addictions.

So there are two types of addiction that people go through, substance and behavioural addictions. Substance addictions, as implied, refers to incorrect usage of different substances such as cocaine and marijuana. Behavioural addiction is when you do something to an excessive amount at the point where it results in self-destructive and impatient behaviour.

Lots of people at first think that substance addiction are more dangerous, but when you think about it and talk about it you realise behavioural addictions are more dangerous because they are part of you every day life and before you know they can sneak up on you and become an addiction.

As I started thinking more about behavioural addictions, I got confused if things like gymming are passion or addiction? Is passion an addiction? To be fair passions and addictions can be very similar, but there is a big difference in the definition “passion is a measure of our delight for a highly desirable goal that we do out of excitement, pleasure and out of self-fulfilment”. In short is self-beneficial, it doesn't harm you unlike an addiction. However, a passion can become an addiction at a certain point, if you don't handle it well.

So how do we get to know when a passion or any behaviour is an addiction. I learned that there are some signs that reveal an addiction, these are:

• The lack of control of not being able to stay away, like you know you have to do homework but you cant stop gaming or you know you are getting tired and you want to sleep but you cant stop or your parents are angry but still you cant stop.

• Reducing socialisation with friends, family like not going outside to play or not coming back home to spend time with family

• Ignoring risk factors like in adventure sports

• Physical and/or mental effects

Stop for some time and just think, has it been changing the way you think lately, the way you act? Look at yourself, has this activity affected the way you look.

If you think that some of these things are happening to you there is a very high chance that you are addicted.

So once you know you are addicted, what can you do to get rid of it? Here is what I learnt:

• Instead of taking straight away large commitments, take small steps. If you are watching 3 hours of TV, reduce to 2 then 1.5, then 1. Set a time table to make sure you follow this otherwise you have the risk of not following it.

• Try and distance yourself from things that tempt you into doing that. Keep gaming console in another room, if you have games on laptop uninstall them, also stay away from YouTube videos of gaming.

• Try and replace the old habit with new ones that benefits yourself. Like playing board games, drawing, play music or going down to play sports like basket ball.

• Think of yourself as amazing, you can change your choices, you can chose to stop an addiction. Ask yourself will this help me or be bad to me? I love myself too much to give in to a bad habit. Think how your decision will impact you and only then decide.

In conclusion It is important to have balance in life for everything, so play and study, but keep a balance. An addiction can result in lots of bad things and may even hurt you, mentally and physically. An addiction, if not handled soon enough, enslaves you, it drags you in and might get you to the point where you can’t leave. It ruins you. However you can get rid of addictions provided you find out you are getting addicted. Watch for the signs, and love your amazing self to give into them.