WHAT REALLY CAUSES ADDICTION?
The
word “addiction” is derived from a Latin term for “enslaved by” or “bound to.”
Anyone who has struggled to overcome an addiction—or has tried to help someone
else to do so—understands why. Addiction is a condition that results when a
person ingests a substance (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or engages in an
activity (e.g., gambling, sex, shopping) that can be pleasurable but the continued
use/act of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life
responsibilities, such as work, relationships, or health. Users may not be
aware that their behavior is out of control and causing problems for themselves
and others.
Most
addictive behavior is not related to either physical tolerance or exposure to
cues. People compulsively use drugs, gamble, or shop nearly always in reaction
to being emotionally stressed, whether or not they have a physical addiction.
Since these psychologically based addictions are not based on drug or brain
effects, they can account for why people frequently switch addictive actions
from one drug to a completely different kind of drug, or even to a non-drug
behavior. The focus of the addiction isn't what matters; it's the need to take
action under certain kinds of stress. Treating this kind of addiction requires
an understanding of how it works psychologically.
What really causes
addiction — to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome
it? Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched
loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we
treat addicts the way we do — and if there might be a better way. As he shares
in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and
unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old
problem.
It
is not enough to “just say no”. Instead, you can protect (and heal) yourself
from addiction by saying “yes” to other things. Cultivate diverse interests
that provide meaning to your life. Understand that your problems usually are
transient, and perhaps most importantly, acknowledge that life is not always
supposed to be pleasurable.
SOURCE: https://www.ted.com/talks
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