I agree that those things can be due to both a 'chemical requirement' and the type of need I was describing above. What distinguishes them is the chemical requi

I agree that those things can be due to both a 'chemical requirement' and the type of need I was describing above. What distinguishes them is the chemical requirement; once that is gone, the need fits in the other category - that's all I meant. Personally, I figured out that I was going to engage in some kind of habitual 'escape' periodically (I would guess that is true of everyone). It didn't matter what it was; if I stopped one, then I'd start another. As a result, I try to purposely choose things that are as healthy as possible, or at least harmless, and maybe even a little productive. Hobbies can be good for that, though they aren't exactly the same thing. EDIT: Some clarifying edits