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Addiction should not be seen as abnormal, it is actually extremely normal. Humans and all other animals need to actually addict to activities as this is part of
by dagaci 8y ago
Addiction should not be seen as abnormal, it is actually extremely normal. Humans and all other animals need to actually addict to activities as this is part of the survival mechanics needed to perpetuate the species.
However this addiction function exists at 'lower' level than the intellect, which is why its so hard for the higher function (the tiny conscious part) of the brain to stop an unwanted addiction.
You grow out of addiction when the lower level brain decides that your addiction is not actually required for you to get food or sex.
You can accelerate removing an unwanted addiction by paying very close attention to the mechanics of the activity and by simply introducing new activities especially if those activities are completed with food or sex.
- etaerc 8y agoI also believe addictions are a normal thing. But it's still a complex topic. E.g. what if food or sex are your addiction?
- afiori 8y agofood and sex are two between others deep motivation, one of which is socialization. as a weak example mice in lab choose socialization over drugs often.
- eeZah7Ux 8y ago"Addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences" You are confusing "addiction" with "reward". Addiction is not required nor beneficial.
- gnode 8y agoAddiction is by definition disordered and adverse. Animals have motivation which governs our behaviour, but that doesn't qualify as addiction. It may be more correct to say that motivation operates at a higher level than intellect. Motivation directs attention and overrides decision. The same mechanisms which make it hard to wilfully stop taking a drug make it hard for you to wilfully drown yourself or starve yourself if you decide to. I'd say that you grow out of addiction simply because your motivational calculus changes. Maybe there's something new from which you can get an influx of dopamine (perhaps new people or activities), or maybe a near death experience with the drug now means the thought of it triggers a noradrenaline response, and the fear overrides the motivation towards it.