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Aug. 7th, 2013 11:03 amAddiction is the relentless pursuit of that which we do not really want. The proof that we don't want it is right there in the fact that it never satisfies. But rather than concluding [the addict] is taking the wrong medicine, the addict repeatedly decides that the dosage simply isn't high enough yet. And so the cycle continues. - User comment to a NYT article.
Ever know an addict? I'm not talking about dependency, or even "users": dependents whose behavioral or chemical choices involve (if someone what chaotically) self-medicating for emotional pain. I am currently dependent on the usual prescription, and have certainly been and will be a user - if given regular access to my favorite class of "medicine".
Addicts on the other hand have to involve people around them, through need of financial, legal and emotional support. Or worse, through the desire to bring people into the same sphere of behavior. It's part of the ritual. An addict wants your emotional attention or energy as much as they want their drug or their game. It's standard energy vampirism.
The addict is fundamentally lonely, but will often glamorize the behavior to the non-addict as a way to make the act seem socially lively. This is particularly true of behavioral addicts since many of the behaviors are not illegal, and can be romanticized or even glamorized. Regardless, it only takes knowing one to pick up on the look. A desperation to fix shows up in the back of the eyes - once you know that look you can recognize it immediately.
Ever know an addict? I'm not talking about dependency, or even "users": dependents whose behavioral or chemical choices involve (if someone what chaotically) self-medicating for emotional pain. I am currently dependent on the usual prescription, and have certainly been and will be a user - if given regular access to my favorite class of "medicine".
Addicts on the other hand have to involve people around them, through need of financial, legal and emotional support. Or worse, through the desire to bring people into the same sphere of behavior. It's part of the ritual. An addict wants your emotional attention or energy as much as they want their drug or their game. It's standard energy vampirism.
The addict is fundamentally lonely, but will often glamorize the behavior to the non-addict as a way to make the act seem socially lively. This is particularly true of behavioral addicts since many of the behaviors are not illegal, and can be romanticized or even glamorized. Regardless, it only takes knowing one to pick up on the look. A desperation to fix shows up in the back of the eyes - once you know that look you can recognize it immediately.
