What type of addictions are there?

Addictions fall into broad categories: Those that have social approval to those that don’t. Here are some addictions that I am familiar with.

Socially admired addictions include achievement, charity work, leadership, self-discipline, dieting, looking good, popularity, approval, being lean/muscular/athletic, reading, being intellectual, having a sense of humor, public speaking/recognition, faith practice, fine collecting, goal orientation and having fame/wealth/possessions.

Socially acceptable addictions include having control of situations, being driven, serial monogamy, flirting by single people, fibbing, exaggerating, hobbies, watching the television/Internet, alcohol use, suggestive sexuality, admiring opposite sex, fantasy/imagining, playing, collecting, risk taking unusual faith practices and “helping” fix others.

Some socially frowned upon addictions include marijuana, coarse language, overt sexuality, flirting by married people or couples, overuse of TV/Internet, drunkenness, prescription drug use, verbal abuse, hoarding, unwise risk-taking, compulsiveness, being too talkative, being alone, control of people and “harmless” lying.

Some socially taboo addictions include street drugs, polygamy, extramarital sex, public drunkenness, drug abuse of all kinds, overeating, physical abuse of others, intimidation, filthy hoarding, recklessness, sexual abuse, manipulation, lying and over talking

There are far more potential addictions than these and of course the mere fact that someone does one or more of these things does not mean that they are an addict. What classifies these things as addictive is based on how and why someone does them. If they are used to “medicate” pain and they are a compulsive element of someone feeling good they may very well be “coping mechanisms,” the socially acceptable phrase for “addiction.” Also, addictions usually have negative consequences either for the addict or for the people who love them or are in a relationship with them. The only sure way to tell is if you can simply stop doing one for a length of time with no adverse effects and have no urges or compulsions to restart them. Is smoking addictive? Can you simply stop it one day and have no adverse effects and no urge or compulsion to restart? Does it have a negative consequence on the addict? You bet.

How to ‘Ask the Addict’: Please email your addiction-related questions to asktheaddict@yahoo.com.