Addiction

Addiction – any habit of a person which is continuous in nature, without which that person feels very exhaustive or restless.

Addiction was a term used to describe a devotion, attachment, dedication, inclination, etc. Nowadays, however, the term addiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life.

It is generally accepted that addiction is a disease, a state of physiological or psychological dependence or devotion to something manifesting as a condition in which medically significant symptoms liable to have a damaging effect are present.

Addiction can be for anything, may it be gambling, shopping, internet, chatting or any other thing. It is not restricted only for drugs, any habit which is in excess termed as addiction.

It is truly said,

“Excess of anything is bad.”

Any habit could be fine or atleast it may not create much problem to you and your dear ones. But when these habits turned in to addiction, they could be quite dangerous. They can spoil your relations, mentally or physically, you can become ill or you may always feel tired and exhaustive. It can have a severe effect on you, your body and also on others.

Factors that have been suggested as causes of addiction include genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors.

Psychological dependence does not have to be limited only to substances; even activities and behavioural patterns can be considered addictions, if they become uncontrollable, e.g. gambling, Internet addiction, computer addiction, sexual addiction / pornography addiction, reading, eating, self-harm, drug addiction or work addiction.

“It is not heroin or cocaine that makes one an addict, it is the need to escape from a harsh reality. There are more television addicts, more cricket and football addicts, more movie addicts, and certainly more alcohol addicts in this country than there are narcotics addicts.”

One could be addicted to helping others, which, on the surface, would seem to be a good thing. But taking that thought a step further, if you're addicted to something, it also implies that you do everything you can do to feed that addiction, which could possibly lead to unsavory behavior.

“There is only one reason why men become addicted to drugs, they are weak men.
Only strong men are cured, and they cure themselves.”