The Meaning of Addiction

Let’s review the meaning of addiction.

Addiction is a way to meet our needs and wants in a misapplied or dysfunctional way. It is any activity that you cannot control and it gets worse over time. It is the use of a substance or an experience (action) for the purpose of removing pain or gaining pleasure.

The most common addictions known and discussed publicly are:

  • Drugs
  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco
  • Gambling
  • TV, gaming, Internet

Lesser-known but also common addictions are:

  • Eating disorders
  • Anorexia, bulimia
  • Shopping
  • Rage

Very prominent, well known, but not understood and virtually taboo as a public or private discourse:

  • Sex and pornography

Very prominent, not well known or understood and rarely discussed as an addiction:

  • Conflict avoidance
  • Self-induced stress and chaos
  • Anger
  • Victim/villain relationships

Published by

Richard Himmer

Author, PhD in Organizational Psychology.

2 thoughts on “The Meaning of Addiction”

  2. I love the info., just wish there was more info., to teach us HOW to work thru these addictions, conflicts, etc.

Comments are closed.