People commonly see addiction in an overly negative light. Dependence on any substance or activity is understandably depicted in an unfavorable light all around society, however, something you might not consider is that you probably have an addiction. People are exposed to and fall victim to addictive substances on a daily basis. Here are three examples.
Sugar
When you think of addiction, you most likely think of tobacco or something similar, like the products found on smokingthings.com. You may not have known that scientists are beginning to suspect that sugar could be as addictive as drugs like cocaine. Sugar prompts the brain to release chemicals, such as dopamine, that make you feel good and satisfied. Eating sugar in excess causes your brain to release these chemicals more often than it should, which can cause addiction. If sugar is used as a reward for good behavior, then you can help avoid addiction.
Video Games
Video game addiction is something that has been gaining awareness recently as video games increase in popularity. Scientists still do not universally agree on the exact science behind video game addiction, or whether or not it even exists. However, many people spend multiple hours every day in one or many of these virtual worlds, which appears to be a sign of addiction, at least on the surface. Video game addiction is not officially recognized as an addictive disorder currently, but as new information becomes available, that could change. Most things are okay in moderation, and video games are one of those things.
Exercise Addiction
The concept of exercise addiction might seem counterintuitive at first, but it is a real problem several people face. Oftentimes, it is a product of an underlying body image disorder or an eating disorder. While exercise is generally a positive activity that makes you happier and healthier, but there is a point where it becomes unhealthy. As much as some may not think so, exercise releases the same chemicals as eating sugar does to reward your body with a good feeling. Athletes and others who feel pressure to always stay in shape may be prone to exercise addiction.
The phrase, “everything in moderation” applies heavily to the concept of addiction. Most things are at least somewhat safe to use or do as long as you do not go overboard in using or doing them. Addiction is an unfortunately prominent problem that is difficult to deal with, so keep yourself informed to try to avoid it.
