Addictive personalities

[Steve]

I was wondering about this, the difference between addiction...and addictive personalities. What is it that puts one over the edge?

I know I have an addictive personality. I smoked cigarettes for 23 years before giving them up 4 years ago. I love rum and coke; being as how I weigh 240 pounds and am 6'2", it takes a lot to get me drunk but you know, I don't mind being drunk. I could do it a lot, except for that headache crap the next morning.

Oh, and yes, I definitely experimented with and greatly enjoyed various illegal drugs in my youth. Wouldn't mind lighting up right now, in fact, although my wife would have conniptions ;)

And food? Boy howdy, if there's one thing I love more than cooking, it's the eating! If I didn't have a decent metabolism and wasn't moderately active, I'd probably weigh in at 300 pounds!

So I know that it wouldn't take much to send me over the edge, so to speak. So where is the dividing line between an addictive personality....and an addict?

What differentiates someone who really, really enjoys drinking alcohol...from an alcoholic? And what's the difference between someone who smokes pot regularly....and a pot head?

[RetFireCapt]

What differentiates someone who really, really enjoys drinking alcohol...from an alcoholic? And what's the difference between someone who smokes pot regularly....and a pot head?
The way their brain interacts with various chemicals and even minerals.

The way they're wired and hard coded at development, birth, and post natal development.

[Frodo Lives]

From personal experience, I find those that drink because they enjoy it drink, well, because they enjoy it and can (usually) stop when they have enough. Alcoholics don't like it, but can't stop doing it (and they go to meetings ;) ).


As someone that has smoked more then his fair share of pot over the years, even I can't fully answer this one. But I think I can give it a try (from personal experience I can tell I have been both :cool: ).

Potheads smoke for the high of it. They enjoy being wasted and don't give a damn who knows about it. They often will smoke anytime, anywhere. They also usually lack in the hygiene department. This was me at the beginning.

Those that smoke on a regular basis. Usually don't car much about the high, they just enjoy the calmness they receive from pot. They won't let it interfere in their daily lives (usually). Usually their smoke time is after work or when they are relaxing in front of their computers doing whatever (gaming, talking to friends, posting at GA). This was me at the end of my pot smoking time. I quit about 3-4 months ago for good, hopefully.


I hope this helps, but if it doesn't you can tell me to shut up.

[ShinyTop]

I hesitate to answer for alcoholics. My father was one and I am too close to the harm it can cause. I can thank him in that his example has kept me a moderate drinker all my life.

As far as pot goes ...

The potheads anywhere around my age smoke daily and freely admit they do not want to try to go without it. Those who still smoke occasionally consider it a treat and a fine way to relax. They would not dream of going to work or other inappropriate place stoned because ... well, it would be a waste of a good high.

Addiction to food? I have no answer although I fight this addiction daily. We know there are different metabolisms that burn food differently. I often wonder if those who more readily succumb have different or more intense taste sensors. One solace among the PC ranting that heavy people simply are weak is that the scientific community has found that the hunger message chemically sent to the brain is identical to the message sent when actually starving. :)

[Steve]

On the taste sensor aspect, I recently read that people with a dense concentration of taste sensors avoid highly flavored food, as they find it...distasteful. But those with a less dense concentration of taste buds have no problem with spicy or highly flavored foods, as they're not as sensitive to them.

So, yes, I can see where one's sensititivity to taste and flavor might influence the amount of food eaten.