Mental Health: Do We Use the Term "Addiction" Too Lightly?
Chances are that you know somebody who's addicted to something, or maybe you yourself have even experienced being in the throes of an addiction.
Addictions can be a serious problem that destroys families, relationships and lives.
Although I am by no means trying to diminish the seriousness of genuine addictions, sometimes I feel like our modern society uses the term "addiction" a little too loosely.
What I mean by that, is that a lot of people apply the addiction label to their situation whenever they get involved in something and perhaps get a little bit more serious than they should be.
The problem is that the reason they take upon themselves the "addiction" self-diagnosis is that by saying that — let's say they consider the fact that they look at kitten videos on YouTube too much as an addiction — enables them to step out of taking responsibility for managing their time and instead allows them declare that they're helpless "because they have an addiction."
It is almost as if this particular group of people "identify" with being an addict as opposed to treating it as a serious condition, and getting actual help with the seriousness it deserves.
The "addiction dilemma" is one I often encounter with counseling clients who come to me and talk about certain issues they're having in your life, and then they end their story with the question "So, I'm addicted aren't I?"
In many cases they are not, and they actually become rather upset when I gently tell them that I don't believe they actually are addicted, but rather that they are perhaps bored or frustrated with their current situation and feel the need to distract themselves with something.
If there's something we deal with on a daily basis in this very busy world we live in, it is actually an endless series of distractions.
Choosing to engage in some of these distractions — whether it's watching kitten videos on YouTube or compulsively playing sudoku — rather than doing your actual work, probably doesn't constitute an addiction but just a way to cope with an unpleasant situation that you are hesitant to change.
Addiction is definitely not something to be taken lightly! And so, using this "addiction" label casually as "distraction" from dealing with your real issues is a pretty self-destructive thing to do. Start by talking to someone — whether a trusted friend or a mental health professional!
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