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Addiction is something that most people associate with alcohol and drug abuse. It is usually followed by shattered dreams, broken relationships, families and homes marked by the broken person partaking in the addiction. But there are so many more things to be addicted to than just drugs. Here are a few unexpected addictions that most people overlook.
The first addiction is food; mainly sugar and flour. Most people don’t even realize that they have a problem with this but both of these ingredients release dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is responsible for short-term pleasure in the brain. This makes us euphoric and happy for a short period of time. “These powdery substances have all been refined and purified to hit the brain in a really powerful way. Because the reaction is so intense, our brain tries to regulate the stimulation.” (1) Coming down off of these two ingredients can leave someone feeling a little depressed and crabby afterwards. This chemical is also released when someone uses drugs or alcohol. Overeating is a major problem in this country and a lot of people do it out of boredom. It warns about this kind of thing. “Do not join those who drink too much or gorge themselves, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” Proverbs 23:20-21.
On the healthier end of addictions, exercising has also been known to become addictive as well. Some people want the perfect physique that is chiseled and cut, while other people want to bulk up to be the size of a brick house and just as strong. “Dopamine, noradrenalin, and serotonin are the three major neurotransmitters that are known to be modulated by exercise.” (2) Some people just have an unhealthy obsession with getting the perfect body. I’ve known individuals who would go through a phase of shedding then through a phase of bulking and keep going back and forth just because they got bored with their physique. Or, others wanted to have a different goal to set and reach. Whatever the case, exercising is good in healthy doses. “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8.
There are a couple more things that I’m going to talk about that most people overlook on being addicted to: being in a relationship and people pleasing. Both are very dangerous if you do it for the wrong reasons. Being in relationship is not bad as long as you are respected by the person and don’t lose yourself while being in that relationship. I’ve had trouble with losing myself in a relationship and going above and beyond to please people who didn’t treat me with the same respect and consideration I treated them. Since finding God, I have realized that these were problems that fed my drug addiction. I now know I deserve better. Co-dependency is more common of a problem than drug addiction. Self love, self respect and pleasing God are what’s freed me and others from needing a relationship or approval of others to feel complete. God is love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
God is the only thing that has freed me from my addictions. He is love and He teaches people to love themselves, have respect for others and themselves too. I’ve had a lot of people slander me for what I believe because they don’t believe and I just wish they could know God like I have come to know Him. Without Him, I would still be addicted to things that would have eventually killed me or put me in prison. There are so many other things to be addicted to that I haven’t covered but anything done in excess or without self-restraint can be considered an addiction. My advice: seek God and He will help you out of your addiction and replace it with His love.
