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Addictive hobbies

1/16/2018

17 Comments

 
​Because we are human we have hobbies – things we do when we are not busy earning a living and meeting our obligations. Playing games,  exercising, socializing, researching, writing, making music, listening to music, reading, knitting, painting, shopping, name-it and we will recognise the auxiliary activities we don’t have to do, but love to do.
 
When we indulge in activities we like, including work unless we hate every minute of it, our bodies release chemicals (neurotransmitters) known as ‘happy-hormones’.  Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins are the four primary happy hormones.
​
Who would have thought that these happy hormones are highly addictive? Believe it or not, they are. We become addicted to their effects – that feeling of happiness, contentment, satisfaction, and a burning desire to proceed until exhaustion knocks us out. And naturally, we develop an obsessive-compulsive personality disorder – that feeling that time is running out for those activity/activities, and that more effort is needed to achieve our goals concerning them. 
Picture
Image by geralt at pixabay

Addiction to activities

Addiction to activities is called a process addiction.  The DSM-V classifies these addictions as disorders.
 
A hobby becomes an addiction when it dominates our life to the point we are sacrificing our heath, well-being, safety, and relationships.

Five signs of behavioral addiction

Behavioral addictions cause the same negative chemical changes in our brain as drugs. (While some parts of our brains are being over-stimulated and forced to overact, other parts are being under-stimulated, distorted, twisted and even killed.)
 
According to www.ashwoodrecovery.com  the five signs of behavioral addiction are:

  1. You experience withdrawal symptoms (including mood changes, anxiety and depression) when circumstances prevent you from practising your hobby;
  2. You lie to others about how you spend your time;
  3. You react more strongly to your hobby than most other people do;
  4. You’ve tried to quit or slow down without success;
  5. Your loved ones have expressed concern.

A personal confession

I must confess that I become addicted to most everything I do, and I refuse to take any kind of tranquilizer to combat my tendency to develop OCPD (obsessive-compulsive personality disorder). My only salvation is to stick to a daily schedule – so many minutes/hours for this and so many for that. Unfortunately, sticking to this schedule is another challenge, as my favourite activities are numerous and they seem to compete with each other. 
 
Only guilt – because I am neglecting people – drives me from one (addictive) activity to the other. (Have I mentioned that I am even addicted to my work – recording financial transactions, sorting them into accounts, organising them into statements, and so forth. My sense for order is reflected in my work!)
 
Currently I am indulging in the genealogical records of my maiden family – the descendants of one Jacob Coetzer who arrived in South Africa in 1709. The more archived records I check, the more Coetzers and Coetsers I find. Connecting them to an existing branch is not always easy, as missing links flicker like lights on a Christmas tree. The more I comfort myself with the knowledge that another addictive hobby will soon pull me into its magnetic sphere, the more eager I am to get the Coetzer/Coetser family register up to date. In the process I neglect the living people I love and like!

What to do when we are addicted to a hobby?
 

​It surely takes a lot of self-control to put our addictive hobby on ice in order to pay well-deserved attention to the people we love and like. It is a matter of grabbing oneself by the collar.
 
For 2018 I wish myself and all fellow-addicts the best of self-control. May those who are living with activity-addicts get tons of patience and tolerance!

Until next week...err... time,
Martie
January 16, 2018  

CallOuts:

@ warnerwords - ways-to-cope-with-january-blahs

@ marcoujor.com - things-to-leave-behind

@ flashpress - alternative-milks-for-acid-reflux-relief


17 Comments
Angelia link
1/17/2018 05:24:12 am

Martie,

I'm so happy to see you writing on your site again! I've missed you've posts. 😊

I can appreciate how some habits can be addictive. Like you, many /most /all of mine are as well, or not far from it, lol.

In our favor much of our hobbies are directly linked to communication and the pursuit and sharing of knowledge.

I'm good with that, lol!

Reply
Martie
1/17/2018 04:02:00 pm

Hi Angelia

The choice is ours. Humans can get addicted to extremely dangerous substances and activities, or to activities that have a positive influence on a group/family. As long as we don't harm ourselves and others, we are on the right track.

Enjoy your hobbies!

Reply
William Holland link
1/17/2018 04:46:28 pm

Well, according to your guidelines, I'm not addicted to anything, but at times it sure feels like it. :) Let's just say I have a healthy love of gardening, farming, and writing and be satisfied with that description. :)

Martie
1/18/2018 06:33:44 pm

Hi William, I haven't noticed any symptoms of activity addiction in you. You have a variety of hobbies which you practice systematically and diligently. I admire your commitment to your daily hectic schedule, and I am so grateful that reading my work and leaving comments are on your list of activities.

I see you had problems leaving a comment. The same thing happened to me once. I was also compelled to leave a comment in the reply section of someone's else comment. Must be a Weebly glitch. So, I appreciate your comment even more.

Rolly A. Chabot link
1/17/2018 05:21:10 pm

Hi Martie...

Good to see you again, sorry for getting to your post slowly... lol... you might say I have several addictions. Writing, painting, woodcarving, rock polishing and the list goes on. They do change come the summer months. Like you I have set aside comfortable time slots for working at what I love. Work was always important and I attempted to give my employers the best I could.
When I started my retirement I certainly was OCPD as I had projects on the go all over the house. Now is far different and I have come to the place of where I would prefer to enjoy what I am doing. The steaming cup of coffee and audio book playing in the background give me total peace.
Thank you for writing this thought provoking article, excellent advice for those of us who create.

Hugs from Canada

Reply
Martie
1/18/2018 07:00:30 pm

Rolly!

Always good to see you in my corner of the Web!

An audio book playing in the background? Well, I have the TV in the background, changing from one national and international news channel to the next, as one of my hobbies is keeping abreast of the daily news. I hate this addiction of mine because it keeps my depression monster alive.


Hugs to you, dear Rolly!

Reply
Rolly A. Chabot link
1/18/2018 11:42:14 pm

Hi Martie...
I love staying current on truthful news and have a few publications come across my feed. Otherwise I stay away from news broadcasting because like you it wears me down. Maybe someday we will all learn to get along.

Hugs and Peace

Mike Friedman
1/17/2018 06:27:58 pm

Great write up. People do get addicted to work. Most people know what their addictions are. What an interesting topic you chose to explore.

Reply
Martie
1/18/2018 07:04:17 pm

Hi Mike

Keeping one's priorities in line - work and obligations first and hobbies last - is a never-ending challenge.

Take care!

Reply
Maria link
1/18/2018 04:15:00 am

We are similar in that we throw heart and soul into whatever project we have decided to indulge / master / enjoy.

I agree that a schedule (of sorts) helps keep us from getting totally carried away.

Great post, dear Martie. Love ya and hugs, mar

Reply
Martie
1/18/2018 08:10:58 pm

Dear Mar

I also admire your diligence and commitment to a schedule, and your hobby 'sending cards, hand-written messages and gifts to friends'. I call this a hobby because I know you don't consider it as work or an obligation.

You are everybody's ideal friend, my dear Maria, and I am so glad you are also minel.

Love you LOTS ♥♥♥♥

Reply
Cynthia link
1/19/2018 04:52:50 am

You know...I already know I spend too much time on the computer and don't like to be away that long. :) But then again, I have this notion to treat it as my work and do try to have boundaries. For example, most nights after 7pm I try to leave the computer until the next day. There are days where I try to spend most of the day away. But, posts like yours are gentle reminders to keep this in check. :) Have a great week!

Reply
Martie
1/20/2018 05:21:18 pm

Hi Cynthia,

Keeping it in check.... keeping your daily activities balanced... Don't neglect your first priorities,,,,

As long as we stick to the rules, our addiction cannot be seen in a negative way.

Thanks for leaving such a nice comment, Cynthia!

Reply
Aya Katz link
1/20/2018 05:38:22 pm

Nature gave us those addictive hormones for a reason: it was in order to make us engage in the activities that would keep us alive. Animals do not eat because they realize that without calories they would die. They eat because it feels good. They do not hunt because they realize catching the prey will provide food. They do it because it is fun. Our work -- the effort we need to put in order to get food to keep living -- was always supposed to be motivated by hormone addiction, not fear of unemployment. The best solution for a hobby addiction is to make that your full time work.

Reply
Martie
1/22/2018 07:16:35 pm

Hi dear Aya,

Thank you so much for this alternative perspective! Of course, you are absolutely right. Now we can feel less guilty when we indulge in addictive hobbies. At least, we are normal, driven by our hormones.

Take care!

Reply
Vicki link
1/24/2018 07:54:55 pm

Hi dear Martie,

I admire your systematic approach to your work and hobbies. It's great to feel such dedication to things. As long as it interests you, and doesn't harm you or others, I don't really regard your interests as addictions - just a wish to be organised, and keep enthusiasm in your life. That's surely a wonderful thing!

Big hugs,
Vicki

Reply
Martie
2/10/2018 12:02:20 am

Hi Vicki,

I am so sorry you had to wait two weeks for a reply. Somehow I am missing notifications from Weebly, or perhaps notifications simply become invisible in my chaotic inbox.

It is not always easy to understand and accept the hobbies of our relatives and friends. Not only because their hobbies prevent them from giving us the attention we need, but also because we can not see ourselves doing what they are doing. I once had a friend who thought I was crazy, spending so much time writing stories (while life happens at the speed of daylight). I also thought he was crazy, spending so much time playing golf under the blazing sun - walking himself tired just to hit a little ball with a stick according to a list of rules. So, I appreciate your view: "As long as it interests you, and doesn't harm you or others, it's okay."

Take care, dear Vicki!

Reply



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