Addiction

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Addiction is a compulsive, harmful activity. Addiction often starts out as a seemingly innocent pleasure, often seduced/initiated into by liberals, only to consume the person pursuing it. Conservative/Christian values are an excellent way to combat addiction (see: Atheism and alcoholism and Atheism and drug addiction).

Virtually everyone faces challenges from some type of addiction. Conservative principles are highly effective in overcoming addiction. Religion can also help.

Addiction Comment Conservative help
overeating and poor diet shortens lifespan and causes many diseases, such as diabetes and even Alzheimer's fasting on Fridays in honor of Good Friday, and in general self-denial, portion control, frugality, and the "don't work, don't eat" mantra of the work ethic all help. Eat less during Lent in honor of Christ, and avoid consuming foods produced by liberal companies like Ben and Jerry's or associated with liberal countries like Canadian Bacon.
Television, including watching many NFL games. wastes many hours each week in lost time, interferes with marriages, fosters emotional gambling, and can lead to obesity and time away from God unplug the NFL; recognize that the NFL is less honest and less merit-based than professional wrestling; the NFL fleeces taxpayer of billions in subsidies; the NFL has become a Leftist tool to bully States against passing conservative legislation. Many observe a demonic aspect to professional football, particularly the over-hyped Super Bowl.
depression reduces quality of life, severely afflicts at least 10% of the population and a much higher percentage at least marginally; depression increases four-fold the risk of a heart attack reject false atheistic theories like evolution by recognizing the many counterexamples to evolution, and break free of habits like gambling; instead recognize the unlimited emotional and logical power of God
anxiety wastes time, harms health, and hinders productivity; an estimated 40% of adults and 20% of teenagers suffer from anxiety faith and reason, including powerful concepts like falsifiability, the Coase theorem, pro-life principles, and recognition that God Has a Sense of Humor
video games causes dropping out from school, violence, and health problems liberals exploit teenagers with video games, turn them away from church and healthy relationships. Antidote is to recognize that by playing you lose no matter what the game tells you.
marijuana and other drugs, also prescription drugs undisclosed medical harms; deadly car crashes that kill innocent victims; entraps victims into the addiction; causes violent paranoia conservative concept of slippery slope cautioning against "just trying something"; also, reject peer pressure and self-indulgence
pornography inherently fraudulent in concealing the disease and injuries caused; does to the mind what drugs do to the body, enslaving and destroying the mind; dehumanizing people to the level of dogs; degrades self-esteem; leads to horrific crimes constitutes participation in wrongdoing by others that is hurtful to all; conservatives disfavor the media, of which pornography is a significant part; also, pornographers are liberals who are profiting by exploiting weaker people. Antidote is to associate repulsive images with pornographic ones.
gambling 2-4% of adults and 4-6% of teenagers are addicted, and higher percentages lose money from it.[1] Other additions, such as spectator football, are a form of emotional gambling. Among all addictions, gamblers have the highest suicide rate.[2] state-run lotteries are government at its worst: expanding the revenue of government at the expense mostly of the poor; private gambling is often based on taxpayer subsidies or deceiving the public
alcohol destroys the liver and causes tens of thousands of deadly car crashes annually; about 14 million Americans are alcoholics[3] nearly all beer companies are supporters of the Left
smoking very difficult to stop once one starts; shortens lifespan, causes heart disease and numerous other problems second-hand smoke interferes with others' rights and well-being; also, tobacco companies are supporters of liberal projects
stock market wastes billions of hours each week; also even professional stock traders advise against trying to "time the market" (i.e. trying to determine when the market has reached a new high or low, and investing or de-investing accordingly) as they admit even they—with all their powerful tools and understanding—cannot do so those who invest in the market typically make more money by spending less time following their investments. Also, an implication of the Coase theorem is that the amount of one's assets, in the stock market or otherwise, is irrelevant to his productivity in society.
regret not falsifiable, and thus not worth any time a tool of the Devil to detract from seeking Christ, which is more important

Other addictions

Other additions include consumption of caffeine and excessive internet use. Excessive internet use now extends to social media and mobile phones, where people are compulsively checking for notifications.

  • There is growing concern that as well as addicting users, technology is contributing toward so-called “continuous partial attention”, severely limiting people’s ability to focus, and possibly lowering IQ. One recent study showed that the mere presence of smartphones damages cognitive capacity – even when the device is turned off. “Everyone is distracted,” Rosenstein says. “All of the time.” [1]

Conservative power over addiction

Many addictions are promoted through the media, but conservative principles promote a healthy skepticism of the liberal media. The media do not exist to help anyone, but exist to make money for themselves and to promote a harmful liberal agenda. Without the media, gambling in lotteries would almost disappear, for example. In addition, lotteries are run by government and much of the proceeds go to government, which is not something conservatives support. NFL games would require going to the stadiums, paying a fortune in tickets, and freezing in the stands before becoming addicted to them.

History

Historically the term addiction was defined in terms of physically measurable symptoms of repeated drug use, such as tolerance (more drugs for the same effect) or withdrawal symptoms (illness caused by stopping use). Habituation referred to drug use that was psychologically habit-forming, but not necessarily physically addicting.

In the past 20 years, doctors have reversed the meaning of these words. Habituation now refers to using a drug that causes physical withdrawal symptoms. Addiction has become a term that refers to compulsive behavior that continues in spite of adverse consequences.

A consequence of these new definitions is that it is impossible to be addicted to a drug like Ritalin or Prozac if it is prescribed. It is not compulsive behavior if used as prescribed, and it is not adverse if a physician says that it is beneficial. It is also impossible to have "crack baby" or a "meth addicted baby."[4] It also means that a marijuana smoker is not necessarily addicted. If he likes what he is doing and he is able to function, then these experts would say that he is not addicted no matter how much marijuana he consumes.

More recently the definition has been expanded to include almost any type of compulsive and potentially self-destructive activity.

Examples of addictive drugs include: Heroin, cocaine, alcohol, and nicotine.

Examples of addictive behaviors include: work - work addiction, using the internet - internet addiction, excessive interest in sex - sex addiction.

Psychiatric diagnosis

The American Psychiatric Association lists two related diagnoses: substance dependence and substance abuse. To meet criteria for a diagnosis of substance dependence, at least three of the following symptoms must occur in the same 1-year period:

  • (a) tolerance (larger doses of the substance are needed to produce the same effect)
  • (b) withdrawal during periods of non-use
  • (c) using the substance more frequently or for longer periods than intended
  • (d) long-standing desire or unsuccessful attempts to stop or reduce use
  • (e) considerable time spent using the substance, making efforts to acquire the substance, and or recovering from its effects
  • (f) important activities are reduced or given up due to substance use
  • (g) continued use despite related negative physical or psychological effects.

A substance abuse diagnosis is given when one or more of the following symptoms occurs during a 1-year period:

  • (a) substance use leads to failure to fulfill important responsibilities
  • (b) substance use in situations where it is dangerous
  • (c) chronic legal problems stemming from substance use
  • (d) using despite related relationship problems[5]

Loneliness

Addiction is often associated with loneliness or a lack of connection to others, which was illustrated in two experiments. In the first it was found that a rat placed in a cage with normal water and drugged water (usually cocaine or heroin) would become obsessed with the drugged water. Professor Bruce Alexander, however, tried placing many rats in idyllic conditions with many other rats and, when given a choice of water, these rats would mostly choose the normal water. This showed that addiction in more related to the bonds around use rather than the substance itself. Thus loneliness coping is necessary for addiction recovery, and the path out of unhealthy bonds is to form healthy ones.

We must forget about ourselves and serve others, watch over others as a shepherd watches over sheep. Loneliness is caused in part by thinking only of ourselves.[6]

Atheism and loneliness

See: Atheism and loneliness

See also

References