10 Surprising Things You May Be Addicted To

Surprising addiction 1: Surfing the
internet
You may think that browsing the internet is
nothing more than a pleasant way to pass
some time. However, researchers in China
revealed that internet addiction actually
alters the brain in a similar way to
addictions to drugs and alcohol. It is
thought that sufferers of Internet addiction
disorder (IAD) could face similar symptoms
to those suffering from other addictions,
including withdrawal symptoms. One study
of users of internet-ready smartphones
found that many are so addicted to their
device they now hear “phantom vibrations”
in their desperation to receive a message.
Surprising addiction 2: Falling in love
We all know that person who goes from
relationship to relationship, never seeming
to spend more than five minutes alone.
Well, according to research, it may be that
they are actually addicted to falling in love!
Yep, that heart-racing, euphoric feeling of
falling in love... turns out you can get
hooked on it. According to psychologist
Arthur Aron, who led a study investigating
love addiction, falling in love activates the
same system in the brain as drug addiction,
making you crave that feeling again as soon
as the first flush of love starts to fade.
Surprising addiction 3: Sugar
We all crave our favourite sweet treat from
time to time, but did you know you may
actually be addicted to snacks such as
doughnuts and chocolate? Studies have
suggested that when we eat sugary snacks,
chemicals called opiods are released in the
brain, leading to intense feelings of
pleasure, and it is this feeling we often
crave in the absence of sugar. In fact,
according to research by a University of
California team, sugar is both as damaging
and as addictive as both alcohol and
cigarettes.
Surprising addiction 4: Tattoos and
piercings
While dabbling in body art will not
necessarily lead to you becoming inked up
and pierced from head to toe, many people
who start out with the intention of getting
one tattoo or piercing will feel compelled to
get more, which can feel like an addiction.
While it is debatable whether this is a true
addiction, it is certainly a compulsion for
many, which may be partly down to the
rush of feel-good endorphins which are
released during the process of getting a
tattoo to help you cope with the pain.
Surprising addiction 5: Work
Although most of us look forward to the
weekends, for those suffering from a work
addiction these days away from the office
may not be quite as treasured. While many
of us jokingly use the term “workaholic”,
research suggests this is a real condition
that can jeopardize sufferers’ health and
relationships – it is not simply a case of
“working hard”. According to a Spanish
study, around 12 per cent of workers in
Spain suffer from the addiction, while in
Japan “death by overwork” (karoshi) is
thought to cause an estimated 1000 deaths
per year.
Surprising addiction 6: Tanning
Research findings published in the journal
Addiction Biology suggest that exposure to
ultraviolet rays in the form of sunshine or
tanning beds can cause changes in brain
activity similar to drug addiction, keeping
you hooked on tanning. According to Dr.
Bryon Adinoff, an author of the study, the
brain responds to UV light in areas that are
associated with reward, causing some
people to develop an addiction
(“Tanorexia”) despite the potentially fatal
health risks of tanning.
Surprising addiction 7: Video games
Across the world, teenagers are holed up in
their rooms in front of television or
computer screens feverishly playing video
games, yet research suggests this may not
be as harmless as it seems. A 2006 BBC-
reported lecture revealed that 12 per cent
of online gamers polled reported some
addictive behaviors, while many countries
across the world have set up treatment
centres to deal with this growing addiction.
Just like any addiction, compulsive gaming
can jeopardise relationships and careers,
and there have even been cases of
excessive gamers dying from exhaustion.
Surprising addiction 8: Shopping
Most of us love buying something new,
whether it is the latest life-enhancing
gadget or a gift for a loved one. However,
for some, buying new things can become a
destructive addiction. Shopping addiction
(or omniomania) is thought to be caused
by a rush of endorphins and dopamine
which cause the shopper to experience a
temporary “high” which they want to
experience again. Many shopping addicts
use shopping as a way to escape from
negative feelings or situations in their life,
however the addiction can actually lead to
further problems both financially and
emotionally.
Surprising addiction 9: Lip balm
While not a chemical addiction such as that
to alcohol and cigarettes, applying lip balm
can definitely be habit-forming. This is
because while lip balm offers a temporary
moisture boost for dry lips, it can interfere
with the process of cellular turnover and
the production of natural moisture, leading
you to apply more and more lip balm to
counteract these drying effects. While it
may not be life-threatening or recognized
as an official illness, many websites and
Facebook groups have been set up
dedicated to this potentially expensive
addiction.
Surprising addiction 10: Music
We all have our favourite songs, the ones
we listen to over and over again, but did
you ever consider you could be addicted to
your favourite music? According to a study
by researchers at McGill University, you may
well be. The study revealed that when we
listen to music we experience a natural
“high” and our body releases dopamine, a
neurotransmitter also released when
people take drugs or eat pleasurable foods.
According to the researchers, dopamine
makes us want to repeat behaviors, which
is the reason we can become addicted to
our favourite music.
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/10-
surprising-things-addicted-110054571.html

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