Strange addictions are more common than you think. When people think of addiction, they usually imagine drugs, alcohol, gambling, food, or even sex. However, addictions can occur to the most unexpected things like the ingestion of nail polish or air freshener. People can become addicted to behaviors or people or even objects.
Addiction to these strange things works similarly as addiction to drugs and alcohol. When individuals engage in their addictive behavior, such as eating cat food, they get a similar high from such acts like smoking cigarettes.
In reality anyone can become addicted to anything for many reasons. Some of the more common strange addictions include:
Tanning
Plastic surgery
Chewing ice
Hair pulling
Exercise
Social networking
Work
TV
Pica (eating non edible substances)
Wearing costumes all the time
A lot of these addictions sound strange because they are not typically heard of, however these strange addictions are more common than you think.
Causes for these strange addictions are similar to most causes of drug and alcohol addiction. For example, trauma, biology, genes, abuse, etc. However, some people become addicted to things because of poor nutrition. For instance, some people become addicted to non-edible substances like chalk because they may have a severe mineral or vitamin deficiency.
There are many negative effects that can occur from these strange addictions. For example, eating non-edible things can have profound negative health consequences like gastrointestinal failure. An addiction to tanning could lead to cancer. Addictions to things like costumes or watching tv can be very detrimental to relationships. Furthermore, addictions in general interfere with all aspects of life.
If you know someone that is showing addictive behavior with anything. whether it seems strange or not, please encourage them to seek mental health support right away. The Last House Sober Living can help with strange addictions!.. Contact Us Today!
