"Strange Addiction"

pixie120 · Aug 5, 2011

I've been watching a few of the shows "My Strange Addiction".... anything from eating rocks (that lady is on now- munching on conglomerate rocks, saying she likes how they feel on her teeth...), to bike riding (I can see that having physically addictive properties d/t the endorphins), to the 'adult baby' thing, which I don't get at all-- deliberately peeing in diapers, and making their own 'baby furniture'.... and the chick in NYC who collects road kill so she can stuff it and keep it in her apartment ....
To me, addiction is involved with some sort of physical changes in the brain. (oh- the segment now is an adult woman 'addicted' to her pillow...she carries it at least 18 hours a day, named it 'Boo' when she was 4 y/o and has NEVER washed it ....alrighty, then). Also, results in continued use despite negative consequences.
This stuff isn't effecting the person, but their relationships are a bit wonky. Friends and SOs are not happy...the pillow chick called off an engagement because she chose the pillow over the fiancé.
I've worked in alcohol/drug rehab- I do believe addiction is a disease.... but REALLY- when do we just call something weird, and if it's not hurting anybody else (they have the right to hurt themselves), let them be 'different'.....???
Just because someone keeps doing something strange, does it really make it an addiction???? I don't buy it
Viewpoints ??? Other examples ???

YEah, I have to agree, I am finding that show difficult to understand. Before I was an RN, I was a social worker, didn't work in addictions, but certainly studied it and ran into it. The one that I cannot understand is the chick that eats her couch, and the insides of pillows, to the point she is in the ER for (of course) constipation. I think these are types of stress relievers, maybe counseling and some anti-anxiety meds might help? I cannot see the addiction part, there isn't any reward? Other than the "relief" that people get, from their stress, ie the cutters say they get "relief" from the anxiety and feelings they have, thus they cut, or pick, or pluck?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 5, 2011

YEah, I have to agree, I am finding that show difficult to understand. Before I was an RN, I was a social worker, didn't work in addictions, but certainly studied it and ran into it. The one that I cannot understand is the chick that eats her couch, and the insides of pillows, to the point she is in the ER for (of course) constipation. I think these are types of stress relievers, maybe counseling and some anti-anxiety meds might help? I cannot see the addiction part, there isn't any reward? Other than the "relief" that people get, from their stress, ie the cutters say they get "relief" from the anxiety and feelings they have, thus they cut, or pick, or pluck?

Exactly...it's not like the opiate receptors or endorphins are a factor with most of them. It's "just" weird behavior- w/what looks to be some OCD...but there's definitely negative consequences (won't get married because the fiancé doesn't respect her PILLOW???? :eek: I'd say he got lucky with that one - LOL. If 'couch eating' makes the next DSM, I'm going to start munching on my tree out front At least it has fiber -

Davey Do · Aug 17, 2011

Interesting (and entertaining) thread you've started, xtxrn. Since this is a discussion, please allow me to process an alternative point of view.

Let's do a general definition of addiction: dictionary.com says an addiction is... "a state of being enslaved to a habit a or practise that is psychological or physiologically habit-forming ... to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma".

I do believe the examples fit that criteria. Whether we agree with these People's behavior, find them weird or whatever, we must agree that they are manifesting the classical symptoms of addiction.

Often times, labelling something makes it more understandable, makes it take on a different perspective and makes the situation more pallatable, so to speak.

Sure- now any obsessive behavior an Individual doesn't want to control can now be termed an addiction and the Individual is no longer responsible for their aberrant behavior, right?

Wrong. Case in point: Once a behavior is defined as being an addiction, the behavior takes on a a negative connotation. For example, addiction to a controlled substance is seen as a problem when it affects an Individual's relationships, health, or work practise. Once the problem of addiction is identified, solutions are sought. One good solution is practising a Twelve Step Program which has guidelines to follow in order to deal with that addiction. Once we've been exposed to a better method of handling problems, we never have an excuse for continuing our aberrant behavior.

In conclusion, xtxrn, I'm okay with these People saying that they have these bizarre addictions. I'm not okay with them continuing their behavior just because their behavior is identified as such.

Know what I mean?

Dave

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 17, 2011

I can see that being true for behavioral "addictions"..... just not sure I'm buying it as a true addiction (finally defined by the Assoc of Addiction Medicine as a brain disorder).... maybe they do have brain disorders- IDK !! Maybe they do need a "Rock Eater Anonymous" ..... I suppose anybody can justify anything as addiction to avoid just being called weird

Gotta say, though, it'd be a deal breaker for me to be in any sort of friendship/relationship with anybody engaging in self-destructive behavior- no matter the cause.... I know enough to know I can't "save" them :)

Davey Do · Aug 18, 2011

I suppose anybody can justify anything as addiction to avoid just being called weird

Learning and understanding the motivtion behind an Individual's behavior often gives us a sense of a revelatiory experience. Merely observing a portion of the behavior does not always tell the whole story. It's sorta like taking a piece of a puzzle and believing we know what the whole picture is.

I once did a monochromatic mural of Hank Williams, Elvis, John Lennon and Bob Marley, with accompanying quotes, called "Words of the Prophets". All were easy to quote except Elvis. So, in the end, I took a line from a song on his first album:

"The whole world will know this is true:

Understanding solves all problems".

I thought this quote was relatively deep. However, when put in context with the accompanying words from the song "One-Sided Love Affair", the words are rather trite (or wierd):

"Very strange a personal robbery!

And the whole world will know this is true:

Understanding solves all problems, baby,

That's a-what I'm a-tellin' you!"

I also like to quote a line from one of Tom Robbins books iI read back in the early '80's. I think it was Even Cowgirls Get the Blues. A character in an openining storyline was termed as being "weird". His comeback went something like, "I believe I just require a little more understanding".

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 21, 2011

OK. I can buy that people do things for reasons that make sense in their frame of reference, and with whatever they have had to live with in the past. No problem agreeing that behavior needs to be understood- and makes a lot of sense when the whole picture is seen. But, to use "addiction" as a catch-all for behavioral issues is becoming a fad. In my view, if there isn't some biochemical response to the "substance", it's just abnormal behavior . That being said, I also understand that different things will create changes in biochemistry for different people. What causes a pleasurable release of endorphins in one can be nothing but agony for someone else. Mu receptors in one brain may do nothing, while someone else w/opiate addiction is juiced up on happiness when the ingest narcs.

But where is the line between abnormal behavior as behavior, and actual biological addiction? :)

Davey Do · Aug 24, 2011

But where is the line between abnormal behavior as behavior, and actual biological addiction?

Your question is a good one. Good, in that it almost answers itself! Where is the line? Who knows?

But, bottomline, it is probably up to the Insurance Companies. If the Ins. Co. accept the criteria for these cases being addctions, and will reimburse for treatment, then, hey- these cases must be addictions (diseases)!

Otherwise, just about anybody can call anything they want by whatever name helps them feel comfortable. If they have gained a sense of alrightedness with the world by calling a spade an implement of digging, so be it.

You know?

Dave

GHGoonette, BSN, RN · Aug 27, 2011

Xt, sounds to me like this program refers to obsessive-compulsives (oh, these reality shows - what are they going to come up with next?) It raises a very interesting question though - is there a dysfunction in the brain that makes a person O-C, and can it be linked to other addictions?

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 28, 2011

Xt, sounds to me like this program refers to obsessive-compulsives (oh, these reality shows - what are they going to come up with next?) It raises a very interesting question though - is there a dysfunction in the brain that makes a person O-C, and can it be linked to other addictions?

Yeah, I agree for the most part (some seemed to have actual biological changes - endorphin release, so were addicted to the endorphins- others, like the ones who eat chalk and fabric softener sheets :eek: seem more like a form of OCD).

It's an odd show.

There have been studies with anorexia, and the endorphin release with starvation keeps them from eating since the lack of the endorphins makes them feel worse than eating does.... the brain is an amazing (and sometimes weird) thing :)