Is it possible to become truly addicted to a nonchemical substance (gambling, sex, video games)?

The way I understand addiction is that it is a chemical process in the brain of the addicted person. How can I become addicted to something that doesn't interact with my brain chemistry in any meaningful way?

Everything you do affects brain chemistry in a meaningful way. Everything you do can be addictive. You have to distinguish healthy dependency from unhealthy addiction. Breathing, loving, physical comfort, healthy eating -- they're all good! Anything you depend on that is unhealthy can be termed addiction. Drink a little wine to relax -- healthy. Drink a little too much and get arrested -- unhealthy. Eat and enjoy it to the right amount -- healthy. Eat and enjoy it to the point of obesity -- unhealthy.

This is why some addictions are so hard to break, like food and sex. You can go cold turkey off of heroin or alcohol or cocaine, but you better not do that off of food!

Don't think of addictions as abnormal behavior, but normal behavior done abnormally, either to excess or simply without regard to harmful consequences.

Yes it's very possible. Think about a kid who sucked his thumb in kindergarten.

yes it is

The high you get when you do something you enjoy releases specific chemicals, hormones, etc that create a need for more. In that way you are addicted.

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it's quite possible...i kno a girl who stripped in frnt of her principal so that he cud believe that she'd already made out....she was 13.

Addiction is hereditary. Isn't it crazy how some people can do things recreationally, while others become addicted.

yes - though one may argue that the proper term is obsession...

Psychological addictions are a dependency of the mind, and lead to psychological withdrawal symptoms. Addictions can theoretically form for any rewarding behavior, or as a habitual means to avoid undesired activity, but typically they only do so to a clinical level in individuals who have emotional, social, or psychological dysfunctions, taking the place of normal positive stimuli not otherwise attained

Yes. The adrenaline rush that comes from activity such as gambling is a chemical reaction. The feeling is addicting to some people.

Also, a lot of addictions are psychological.

It does mess with your brain chemistry, when you do anything exciting it releases chemicals into your brain, sex even releases the same chemical in your brain that comes out when you take in some illegal drugs and when you eat chocolate, i understand your point your not putting anything into your body, but our brain and body secretes hormones and enzimes into our blood when we do things, and we can get addicted to those being released into our body, for instance a adrenaline junkie that high dives.... they like the high feeling they get from the adrenaline rush.... i wish i could think of more examples for you but i havent had enough coffee yet this morning :P

Good answers all, but I like crystal lyn.....best.
YES

The chemical that is released in the brain is seratonin, which is the feel good chemical. You would not be addicted to the activity but the pychosymatic response you have when you are performing the activity.

Definetly!

There are chemical addictions (like cigarettes or drugs) and there are psychological addictions (such as being addicted to shopping, or THIS WEBSITE!)

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