That's because you're going through withdrawl from very different substances.


Uncle Johnny gets depressed and anxious because it was a psychological dependance which released the dopamine in his system.

Uncle Roger gets the shakes, DTs, grand mal seizures, etc, when he stops drinking because it's a physical dependancy on the alcohol.

3/29/2006 1:58:02 AM

Quote :

"so how can a substance like gambling change the chemistry of the brain?"

Quote :

"Psychological addiction, as opposed to physiological addiction, is a person's need to use a drug or engage in a behavior out of desire for the effects it produces, rather than to relieve withdrawal symptoms. Instead of an actual physiological dependence on a drug, such as heroin, psychological addiction usually develops out of habits that relieve symptoms of lonliness or anxiety. As the drug is indulged, it becomes associated with the release of pleasure-inducing endorphins, and a cycle is started that is similar to physiological addiction. This cycle is often very difficult to break."

Even when a drug isn't injested there are ways to make your brain release those endorphins.

The "rush" people get from gambling is one such release.

3/29/2006 2:03:10 AM

im not arguing whether or not people get a high or a rush from gambling

im saying that addiction is a physical dependency on a foreign substance

3/29/2006 2:13:21 AM

well thats still a raging debate amongst the scientific community

3/29/2006 2:14:25 AM

Quote :

"psychological addiction usually develops out of habits that relieve symptoms of lonliness or anxiety"

in order for it to be a true addiction, you have to have both the physiological AND psychological components present

there have been studies done where doctors have voluntarily adminstered themselves large dosages of opiates, despite disliking the effects, in an effort to show that they could become physically addicted to the drug, and still lack the psychological addiction that usually accompanies opiate use.

there is nothing physically addictive about gambling

[Edited on March 29, 2006 at 2:22 AM. Reason : asdf]

3/29/2006 2:21:10 AM

Quote :

"in order for it to be a true addiction, you have to have both the physiological AND psychological components present"

Um.... no.

Addiction is defined as chronic pattern of behavior that continues despite the direct or indirect adverse consequences that result from engaging in the behavior.

Some of the highly addictive drugs (hard drugs), such as cocaine, induce relatively little physical dependence.

3/29/2006 2:30:07 AM

more like cocaine is the one and only exception i can think of

and you still go through withdrawels anyway

3/29/2006 2:36:38 AM

Quote :

"more like cocaine is the one and only exception i can think of and you still go through withdrawels anyway "

More like:

Cocaine, Marijuana, Mescaline, LSD, Amphetamines and Methamphetamines

Little to no physical dependence.

http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/tables/195tb1.jsp

You go through withdrawls because of the psychological dependence.

3/29/2006 2:43:37 AM

i dont trust a chart from a pharmaceutical company

i trust doctors whove treated me for alcohol abuse and friends who have gone through withdrawels themselves

but whatever, im drunk and im tired

3/29/2006 2:52:57 AM

Whoa, Evil_Bob just blew my mind.

3/29/2006 4:55:32 AM

so basically what i have gleaned from this argument is that:

there is a pretty large debate over whether something that doesn't cross the "blood-brain barrier" can become physically addictive.
i.e. Uncle Johnny might or might not have physical withdrawl if he is not allowed to look at porn for 6 hours a day

also, i think we can all agree that everyone's brain chemistry is different, and in agreeing that, one can make a case either way

sooo...the debate rages on.

3/29/2006 12:30:47 PM

Quote :

"i dont trust a chart from a pharmaceutical company i trust doctors whove treated me for alcohol abuse and friends who have gone through withdrawels themselves but whatever, im drunk and im tired"

You did notice that alcohol wasn't on Evil_Bob's list? It's on the list of CNS depressants on that webpage. It can cause DTs, a blatant indication that it can be physically addictive (Which the webpage also indicates). Your statement is confusing. It's withdrawl btw.

There are two types of "addictions" that I commonly hear of, physical, and psychological. Physical addiction is only going to occur with substance abuse and can be very dangerous to one's health in many cases. Psychological addiction can occur with things other than drugs IMO. I know people who are addicted to all kinds of things. There are people addicted to cell phones, gambling, alcohol, crack, the internet, tww, money, etc. I mean addicted to the point that it is stressful for them to go without it and they act like someone who needs a "fix."

[Edited on March 29, 2006 at 1:01 PM. Reason : ]

3/29/2006 12:59:02 PM

read the entire thread

3/29/2006 1:09:09 PM

not gonna happen

3/29/2006 1:15:53 PM

i am addicted to TWW

3/29/2006 1:22:48 PM

i think UJustWait84 is addicted to making himself look stupid.

3/29/2006 1:27:48 PM

and youre addicted to riding my nuts

symbiotic relationship like whoa

3/29/2006 1:36:25 PM

if you would stop being such an idiot, both our problems would be solved.

3/29/2006 1:45:22 PM

i don't mind you post stalking me

in fact, it's kind of flattering

3/29/2006 1:52:39 PM

i know how much you crave attention....so i do what i can.

i always try to help out those less fortunate.

3/29/2006 1:55:11 PM

unless you have anything interesting to say about addiction, i suggest you troll me elsewhere though

you wouldn't want people to think that you have 'psychological addiction' to trolling me, now would you?

that would be kind of pathetic

3/29/2006 1:59:19 PM

and here i was thinking you didn't mind.

i dont really care what most people think about me.....i got that out of my system a long time ago.

it makes life a lot easier. you should try it.

3/29/2006 2:02:59 PM

I've got nipples, can you milk me?

3/29/2006 3:25:24 PM

Quote :

"Nature/nurture, baby...take your pick or go with both. "

Both, although I think it has more to do with environment overall. I grew up with some restrictions that may seem on the extreme side to some people. When I hit college, and freedom, those yearnings I had completely exploded. I skipped classes to hang out with new friends all the time. I may not have been getting into parties, drinking, drugs, etc, but it was still destructive to the point that I did very poorly in school my freshman year, and have been working hard since to pull my GPA up.

I go through phases but not as extremely as BridgetSPK. Mine is more along the lines of picking up a particular hobby and obsessing about it for a time, then switching to something else, etc. My current addiction is apparently school since I've found myself over-stressing over it and doing nothing fun.

3/30/2006 10:27:29 PM