According to Psychology Today, "Addiction is a condition in which a person engages in the use of a substance or in a behavior for which the rewarding effects provide a compelling incentive to repeatedly pursue the behavior despite detrimental consequences." When you hear this, thoughts of drugs and gambling might fill your mind. That's not always the case, as evidenced by these people's stories.
Reddit user, u/redrockz98, wanted to hear about what addiction is plaguing your life that doesn't involve drugs when they asked:
What are you addicted to?
Loneliness Makes The Heart Okay
For me solitude. I can't wait to get off work, go home, lock the door and see no one. The twenty beers is part of it I guess.
Gotta Get That Caffeine Rush
Giphy
If we're talking physical addiction then coffee, definitely coffee. I can go without alcohol or weed or video games or reddit for a few days and it's not a big deal, but even if I sleep in and don't need the coffee to wake up, I still will feel like sh-t if I don't have some.
The Hotta' The Betta'
Hot showers.
There is no greater pleasure. I don't CARE if hot showers age my skin. Melt that shit right off.
It's A Never-Ending Cycle
Chapstick - I carry one with me always, and have never been without one on me since I was a kid. If I don't use it, my lips feel dry as a desert, but using it daily actually makes your lips more chapped. It's a vicious cycle.
The Candy Man Can
Giphy
Sugary foods. F-ck, I never grew up.
I got hit with Type 2 diabetes for my sugar addiction. Im in good range now since I cut carbs to 20 per meal. However, my my feet hurt and buzz around the clock since I let it go uncontrolled so long. Neuropathy sucks. Dont be like me. Go to the dock and get your A1C checked. Pre diabetes to diabetes doesnt take long to develop. Might be a wake up call that helps you make the decision.
The Father Of Them All
Cigarettes... I really wish it wasn't cigarettes.
I'm not trying to be a buzz kill but I quit 20 years ago and I still think about having a smoke.....almost every day.
[usernameredacted]
Break The Cycle
I'm a sex addict.
I've spent almost $11,000 on hookers in the past 9 months since I started. I was a virgin before.
When It's The Nothing Of It All
Nothing. Not that I have no addictions, but god, I cannot stop doing nothing. I race home after work to sit in my apartment. I have plenty I could do. I'm a musician, I do graphic design, I love video games, but more often than not, I'm just sitting here in my apartment by myself bouncing between Reddit and Imgur chasing a dopamine hit so that I don't feel so empty. I'm fine though. Really.
It's What It's All About, Isn't It?
Short term pleasure.
Edit: Lots of messages are "I didn't know how to describe this, this is me." We're biologically wired this way - to seek out short term boosts like fats and sweets from a time when we didnt have domesticated civilizations. There is nothing wrong with you. That's why JP's rule 7 is seek out whats meaningful, not expedient. Denying short-term satisfaction is what introduces you to discipline. Doesn't make it any less easy.
IMHO everyone is an addict for something. It may not have the repercussions of heroin or gambling addiction, but everyone seeks out SOMETHING.
When a friend insists we travel to certain cities because we would "just love it," they're setting the bar pretty high.
And a city can also boast a rich history or an attraction that makes us curious enough to find out what makes it so appealing.
But, alas, when we finally reach the destination, it's never exactly what we thought it would be.
Curious to hear from strangers online, Redditor tshirtguy2000 asked:
"What city is overrated?"
These are not officially real cities but they do have a rotating population.
It's Always A Party There
"Party city."
"As a former slave associate at party city. I 100% agree."
Lotsa Crime
"Cabot Cove, the murder capital of the world."
"Sure, the murders are all solved, but would you really want to live in a city with that much, easily solved, crime?"
– Andvare
Neighbor To Springfield
Shelbyville. Those f'kers steal trees from neighboring cities.
the simpsons episode 25 GIFGiphyThese were once considered destination cities but their popularity eventually took a nose dive.
Not Pair-A-Dice
"Atlantic City. Venture a few blocks off the boardwalk and it's incredibly depressing. Very clearly an area exploited by the big casinos while the locals have been driven to absolute poverty, while they still force a smile to work the shops that are required for the tourist traffic."
– juanzy
Lots Of Water
"Niagara Falls, Canada. I grew up there. Mayor pumps most of tax $ to casinos and tourism with flashy vegas-esque attractions."
Meh Beach
"Myrtle Beach. I'm not even saying that it has a good reputation, I'm just saying that any shred of positive thinking about it makes it overrated."
Where A Creek Is An Exciting Attraction
"Lamb's Grove, Iowa. It's not the paradise on earth that people always say it is. Don't get me wrong, it's got great Chinese food but the motel 6 is meh at best."
– shah357
Impressions for these cities fell far below expectation.
Do-Bye
"Dubai. It's the clickbait of the world. 'We have the biggest/tallest/most expensive YOU WON'T BELIEVE when you see THIS...' It's hot as f*k, everything's a man-made tourist trap; labor exploitation and racism are rampant, and they try so hard to prove to the world how modern and Westernized they are. Really, it's just government propaganda."
Truth be told, many cities can be overrated.
It just depends on a person's experience, or a resident's perspective about what it is about the location they live in that is nothing worth writing home about.
If I had to choose, I would say Las Vegas is overrated, but that's because there is nothing in Sin City that is of personal interest to me.
I may be severely judged for my opinion, but that is a gamble I'm willing to take.
Redditor William84000 asked:
“Women of reddit, what question do you have of men that you'd really like an answer to?"
His question started an informative thread for women to ask men the questions they've been wondering and receive honest, real-life answers.
Ouch...
“How long does it take to recover if you've been hit in the balls?” Snowy-avocado
“Anywhere from 5 minutes to literally turning to dust like we were Thanos snapped.” secondhand_organs
dust whirls GIFGiphy“The Big Dumb Object...”
“I've always wanted to know: why do you like loud machinery so much? For older men it's mowers, leaf blowers and such. For younger men, it's modified cars and motorbikes. What's the deal with the loud machines?” marshmellow_bunnyx
“Power and tools. Tools are a thing that gets stuff done, and they are loud because they contain the natural essence power of violent explosions and fire. Most men like powerful things, instead of powerful people.”
“In sci-fi, this is called 'The Big Dumb Object', and is pretty much a trademark of sci fi books written by men” Connect-Zebra7173
To shave or not to shave?
“Does body hair on a woman bother you that much?" reillydean28
“Leg/arm hair? Don't even notice. Armpit hair? Not my thing but not my choice/decision. Pubic hair? I'd prefer not, but it's not going to stop me from getting the job done." wHUT_fun
It’s a power and control thing...
“Why send a d*ck pic?" stavinlawrence
“I think for most men it's a power dynamic thing. Either it gets them off or it just makes them feel in control."
“Then I assume there's the added bonus of if she likes it she might send a nude back. But these losers have a greater chance of buying a "get bigger penis pills" that actually work before a girl appreciates an unsolicited nude." InertialEclipse
"Do you notice the little things?”
“Do you notice the little things about women like a new hair cut, when they wear makeup or a nice outfit?” xforeverlove22
“I can't speak for everyone but for me, nope. Not at all. My uncle had a moustache for like 20 years and one day decided to shave it off. I didn't notice it. I noticed there was a weird atmosphere around me like ‘come on, say something’, so I small talked with him.”
“A few hours later after he left they asked me if I seriously didn't notice that his moustache was gone. My answer was ‘What moustache?‘ And makeup would definitly fly over my head.” PleaseTakeThisName
Lets just not touch people without permission...
“What things have women done that make you uncomfortable?" charloget
“Had a few grab my junk at random. Even had a couple that just forced a kiss on me. I don't usually experience women trying to pick me up, but the few times I did was never great. It was either negging, overly sexually aggressive and always in a group." bahamabanana
On today's episode of sink of float...
“Do penis' float like a buoy? I heard they do but have never been able to verify it.” TheFantasticV
“I mean it's buoyant but it can't really do much besides lazily sorta half float there. Still amused the f**k out of my wife to learn.” secondhand_organs
GiphyEveryone just wants to be loved...
“What makes you feel loved?” linedizzy
“A compliment, a hug or a kiss we don't have to initiate.” Nuitari8
Plastic surgery?
“Do guys care if women get cosmetic procedures done?” dookieconductor
“I don't necessarily care about the work itself, I'd be more concerned about understanding why she felt like she wanted to get it done and help her feel body positive for whatever work has been done or if she feels like she needs work.” -notjosh-
Math will kill a mood everytime...
“What does it feel like when you're having sex and you're trying not to 'get there'? Is it frustrating? What do you do/think about to keep it from happening?" uhohoreolas
“I sometimes do math like 333*3... But often I am fine with just controlling things to focus mostly on her pleasure instead of mine. Tho sometimes she is excited and ends up moving in unaccounted ways while I am a hair away and there is no stopping it. I definitely don't find it frustrating. It is still very enjoyable." Fkire
Some of these Q&A's were unexpected but now we know! This important thing here though is knowing it's ok to ask questions sometimes.
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