health

People may also develop harmful behavior patterns that share many of
the same traits as dependence on alcohol or other drugs. Such behaviors
sometimes are referred to as addictions although the abuse of a substance
is not involved. Among the types of behavior that can be taken to an
unhealthy extreme are gambling, sexual activity, and Internet use. When
people say they have an addiction to gambling, for example, they mean
that they have trouble controlling their desire to gamble, even when they
experience harmful consequences, such as losing a lot of money.
Experts disagree about whether this kind of out-of-control behavior
should be termed an addiction. Many doctors prefer to call it an impulse
control disorder. People with an impulse control disorder are unable to
curb their urge to do something that is harmful to themselves or others,
even though they may try to resist and feel guilty for failing to do so.
In everyday conversation, though, people often refer to excessive gambling,
promiscuous and risky sexual activity, and Internet use as addictions,
because people with these problems act much like people who are
addicted to alcohol or other drugs. Rather than responding to outside
chemicals, however, such people may be responding in part to natural
chemicals released inside the brain. Exciting activities, such as gambling
and certain risky sexual behavior, can trigger the release of brain chemicals
that have an arousing effect. This is similar to the effect that people get
from taking cocaine or amphetamines.

Gambling addiction Gambling addiction, also sometimes called
pathological (pa-tha-LAH-ji-kal) gambling, refers to out-of-control
gambling with harmful consequences. Like people addicted to substances,
gambling addicts may need to risk ever-increasing amounts of money to
feel the same excitement they got from gambling a small amount the first
time. They may also become restless or cranky if they try to cut down
or stop gambling, which makes it hard for them to quit. The continued
gambling causes trouble at home, school, or work. Yet gambling addicts
use their habit as a way to escape problems, much the way someone else
might use alcohol or drugs as a form of escape. They may find that much
of their time is spent thinking about their next bet or scheming to get
more money. They also may start lying to friends and family to hide
how much they are gambling, or they may need to borrow money to
cover their losses. As their financial situation gets worse, they may even
turn to stealing. Despite increasing problems, such people find it nearly
impossible to stop gambling.

Sexual addiction Sexual feelings and desires are normal, but some
people take these natural feelings to an unhealthy extreme, to the point
where they are unable to control their sexual behavior. Some people might
spend hour after hour looking at pornography*, whereas others might
have casual sex with partner after partner. In either case, there can be serious
negative consequences. People who spend too much time looking at
sexual pictures or videos may lose friends or drop out of other activities.
Those who have numerous sex partners risk an unwanted pregnancy or a
sexually transmitted disease (an infection, such as herpes or HIV, that can
be passed from person to person by sexual contact).

Internet addiction A problem of the computer age is seen among people
who are unable to control their online behavior. Some people feel driven
to “surf” websites or play computer games for hours on end, to the point
where they lose interest in offline activities. Others spend so much time
“chatting” with online buddies that they have no time for real-world friends.
Still others who already have trouble controlling their desire to gamble or
look at pornography spend a lot of time at websites that cater to their preoccupations.
Like other drug abuse, Internet addiction isolates people and
erodes their face-to-face relationships with family members and friends.

Without Drugs or Withdrawal