When we talk about addiction, three major problems often come to mind in the US: alcohol, sex, and drugs. Alcohol and drugs are significant issues, especially alcohol.
Sometimes, addiction feels like a form of escapism – using substances to distract the mind from things one doesn’t want to face. Over time, this avoidance can become an addiction. This might also apply to people who compulsively consume sexual content; it can stem from a similar root problem.
Actually, I see a parallel in my own coffee habit. Sometimes, when I feel upset or anxious, I turn to an iced Americano to feel better or simply to pass the time. The walk to the cafe offers perhaps a 10-minute break.
It’s like having a small irritation, maybe like a spur in the nose – I can’t stop touching it, compulsively, until I eventually pick it off. It becomes an unconscious habit. My self-monitoring system doesn’t seem to register these small, repetitive actions. So, what’s the core difference between these types of dependencies? For example, coffee versus alcohol?
I think it comes down to two things: the ease of access and the severity (or awareness) of the consequences.
Grabbing a coffee is easy to do, often without significant guilt, and the negative consequences aren’t immediately apparent. However, obtaining alcohol or drugs can be more difficult, depending on the circumstances, and the potential negative outcomes are usually much clearer in one’s mind.
Essentially, the underlying mechanism might be similar, but the results are vastly different.
This reminds me of something I read recently, possibly from the book Tiny Experiments. The core idea is to break down goals into incredibly small pieces, making them easier to act upon. This greatly increases the probability of achieving the larger goal – making the action almost as easy and unconscious as touching that spur in the nose.
The same principle applies to bad habits. If something detrimental is easy to do, it’s more likely to be done repeatedly, potentially leading to negative patterns.
Luckily, accessing drugs and alcohol isn’t particularly easy in my country.
P.S. This piece was written accompanied by an iced Americano.