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Addiction vs Habit

Addictions have been around as long as excessive behaviors or habits have existed. From the minute that communication, conscious thought, and walking upright defined our species, we have probably had workaholic hunters, obsessive or compulsive gatherers, overeating cavemen and tobacco or drug abusers. Physicians, judges, the clergy, addicts, their families and the general public throughout history have been challenged by the task of defining the word addiction. Likewise professional people in fields such as medicine, psychiatry and psychology define addiction in terms that are appropriate to their areas of concern. For example , for the purpose of providing recovery, Narcotics Anonymous defines addiction treating as a disease because this makes sense to them and it eventually works for them as well. Depending on the definition and its purpose, the word addiction would emphasize things as physiological dependence, psychological dependence, family dynamics, behavioral problems, and morality, among others.Addiction is a term that has been used in many ways, but if we search the notion of addiction we will find definitions that emphasize "the habitual and chronic use of chemical substances that alter physical or mental states" (C


There is no definition that encompasses all aspects of addiction. It is clear that addiction is a mesh of many forces in life converging on an individual who is driven towards a behavior that can be easily identified no matter the context. Although the family would find very difficult to adjust to this situation, love and caring are considered essential. The extent to which non-biological factors or habits play an important role in developing addictive behavior is not well defined. Although, the word habit is intimately connected to the word addiction, the terms "addict" and "habit", which entered the English language many centuries ago, have distinctively meanings. The principal characteristic of addiction is the loss of control and freedom, while a habit is something that is assumed or donned, perhaps often, but it can nevertheless be removed if desired. In any case, family support and affection are very important in the process of breaking a habit or withdrawal. Symptoms caused by withdrawal may range from yawning, crying, sweating and runny nose to more frightening and painful ones such as shaking, shivering, vomiting, increases in blood pressure, temperature and breathing; in more severe cases symptoms are convulsions, respiratory failure and even death. Social and environmental issues are also important in nurturing an addictive behavior. While the process of breaking a habit may be very difficult, the process of withdrawal from an addiction may be even harder. This original meaning of habit has been retained in the expressions nun's habit or riding habit, for example. Taking into account all the definitions consulted, if addiction is not a habit, then a habit is not an addiction but it can eventually lead to one. Thus, the principal difference between habit and addiction, according to WHO, involves the type of dependence. Addiction, on the other hand, involving a physical dependence, is far more harmful and destructive than a bad habit; it not also destroys the life of the individual, but also the life of the families.

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