Foodies and other junkies

Q: I know you’ve addressed food issues, eating better quality foods, and the general addiction to junk food. It seems to me though that people today are addicted to lots of other things too, like the phone or the computer. What are your thoughts on that? ..……. computer junkie

A. You are right, it does seem that there are lots of things taking up our time and causing addictive behavior. Since we have developed as a species and no longer need to put all of our energy into hunting and gathering, the survival of the species is not at risk, our attention can turn to other things.

It’s not unusual to be in a restaurant and see the couple next to you more interested in their phones than in conversation with each other. Here are some signs you might be addicted to your cell phone: You have 25 different apps on your phone and you use them all, you have an alarm on it that tells you when to do everything in your life, you cut back on other things to pay your phone bill, your battery charge runs out before the end of the day, when it’s broken you panic, when you can’t find it you panic and yes—you use it in the bathroom! You laugh, but aren’t we all a little guilty of doing some of those things.

Another common addiction is the computer, email and the internet in general. If you check your email once an hour, that’s a little beyond the norm. If you do all your shopping online at sites like eBay and Quibids you know the rush you get when it’s the last few minutes and you might ’win’ the prize, sounds like addiction. Do you browse the internet in search of information? Not anything in particular, just information that’s interesting—a research junkie maybe.

And then we have the nefarious cybersex addiction and the online gambling addiction. But these are not really new, they’ve just been upgraded using modern technology and a more diversified field of opportunity.

Another addiction is exercise, too much of it. I don’t suffer from this one personally, ha ha ha, but it can easily get out of control. You just have to have the thrill, the endorphin rush that happens when you go to excess.

All you couch potatoes out there, you’re addicted too! When you start to plan your life around when your favorite programs come one, you know you’re in trouble. Of course you can mask that nowadays with the advent of cable and your little black box.

One last modern addiction is prescription and over the counter drugs. It’s so much easier to drop a few pills than to relax or slow down, take a bath, play……. It does seem something is missing. Maybe just a heads up, like reading this column, will make you think twice about mindless drivel and look for a more satisfying experience, one that makes life worth living.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about. Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

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