Addiction

2020-10-23T07:42:40Z

MrGnome: Minor Edit

'''Addiction''' is a compulsive, harmful activity. Addiction often starts out as a seemingly innocent pleasure, often seduced/initiated into by [[liberal]]s, only to consume, harm, and even destroy the person pursuing it. '''''Displacement of harmful conduct with good alternatives is often helpful in conquering addiction'''''. [[Conservative values|Conservative/Christian values]] are an excellent way to combat addiction.<ref>See, e.g., [[Atheism and alcoholism]] and [[Atheism and drug addiction]].</ref>

Virtually everyone faces challenges from some type of addiction. '''''[[Conservative]] principles are highly effective in overcoming addiction'''''. Religion can also help. Other ideologies, such as [[atheism]], [[libertarianism]], or [[Leftism]], are unlikely to help conquer addiction. Romans 1:29 says about the rebellious, "Being filled with all ''adikia'',"<ref>https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Lexicon.show/ID/G93/adikia.htm</ref> translated "unrighteousness;" God has given up rebellious idolaters who worship and serve the creature more than Creator and reject Him to all manner of addictions. Setting positive goals and then holding oneself accountable on those goals are also helpful.

Most addictions are based on some kind of deceit. Recognizing the deceit—and even mocking it—can help overcome it. Good habits and healthy activities (e.g., religious services, mental and physical exercise, community or political activism) can be helpful in driving out harmful ones.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Addiction
!Comment
!Conservative help
|-
|overeating and poor diet
|shortens lifespan and causes many diseases, such as [[diabetes]] and even [[Alzheimer's disease|Alzheimer's]]
|portion control, frugality, self-control, and the "don't work, don't eat" mantra of the [[work ethic]] all help. Fasting on Fridays in honor of [[Good Friday]] is way to start. Eat less during [[Lent]] in honor of [[Christ]], and avoid consuming fatty foods produced by [[liberal]] companies like Ben and Jerry's or associated with liberal countries like Canadian Bacon.
|-
|media
|wastes many hours weekly, or even daily; causes stress; distorts and misleads
|recognize the facade of it; notice how it is declining, and how few people (particularly in younger demographics) actually read newspapers or follow the media; the average age of [[Fox News Channel]] is 68 years old, and much older for its evening talk shows.<ref>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2550377/The-average-age-Fox-Viewers-68-majority-politically-conservative-white.html</ref>
|-
|[[Television]], including watching many [[NFL]] games.
|causes dementia, according to at least one study; also wastes many hours each week in lost time, interferes with marriages, fosters [[emotional gambling]], and can lead to obesity and time away from [[God]]
|[[unplug the NFL]]; mock how delusional some are in pretending that there is meaning in the outcome of professional football games; recognize that the NFL is less honest and less merit-based than even professional wrestling; the NFL fleeces taxpayer of billions in subsidies; the NFL has become a [[Leftist]] tool to bully States against passing [[conservative]] legislation; and the NFL even discriminates against the best athletes (such as Herschel Walker) while over-hyping mediocre, unhealthy athletes. Many observe a [[Satan|demonic]] aspect to professional football, particularly the much-promoted [[Super Bowl]].
|-
|[[depression]]
|reduces quality of life, severely afflicts at least 10% of the population and a much higher percentage at least marginally; depression increases four-fold the risk of a heart attack
|reject false [[atheist]]ic theories like [[evolution]] by recognizing the many [[counterexamples to evolution]], and break free of habits like [[gambling]]; instead recognize the unlimited emotional and logical power of [[God]]
|-
|[[anxiety]]
|wastes time, harms health, and hinders productivity; an estimated 40% of adults and 20% of teenagers suffer from anxiety
|[[faith]] and reason, including powerful concepts like [[falsifiability]], the [[Coase theorem]], [[pro-life]] principles, and recognition that [[Mystery:Does God Have a Sense of Humor?|God Has a Sense of Humor]]
|-
|[[video games]]
|causes dropping out from school, violence, and health problems
|[[liberals]] exploit teenagers with video games, turn them away from church and healthy relationships. Antidote is to recognize that by playing you lose no matter what the game tells you.
|-
|[[marijuana]] and other drugs, also prescription drugs
|undisclosed medical harms; deadly car crashes that kill innocent victims; entraps victims into the addiction; causes violent paranoia
|conservative concept of slippery slope cautioning against "just trying something"; also, reject peer pressure and self-indulgence
|-
|[[pornography]]
|inherently fraudulent in concealing the deadly diseases and injuries caused; does to the mind what drugs do to the body, enslaving and destroying the mind; dehumanizing people to the level of dogs; degrades self-esteem; leads to horrific crimes
|recognize its deceit, and how it is simply a disease-spreading charade. Strenuous [[aerobic]] exercise is a good antidote. Pornographic images in the mind can be erased by associating them with nausea and repulsive images. Pornographers are liberals who profit by exploiting weaker people, and by being deceitful in denying the actual pain and suffering they cause. Supporting pornography means endorsing the [[liberal media]], and condoning exploitation by the media. Like drugs, gambling and other addictions, pornography incites a demand for increasingly extreme versions. There are also online communities like NoFap which helps people struggling with pornography addiction.
|-
|[[pharmaceutical]] addictions
|Pharmaceutical addictions to prescription medications such as [[oxycodone]] in most cases result from a blind faith in [[science]], medical doctors and technicians, and a rejection of God. Many physicians as a result of incentives provided by [[Big Pharma]] have ceased treating illness and focus on "pain management" with pharmaceutical prescription drugs.
|Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
|-
|[[gambling]]
|2-4% of adults and 4-6% of teenagers are addicted, and higher percentages lose money from it.<ref>http://www.optumanswers.com/research/articles/gambling.shtml</ref> Other additions, such as spectator football, are a form of [[emotional gambling]]. Among all addictions, gamblers have the highest suicide rate.<ref>http://www.knoxnews.com/story/life/2017/10/06/gambling-addiction-psychological-root-las-vegas-killings/739059001/</ref>
|state-run lotteries are government at its worst: expanding the revenue of government at the expense mostly of the poor; private gambling is often based on taxpayer subsidies or deceiving the public
|-
|[[alcohol]]
|destroys the liver and causes tens of thousands of deadly car crashes annually; about 14 million Americans are [[alcoholism|alcoholics]]<ref>http://www.alcoholics-info.com/Statistics_on_Alcoholics.html</ref>
|nearly all beer companies are supporters of the [[Left]]
|-
|[[smoking]]
|very difficult to stop once one starts; shortens lifespan, causes heart disease and numerous other problems
|second-hand smoke interferes with others' rights and well-being; also, tobacco companies are supporters of [[liberal]] projects
|-
|[[stock market]]
|wastes billions of hours each week; also even professional stock traders advise against trying to "time the market" (i.e. trying to determine when the market has reached a new high or low, and investing or de-investing accordingly) as they admit even they—with all their powerful tools and understanding—cannot do so
|those who invest in the market typically make more money by spending less time following their investments. Also, an implication of the [[Coase theorem]] is that the amount of one's assets, in the stock market or otherwise, is irrelevant to his productivity in society. Recognizing the concept of [[Logic of infinity#Infinite Wealth|infinite wealth]], and thus the lack of significance in increasing it further, helps.
|-
|regret
|unproductive waste of time, and can even harm one's physical health
|regret is not "[[falsifiable]]", which is a powerful concept useful to defeat this addition. Regret is also a tool of the [[Devil]] to detract from seeking [[Christ]], and [[Luke 9-16 (Translated)#9:62|Luke 9:62]] helps: And Jesus said to him, “No man who ploughs ahead but then looks back is fit the Kingdom of God.”
|-
|guilt
|unproductive, but addictive for some people; false confessions to the police are more common than expected
|religious confession, [[pro-life]] work, [[penance]], [[charity]], reading the [[Bible]], and [[faith]]
|}

== Other addictions ==

Other additions include consumption of caffeine and excessive internet use. Excessive internet use now extends to social media and mobile phones, where people are compulsively checking for notifications.
* {{Continuous partial attention}}

== Conservative power over addiction ==

Many addictions are promoted through the media, but [[conservative]] principles promote a healthy skepticism of the [[liberal media]]. The media do not exist to help anyone, but exist to make money for themselves and to promote a harmful [[liberal]] agenda. Without the media, [[gambling]] in lotteries would almost disappear, for example. In addition, lotteries are run by government and much of the proceeds go to government, which is not something conservatives support. [[NFL]] games would require going to the stadiums, paying a fortune in tickets, and freezing in the stands before becoming addicted to them.

Many approaches to addiction are entirely defensive in trying to resist the tendencies. But as in [[chess]], an offensive strategy is as important as a defensive one. Developing positive habits and hobbies can be very effective in overcoming negative ones.

== History ==

Historically the term '''addiction''' was defined in terms of physically measurable symptoms of repeated drug use, such as tolerance (more drugs for the same effect) or withdrawal symptoms (illness caused by stopping use). Habituation referred to drug use that was psychologically habit-forming, but not necessarily physically addicting.

In the past 20 years, doctors have reversed the meaning of these words. Habituation now refers to using a drug that causes physical withdrawal symptoms. Addiction has become a term that refers to compulsive behavior that continues in spite of adverse consequences.

A consequence of these new definitions is that it is impossible to be addicted to a drug like Ritalin or Prozac if it is prescribed. It is not compulsive behavior if used as prescribed, and it is not adverse if a physician says that it is beneficial. It is also impossible to have "crack baby" or a "meth addicted baby."<ref>http://www.jointogether.org/news/yourturn/commentary/2005/meth-science-not-stigma-open.html</ref> It also means that a marijuana smoker is not necessarily addicted. If he likes what he is doing and he is able to function, then these experts would say that he is not addicted no matter how much marijuana he consumes.

More recently the definition has been expanded to include almost any type of compulsive and potentially self-destructive activity.

Examples of addictive drugs include: [[Heroin]], [[cocaine]], [[alcohol]], and [[nicotine]].

Examples of addictive behaviors include: work - work addiction, using the internet - internet addiction, excessive interest in sex - [[sex addiction]].

== Psychiatric diagnosis ==

The American Psychiatric Association lists two related diagnoses: substance dependence and substance abuse. To meet criteria for a diagnosis of substance dependence, at least three of the following symptoms must occur in the same 1-year period:

* (a) tolerance (larger doses of the substance are needed to produce the same effect)
* (b) withdrawal during periods of non-use
* (c) using the substance more frequently or for longer periods than intended
* (d) long-standing desire or unsuccessful attempts to stop or reduce use
* (e) considerable time spent using the substance, making efforts to acquire the substance, and or recovering from its effects
* (f) important activities are reduced or given up due to substance use
* (g) continued use despite related negative physical or psychological effects.

A substance abuse diagnosis is given when one or more of the following symptoms occurs during a 1-year period:

* (a) substance use leads to failure to fulfill important responsibilities
* (b) substance use in situations where it is dangerous
* (c) chronic legal problems stemming from substance use
* (d) using despite related relationship problems<ref>American Psychiatric Association (1994). ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV''. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.</ref>

== Loneliness ==

Addiction is often associated with loneliness or a lack of connection to others, which was illustrated in two experiments. In the first it was found that a rat placed in a cage with normal water and drugged water (usually cocaine or heroin) would become obsessed with the drugged water. Professor Bruce Alexander, however, tried placing many rats in idyllic conditions with many other rats and, when given a choice of water, these rats would mostly choose the normal water. This showed that addiction in more related to the bonds around use rather than the substance itself. Thus loneliness coping is necessary for addiction recovery, and the path out of unhealthy bonds is to form healthy ones.

We must forget about ourselves and serve others, watch over others as a [[shepherd]] watches over [[sheep]]. [[Loneliness]] is caused in part by thinking only of ourselves.<ref>http://newlifehabits.com/2007/08/13/using-prisoner-of-war-methods-to-cope-with-addiction-captivity/</ref>

=== Atheism and loneliness ===

See: [[Atheism and loneliness]]

== See also ==

*[[Atheism and drug addiction]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Social Problems]]
[[Category:Liberal Traits]]

Brandon Tatum

2020-09-28T03:07:15Z

MrGnome: Categories

Brandon Tatum is a black conservative and a retired law enforcement officer. He has a [https://www.youtube.com/c/TheOfficerTatum/about youtube channel] which reports on a variety of topics. He owns a website called [https://tatumreport.com/ TatumReport] which is a news website covering unpopular news.

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Brandon Tatum

2020-09-26T01:38:49Z

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Brandon Tatum

2020-09-26T01:35:57Z

MrGnome: Created Page Brandon Tatum

Brandon Tatum is a black conservative and a retired law enforcement officer. He has a youtube channel which reports on a variety of topics. He owns a website called TatumReport which is a news website covering unpopular news.

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Addiction

Brandon Tatum

Brandon Tatum

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