Leaving the hobby

From: John Allain <allain_at_panix.com>
Date: Fri May 16 18:37:00 2003

TeoZ asks:
> When does a hobby turn into an obsesion or compulsion?

Taken from Christine Reilly, Institute for Research on Pathological
Gambling, Harvard Medical School http://www.hms.harvard.edu/doa
(As per NPR, abbreviated)

   Symptoms of addiction
      o Crave it. Obsessive thinking about the activity.
      o Continued involvement despite adverse consequences
      o Increasing levels to get the same satisfaction

Relating an experience I had for 24 hours once with
painkillers for a broken leg I would add:

      o Gradual replacing of satisfaction with irritability.

Good source material for the subject:
the book "Terminal Man". No joke.

John A.
Received on Fri May 16 2003 - 18:37:00 BST

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