Episode 46 - Habits, Compulsive Behavior, & Addiction

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When Something We Enjoy Starts Running the Show I want to talk about something today that I think all of us can relate to in some way. And I want to start by saying that I'm not an expert on addiction. I'm not a doctor or a therapist. I'm simply someone who is really interested in understanding how our brains work, how our nervous systems respond to life, and why sometimes we find ourselves doing things that we didn't necessarily intend to do. And as I've been learning about this, I've realized that there are really three different places we can find ourselves. There's a healthy habit. There's a compulsive behavior. And then there's addiction. And I think understanding the difference can be really helpful. Because sometimes we can look at a behavior and immediately think, "Oh my gosh...am I addicted?" Maybe. But maybe not. Maybe it's simply a habit that has gotten a little too comfortable. Maybe it's become compulsive. Or maybe it really has crossed into something that needs professional help. So let's slow this down and talk about it.