User talk:Keith Carson

I have watched people define addiction for over 20 years. I attended a Red Earth festival one year the a man was trying to describe why the members of his tribe practiced a particular dance. He fumbled and floundered for 5 minutes in an attempt at an elaborate description of the behavior but in the end only confused his audience. In listening to him I thought of the times I had heard people trying to describe addiction and laughed to myself. It is only common to hear discussions on addiction in certain circles. Defining addiction carries a number enate problems. 1. There are significant moral and spiritual (non religious) implications attached to this word that emirical definitions do not begin to describe. The definition is therefore unsatisfactory to them. 2. It is understandable that there would be these implications since many different addicts are engaged in what would be considered immoral or unethical behaviors in pursuit of their addiction. But it is not the only reason spiritual implications are present. So a definition must include discussion on separating any specific behavior (drug use, sexual deviation, etc.)from the condition or state of being. 3. Addiction and a complete understanding of it has to include discussion of addictive reasoning and nonsense including examples of common nonsensicle behaviors. The addiction cycle is a simplistic but useful tool in helping people to understand addiction. In my understanding it looks like this. Since addicts in general have taught themselves how to manipulate brain chemistry, through modeling or desperation, the addict is one who continuously manipulates his/her brain chemistry by a number of means. 1. Sexual acts or fantasies 2. Other chemicals 3. Any repeated and unreasonable emotional distracttions 4. Violence or threats of violence 5. Repetitive behaviors that constantly produce undesired results i.e. eating too much or not enough These are only geneal categories and not all inclusive but they are close. These have been my observations and my education on the subject. The only real reference I would use is a movie called "What the Bleep do we Know". If nothing for than for it's validating insight into the world of addcition and my word nonsense. --Keith Carson (talk) 18:58, 18 July 2012 (UTC)