by Laura Farnsworth

Created on: February 16, 2009   Last Updated: February 19, 2009

Addiction and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

There are many different kinds of addiction in this world. It's not just drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex or food. Although, those are the ones you hear the most about, and those are probably the most dangerous and life threatening. Other addictions that I can think of are cokes or sodas, sugar, which I guess actually goes in the food category. More addictions are shopping, video games, working out and weight loss.

However, there are groups to help with all addictions. I've had or have several addictions. One being speed or crank, my drug of choice some 21 years ago. I still have days where if I could get my hands on it, I would snort it. It only last a few minutes but I guess those thoughts will never go away or the urges for that matter.

Food has been and still is an addiction for me. I was diagnosed with OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder about 10 years ago, Along with that comes obsessive compulsive over eating. I have trigger foods and I do try to avoid them. I have days where I could care less, but for the most part, I do try to leave them alone. My highest weight was 322 pounds. I had a gastric bypass October 23, 2003. It was one of the best things I ever did. I currently weigh between 175 and 185. My lowest weight since the bypass was 157, but I was sick. There are side effects from the surgery but I have no regrets and would do it all over again, given the chance. I still have to complete my weight loss with plastic surgery to remove the excess skin. I plan to do that with in the next 12 to 18 months.

I guess my other addiction could be lumped under Caffeine. Coca Cola and coffee, I drink coffee all day long. I used to drink Coca Cola at least three times a day. I average one coke a day now. However coffee starts at five thirty in the morning and stops some where around four in the afternoon. Some days it carries into the evening.

An addiction is an addiction no matter what it is and everyone has to conquer their own. Having OCD sometimes tends to intensify my addictions. Playing cards I constantly straighten the deck and the discard pile. Playing video games, I have to have the setup on the gaming device and the cords just right on the controller. My food can't touch. Plates and bowls have to be perfectly aligned in the cabinets. Silverware must be sorted by utensil in the dishwasher. My DVDs and videos used to be arranged by actor, and then alphabetically. My paperbacks and hard back books are sorted by author and I hate it when I have to split one author between shelves. I can't handle an uneven number of items!

My husband wears tennis shoes that have Velcro fasteners. It drives me nuts when they aren't evenly latched. I think he does it on purpose. Men!

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is not an addiction, but it is a disease. Anything can become an addiction, even the simplest of things. The most important thing to remember is to recognize it as an addiction and try to get help.

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