by Irina Diaconescu

Created on: November 21, 2011

In today’s day and age, with so many substances at our fingertips, it’s becoming more and more difficult to differentiate between a habit and an addiction. And what about habits that eventually become addictions? How does one know when that fine line has been crossed?

While some habits may seem to be just that, habits, at one point or another some cross over into addiction and we often realize it when it’s entirely too late.

A habit is anything that is done routinely: walking the dog before breakfast every morning, brushing teeth, having a drink with dinner. A habit remains just a habit as long as we control it, as opposed to it controlling us. For example, smoking cigarettes can be just a habit as long as one can simply stop smoking at the drop of a hat. However, if one has to wean himself off nicotine, or find it impossible to quit cold turkey, it’s a safe bet to assume that habit has now become an addiction.

Curiously, even though humans are the only species on the planet that can use logic and rationalize, we seem to be the only ones who become addicted. Addictions go far beyond substance abuse. We can virtually become addicted to anything, from compulsively pulling our own hair, to hoarding, to eating chalk or metal screws. No one has yet discovered what makes some people become addicted to any one thing and why others are completely immune. There are some who can use crystal meth one time and become addicted for life, whereas others can use it occasionally and put it down with no problem. 

The main difference between a habit and an addiction is habits are routines that can be easily broken without any major effect on our lives, whereas we need whatever it is we're addicted to simply to function and get through the day. If someone can have two glassed of wine every day for ten years but don't need it to go through the motions of the day, it's just a habit. If they need a glass of wine to even get out of bed, it's an addiction. Habits can be broken by simply stopping the routine. Addictions most likely need professional help, such as therapy or detox, to be broken.

Our genetic makeup is infinitely complex and we've only scratched the surface on decoding DNA. Whether it's habit or addiction, it's become very clear that we've become progressively more dependent on a number of things simply so we can face, or hide from life. Neither a habit nor an addiction should become alarming as long as we have control over it and it doesn't take over our lives.

Learn more about this author, Irina Diaconescu.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.