Addiction is psychological and physical both and is caused when a stimulus provides more pleasure or dopamine than any other does or can. The brain can quickly become accustomed to this, certain neurons gaining strength while others weaken, so that it is no longer an unimaginable high, but rather the baseline for enjoyment, making everything else that was previously enjoyable something boring or repulsive and the only thing that is satisfying or pleasant is the stimulus to which a person is addicted. Common symptoms of addiction are thoughts constantly or near-constantly being on the stimulus, loss of interest in stimuli that were previously enjoyed. For many people, the stimulus becomes the sun around which they revolve with all thoughts and actions being centered around the stimulus and doing whatever necessary to experience the feelings provided by the stimulus again and it is only in the moments of stimulation that peace and satisfaction are found. If you spend your days thinking about video games, do your chores in order to gain the privilege to play video games, spend time with people to gain access to their video games, go to work to earn money for more video games, and even begin considering breaking important rules in order to play video games you are addicted. Addiction is not something that can be overcome without help, no one can pull themselves up by their bootstraps and quitting cold-turkey with accountability and aid will only result in relapse. Everyone needs help sometimes and addicts need professional help.
If you have an addiction, or think you may have an addiction, speak with an adult you trust, consider the resources provided,and remember that mental illnesses cause your brain to lie to you; this is not your fault, you are not less worthy of help because you took one step along a path that became a landslide, you need this today, but with work, time, and help you will not need it forever, you are a human who makes mistakes and are deserving of compassion, help, and love, you are worthy of the love shown you, you may feel overwhelmed and unable to escape the trap you are in but others will hold it open so you can climb out, all you need to do is ask. Addiction, like any mental health issue, is never the fault of the sick person, it is the product of genetics, brain chemistry, and circumstances.
