Addiction and OCD are similar in some ways, but very different at their cores. Addiction relates to the overriding need to perform a behaviour, either mental or physical. As stated before, an addict simply cannot operate normally until they feed their addiction, and this is true whether the symptoms are mental (not being able to concentrate, irritability, etc…) or physical (the shakes, profuse sweating, nausea, etc…). It is a dependence of which the addict is well aware.

As far as I know, OCD sufferers don’t have dependence issues, and in some cases are completely unaware of their behaviour until it gets pointed out to them. It’s more like a nervous tick than an addiction. And unlike most addictions, the compulsive behaviour isn’t something that gets triggered after a period of time; OCD behaviour is usually triggered by a stimulus of some kind. OCD is purely psychological. And there is no reward or good feelings associated with the behaviour -- it is simply performed through habit, and not dependence.

I’m not sure what it is about when you and I talk in one of the more central places on home, but we enivitably draw out sh!t disturbers. But anyways one thing I am sure was hard to get over was the addiction to pills. I sometimes have a hard time pulling my butt out of bed, and that is not because I am in pain (its cause I love to sleep in). So I can only imagine what it is for you everyday.

Anyhow, I don’t want to dwell on that and stray from the point I wish to get to. While I would not say I am addicted to Home, I do enjoy it often. Sometimes more frequently, sometimes less…but never huge gaps between visits. What I did wish to say is that the quote from Wikipedia and your first paragraph seem to contradict themselves. Now we all know Wiki is not a true sourse, but that does sound like a dictionary definition for the word.

Having said that, implying that an addiction can have no effect seems unlikely. Take for example your example of moving the lawn. If you mow your lawn every day, then ya I would say you are addicted. But see there is an ill effect in that you waste gas and time, and that you focus on such a trivial detail…seems more like OCD really. And the healthy addiction while good, can become negative if done too much. If you over exercise for instance, you might become underweight. Spend too much time on it, and you may not be eating properly, sleeping enough or doing other stress relieving activities.

I wasn’t sure if I should bring it up, but we are adults here so I am just going to throw it out. What about being addicted to masturbation. It benifits you, hurts no one and costs nothing (but some time and kleenex). But then if that is all you do, socially are you limiting yourself from finding a partner?

And how often must we really repeat something, or how often must we use something for it to BE an addiction? Just putting in my 2 cents there.

You’re right that was freeing:-)It almost feels as if I’ve been initiated into something way bigger than me.
I wonder how I’ll feel after I hit Post.

It’s a good article.

Bye.