I promised I would write about addiction in another blog post. Matt Walsh, who I agree with most of the time, dismisses food addiction as addiction. I disagree with him, and here is why.

Matt confuses behavior with addiction. Matt dismisses brain chemistry as addiction.

I will argue that behavior can be a precursor to addiction.

Years ago, someone informed me that once I tried cocaine, I would become addicted. I took their word at face value. In the back of my mind, I wondered, how is that possible?

When Matt argued against addiction, I wondered how people become addicted to self-injury?

Let’s look at a few non-drug-related addictions.

• Gambling.
• Video games
• Pornography
• Workaholism
• Kleptomania
• Pyromania
• Compulsive buying disorder
• Hoarding
• Food Addiction
• Social Media
• Sex

These (and many more) start as behavioral issues.

Matt touches on this when he speaks about the brain reward system. I will also argue it was at this point that those issues that turned me from an agnostic to a believer in intelligent design. (GOD)

Whether constructive or destructive, those things that bring you glee become habits. Habits can turn into addictions in this way. When you first experience pleasure from any of those activities, the ‘high’ from dopamine released is a type of euphoria.

Repeated activities become less intense, thus forcing the perpetuation of those activities to a greater degree to achieve the same level of excitement or pleasure.

So, Matt and others. This is how someone can become addicted to just about anything.

Circling back to the cocaine dilemma… This drug is incredibly addictive because it dramatically stimulates the reward system more than online shopping. Like all addictions, the brain becomes accustomed to the reward, requiring more intensity or more of the chemical to achieve the same results.

In short, the brain is a drug store with molecules like cannabis.

Runners often feel a state of euphoria due to endocannabinoids. We know this as a runner’s high. These molecules act on your endocannabinoid system, which is affected by THC.

Exercising and practicing extreme cardio can release chemicals in your brain that make you addicted to the same euphoria. I know a man who is running a 50-mile marathon. He has been a runner for years, up to fifty miles. Think about it.

-Best

If you want more from author Scott Taylor, check out his book, ‘Earth’s Last Hope.’

Thanks in advance!

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