Quoting That Black Kid™:" Ill give an example A parent is addicted to gambling. Seeing the financial struggle her parents went ... [snip!] ... couponing, not wanting to spend money at all). Both addictions. Both genetically linked. Yet addicted to different things."

Would it be genetic though or just a product of her environment type thing?

Quoting Jas ♥:" Would it be genetic though or just a product of her environment type thing?"

I would argue both.

Quoting EasyComeEasyGo:" I come from a long line of addicts...and by long line, I mean every single adult in my family has been ... [snip!] ... I can count maybe 5 (and there are a lot of us) who have decided to take that path, and the rest of us...don't even come close."

I know many people think drugs and alcohol when they think addiction...but one can be addicted to pretty much anything.

Quoting That Black Kid™:" I know many people think drugs and alcohol when they think addiction...but one can be addicted to pretty much anything. "

Indeed. I went to high school with a girl who was seriously addicted to biting her nails. It was crazy. People made fun of her and said it wasn't an addiction. People don't realize that addiction isn't just alcohol, drugs, and gambling.

Quoting That Black Kid™:" I know many people think drugs and alcohol when they think addiction...but one can be addicted to pretty much anything. "

I feel like people use 'addiction' too loosely. More often, the behavior is a product of their environment. A person being frugal just means they don't want to be broke like their parents. A person going to college just means they don't want to be struggling like their parents. A person can go shopping often just because they enjoy being by themselves and buying nice things. So many every day things are being labeled as addictions....

Quoting That Black Kid™:" I know many people think drugs and alcohol when they think addiction...but one can be addicted to pretty much anything. "

I agree with this. Gambling, gaming, even things that are healthy in less extremes, like running. Working, for sure. I probably went into workaholic territory a few times. Husband and now the kiddo have kept me sane the last few years but... I've gone pretty overboard in the past. So I guess I change my statement that I've never been an addict. I've never been a substance addict. I've definitely been a behavioral addict.

<blockquote><b>Quoting That Black Kid™:</b>" Ill give an example A parent is addicted to gambling. Seeing the financial struggle her parents went ... [snip!] ... couponing, not wanting to spend money at all). Both addictions. Both genetically linked. Yet addicted to different things."</blockquote>


This is me 100%. Minus myself being addicted to whatever. I chose to not try any gambling. I don't do drugs because I watched what they did to my family. I do have an addictive personality and it has taken a lot to not fall into those behaviors.

Quoting Keyboard Warrior.:" Indeed. I went to high school with a girl who was seriously addicted to biting her nails. It was crazy. ... [snip!] ... made fun of her and said it wasn't an addiction. People don't realize that addiction isn't just alcohol, drugs, and gambling."

Nods in agreement. Like, sex addictions, love addictions are a couple others.

I am addicted to biting my nails, and caffeine. Probably 1000 other things too.

Quoting Keyboard Warrior.:" Indeed. I went to high school with a girl who was seriously addicted to biting her nails. It was crazy. ... [snip!] ... made fun of her and said it wasn't an addiction. People don't realize that addiction isn't just alcohol, drugs, and gambling."

Just like the new craze is shopping addicts.

Anytime you do something in excess and it has a negative on you/those around you....it is considered an addiction.

Quoting That Black Kid™:" Just like the new craze is shopping addicts. Anytime you do something in excess and it has a negative on you/those around you....it is considered an addiction."

How is being frugal an addiction, then? If all of the basic needs are met... it's not affecting anyone negatively. If anything, it's more positive because they're saving loads of money.

Quoting Keyboard Warrior.:" Indeed. I went to high school with a girl who was seriously addicted to biting her nails. It was crazy. ... [snip!] ... made fun of her and said it wasn't an addiction. People don't realize that addiction isn't just alcohol, drugs, and gambling."

That's more an OCD/ Anxiety disorder. I pull my eyelashes, which is similar to nail biting. I do not have an addictive personality, nor would I say I'm addicted to pulling them.

Quoting kthx.:" I feel like people use 'addiction' too loosely. More often, the behavior is a product of their environment. ... [snip!] ... because they enjoy being by themselves and buying nice things. So many every day things are being labeled as addictions...."

I would agree with you...but there is a reason why an occasional drinker is not labled as an alcoholic. Its about the degree and the severity of the actions that classify it as an addiction.

Quoting Spencer Pratt:" That's more an OCD/ Anxiety disorder. I pull my eyelashes, which is similar to nail biting. I do not have an addictive personality, nor would I say I'm addicted to pulling them. "

  I bit my nails SO bad in high school. I couldn't stand to see the white tip starting to form on my nail. It wasn't an addiction... I was stressed and that was my release. I dropped it almost as soon as I began it...

Quoting kthx.:" I feel like people use 'addiction' too loosely. More often, the behavior is a product of their environment. ... [snip!] ... because they enjoy being by themselves and buying nice things. So many every day things are being labeled as addictions...."

Shopping addiction is real, I believe that wholeheartedly.

You cant automatically become an addict because your parents were.
You can, however, be more prone to carry the gene that makes you an addict.
My mom drinks. She doesnt get drunk, but she drinks beer. Therefore, because it's an everyday thing...she is an addict. She also smokes.
My sisters and I dont smoke.
I dont drink.
Obviously that trait wasnt given to me.

My husband's family is full of addicts. He is not an addict. His siblings are though.