Is It Really An Addiction If I Know I Love It But Distance Myself?

For me, I will tell anyone straight up, "I love to gamble and I love to take risks." Most of the times I can get lucky, but there are those times we all lose at some point. The trick is to not gamble what we can't lose. I would never put myself into debt because of a gambling decision.

Would I say that I am "addicted?" Probably not. I don't go out and gamble every day. Or every week for that matter. I don't put my last dollar into slot machines and go back the same day.

I just simply like gambling. I love the aspect of taking a chance for a gain while risking a loss. The idea of losing isn't ever fun but I feel the outcomes are worth the risk of devastation. I keep my loses controlled so the worst thing that happens to me is I end up broke for a week or two, with no fun money.

I'm not a licensed doctor or psychologist though. Maybe there are some areas where I could be clinically considered an addict. I know it's very possible I might have an addictive personality. When I find something I like to do, I will smother myself in the said subject and surround my life with it. I oversaturate in my hobbies until I get tired or bored then go on to the next one until I want to come back.

Last year I was getting heavily into online Poker when I was between jobs. I would build a schedule around the upcoming tournaments and make sure I was home in time ready to participate. Is that what an addict would do? Maybe. But I wasn't losing sleep or killing my livelihood over it. I felt it was controlled because I was actually doing decent and placing in some of the tournaments.

I could even get into the addiction of certain lifestyle choices. People drinking on the weekends every week of their lives. Playing video games for a substantial amount of time. Buying a certain comfort food. Is an addiction something we do everyday? Or is it something we love and don't want to let go of?

Thanks for reading. I hope this generated some thoughts within yourself.

What's your opinion on addiction? Is it just something we do everyday without thinking of the consequences?