There are conflicting schools of thought as to whether one can be TRUELY *addicted* to sex to say nothing of love. I believe it's possible, although it's most likely over diagnosed such as on the show. I dunno. Maybe it's a pop cultural thing where words have taken on new meanings over the years. It seems every habit is now described as addictive..everything from playing video games to eating oreo cookies..It's always "I'm addicticted to such and such".. I guess I would expect more out of Dr. Stan being a professional and all. He should MOST DEFINATELY know better. He knows the TRUE meaning of addiction and I think we have documented thoroughly how SO can come up with an "expert" for anything..Also, I think the power of suggestion is at play as well. No sooner does someone plant the idea that Niambi is a love addict in her head then she starts spewing drug and addiction cliches.. Today she described herself as going through withdrawl..and she said something else that escapes me but when she said it I thought geez..she wasn't saying that before someone told her she was an addict. It makes me wonder since these women are clearly so highly open to suggestion, if someone didn't suggest to Niambi she had a "decision-making deficit", would she suddenly find herself unable to make any decisions in the house? Sex addiction may very-well be real but my guess is Niambi wouldn't fall into that category. For one thing, she certainly wouldn't be able to go those 8 to 10 weeks that she's in the house without her drug of choice if she were a true addict..

I so agree with you! That is something that sets me on edge as well.
To hear people say they are 'addicted' to shopping or food or men or sex, when the correct word would be something more along the lines of 'preoccupied' does indeed negate the struggle of true addiction.
I quit smoking 5 years ago. I sweated, cried, cursed, was nauseated, slept for most of the first 3 days, had muscle pains, shook and trembled, had 'brain fog', and cried and cursed some more. I have, and will always have, receptors in my brain that are just waiting to be fed some more nicotine. It took a solid year before the cravings for a cigarette began to wane. I had to fight tooth and nail with "junkie thinking", one example of which is thinking that there would be no harm in having just one cigarette to take the edge off.
Learning to deal with a real addiction is a physical and mental challenge of huge proportions. Not at all to be mistaken for learning to eat less, or shop less, and etcetera.
Thanks for bringing the subject up....it did me good to vent a little!
Chan

Well my sister is a recovering alcoholic.
She is always telling me she has an addictive personality.
She says I'm addicted to shopping and food .
And there are other addictions she mentions.

Theoretically it seems as if someone could get addicted to the endorphins released in the brain by pursuing,anticipating,being with a lover.But I don't think we have enough information about how the brain really works to determine that for sure.As an athlete Niambi knows about all that. To me Niambi's behavior falls more in the category of compulsive rather than addictive behavior.I'll bet if this guy dumped his girlfriend and was with her full time she would suddenly find him much less appealing.It's the fact that he's unattainable,unavailable that keeps her hooked.Tension is what makes for good sex.If he was parked on her couch all the time it wouldn't be there.She wants to recreate the drama surrounding her and her Father.To get his approval vicariously threw this guy.

The use of the word addiction only begins to bother me when addicts use it to try and dodge responsibility for their actions.Cassie has a way of doing that."I had a disease called Alcoholism that's why I had to give up my son."Well yes,but you did CHOOSE the booze over your son.

Thanks for the referral Cygnus.Now we have someplace to GO when we're not on the boards.I hear Rob and Amber joined that recently.

IMO people can be addicted to anything. The dictionary says the following "addiction (n.) The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or or involved in something." That's why people can be addicted to drugs, alcohol, food, exercise, gambling, pornography, shopping, the internet, other people, tv shows and their message boards (LOL) etc. It is something that also makes you feel better in some way when you do it so you keep doing it to get that feeling.

>IMO people can be addicted to
>anything. The dictionary says the
>following "addiction (n.) The condition
>of being habitually or compulsively
>occupied with or or involved
>in something."

I have a problem with 'something' in that definition.
Human basic needs, such as relationships and food aren't by nature harmful unless abused to some degree. But harmful or stupidly misused is in no way 'addiction'. Overkill, as usual, with that team of quacks.

Of course, in IV's and Rhonda's world without the word addiction then they'd have to burn their Life Coach shingles and return to careers they're actually qualified for.
And as for Dr. Stan going along with all the mumbo jumbo, no surprise. He sold out and discredited himself the day he sign his SO contract.

Love Addiction? lol
Funny, love and addiction are the two most overused word in the dictionary.

>And as for Dr. Stan going along with all the mumbo jumbo, no surprise. He sold out and discredited himself the day he sign his SO contract. >
>Love Addiction? lol
>Funny, love and addiction are the
>two most overused word in
>the dictionary.

Actually, I think Dr. Stan lost credibility long before Starting Over. Starting Over was just the icing on the cake. When Dr. Stan started appearing err... "consulting" for shows like Blind Date, that's when he lost credibility..And let's not even go there with his involvement in the Micheal Jackson trial/fiasco.. Too bad tho, because I bet Dr Stan is probably very effective from an analyst perspective. But speaking as someone who's been in therapy, there's no way on God's green earth I'd take him seriously as a therapsit given his television history. No freakin way. These days I expect him to say something like, "I'm not a therapist, but I play one on tv."

And I think you probably meant Love and Addiction are two of the most overused words in the english language, to which I'd definately have to concur.. Every bad habit or behavior is not an addiction. Sometimes it's a choice. Niambi wasn't powerless over her "love" for Mr Situation Man...

Dr. Stan consulted on "Blind Date"? Do tell!
Wasn't that a really bad T & A dating show???

Maybe he's "addicted" to being on TV?

Indeed it was. This was a while ago and as best I can remember, his role was to basically provide running commentary. He tried to give his "expert" opinion on why certain ppl should be together or why they shouldn't be together. All in all, pretty crappy stuff.

Sometimes I wonder if the SO house is using this word metaphotically or literally.

I think it's dangerous to over-use "medical terms" (ADD anyone?), but then I wonder if addiction can apply to anything that gives you a false sence of well-being. I think that for some people this can be a chemical iduction such as alcohol or drugs and for some, I think it can be the body, itself, releasing chemicals that make someone feel good.

Is there a difference if the outcome is similar? I'm not sure. This topic confuses me a bit.