Theos-Talk Archives (April 2005 Message tt00957)

Mark Hamilton Jr. wrote:
> This is not widely known. In clinical terms of physical/mental
> addiction, you cannot become addicted unless you develop a tolerance
> to something.
The mechanism actually makes sense, when described.

Essentially, you start using a substance or activity to feel good. 
However, overstimulation of any sense can make the body acclimated to 
the overstimulation, until the body considers it to be "normal." At this 
point, more of the substance or activity is required to get the good 
feeling, while a certain amount becomes necessary just to feel normal. 
The latter is the addiction.

Bart