Griffiths, M.D. (1993). Addictions: Looking to the future. Clinical Psychology Forum, 62, 16. more

Addictions: looking to the future MARK GRIFFITHS, University of Plymouth NOW THAT PEOPLE are beginning to accept the idea that addictions do not necessarily involve the ingestion of a drug, I am here to tell you about some newer addictions that are being talked about in clinical circles up and down the country. ■ Walking. Yes, believe it or not there are people out there who like nothing better than to walk for hours and hours every day to get their kicks. This has been termed "pathological rambling" and I hear there are already a few Ramblers Anonymous groups in existence. This should not be confused with those other ramblers who like the sound of their own voice and engage in constant monologues (e.g., politicians). This is a diction problem rather than an addiction problem. ■ Rug making. This has been reported amongst the recently engaged and newly wed couples. Every evening after coming in from work, these couples spend hours making rugs by sewing squares of material together. A reported behavioural sign of "rug addiction" is a pre- occupation with needles. One of the couple is usually much less into the activity than their partner and builds up an incredible tolerance level before undergoing with- drawal. (Withdrawal effects from rug making have been reported: these include feelings of happiness, normality and rational thought.) ■ Gardening. For many this is just an innocent pastime, but for a minority it can become an addiction. Why do some people become hooked on their garden? Theories are at present lacking but discourse analysts tell me that gardening has an established "recreational drug-related rhetoric". Next time a gardener asks you about your "pot plants" or "grass", or the quickest way to dispose of "weeds", don't make a hash of your answer. ■ Telling jokes. Can humour be dangerous? I brought to your attention (Griffiths, 1989) an account of Witzelsucht ("punning mania") based on the work of Brill (1929). But now the discussion seems to be about the effects of "passive joking". Should people have to put up with other people's joking when they go to a public place? Passive joking certainly changes my immediate behaviour. I find that straight after reading a column by Miles Kington or Stephen Fry, I have an incredible urge to be witty myself. It's even worse if there's a word processor nearby ... which brings me on to the next addiction. ■ Writing and publishing. It may come as a surprise but some people (including a small percentage of academics) are actually ad- dicted to writing. Those who have an "ink problem" undertake ritualistic behaviour be- fore engaging in the activity and experience immense "highs" on acceptance of an article or seeing the article finally in print. Toler- ance occurs quickly with writers having to write longer articles or books to get intense "highs" (a stage at which the writing addict is well and truly "booked"). Irritability and withdrawal effects are experienced when they (a) get an article rejected, (b) go more than a few weeks without getting anything published, (c) run out of ideas to write about (many writers fear developing a "think prob- lem" and some may resort to "clue sniffing" for inspiration) or (d) are on holiday without access to a word processor. This last can sometimes be avoided by carrying a writing implement. Anecdotal evidence suggests such addicts show cross-tolerance to pencils and biros but not to crayons. So there you have it (or not as the case may be). References_ BRILL, A.A. (1929) Unconscious thought: some of its manifestations. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 10, 145-61 GRIFFITHS, M.D. (1989) It's not funny: a case of punning mania. The Psychologist, 2,272. Address_ Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA. 16