Hi Ash,
That's a good question. And your right your so use to having anxiety that it becomes a part of who you are. So your body and mind only know one way. It is very hard to work on and get over. I hate the physical symptoms that I experience. It's definitely a work in progress and it's a challenge. It's something that we need to address the rest of our lives. I just try to not let it interfere in my life and go on with what I need to do. It ain't easy.

Hello,

Ash this is an interesting question. I believe that many can back you up on your thoughts too. I can't see that the disorder of anxiety is addictive. However, the everyday challenges of life overwork us all to the point of addictive or compulsive behavior.

Your thoughts are helpful to me today :-) I will put in extra meditation to figure out what's tempting me to addictive behavior.

Hugs!

Posilutely, I believe anxiety is addicting. I consider myself a recovering chaos junkie. Anxiety and all it's cousins generate quite a few all-natural hormone infusions which are stronger than most of the drugs in your local pharmacy. By the time I came of age, my body craved those infusions with an addict's intensity.

Then we get to the healing anxiety. . . Will I like the new me if I let go of the me I've always been? Change is frightening, even when it is for the better. Will the new me **really** be better? Healing requires far more leaps of faith than my pragmatic self likes to take. Show me the proof! ! !

Yes, definitely!

That makes sense to me--but I don't think I love my anxiety...I don't think anyone really loves their addiction....but its a way to not deal with real issues, feelings etc. makes you go numb--gives you a thrill...maybe we love the adrenaline or are so used to it, it's become a drug of sorts....something we feel we need, no matter how it damages us. We can't seem to stop it...no matter how much we hate it...hmmmm...something to ponder.

HI Ash, very good thought. I don't like my Anxiety, but learn to live and cope with it as best as i can, able to realize what my triggers are.
Keeping healthy emotionally and physically intertwines, so having a positive attitude with good energy and thoughts, helps all around the mind/ body connection.
I can say dealing with Anxiety is a challenge, but it's how we try and defeat it, not letting it defeat us, so we can have as fulling and satisfying life as possible.

ooooo---moment of self awareness? maybe this is why I like horror movies?? I need my anxiety/adrenaline fix...without having to work at it? now that's frightening!

Addiction and love have nothing in common. I don't love and never have loved chaos, but a childhood of constant chaos made me an addict before I knew it wasn't **Normal.** I believe I am very organized by nature. I love having my p's and q's straight.

Insert Tina Turner here. "What's Love Got To Do With It?"

Thanks for all the responses everyone! It was just something that crossed my mind I thought I'd ask.

I feel like my anxiety runs 24/7....not always at 100%, but it's there. It's like, would I even know what it felt like to not have anxiety? Would a heroin addict know what normal felt like if they can't get past the withdrawals?

Just interesting.

I cannot help you with that. I am so sorry Ash122.

All these posts are so confusing because everyone is all over the page.

Anxiety is the worse and I so agree with you all. When you find that you cannot drive because of it; it only makes it worse knowing that you have to shop for Christmas.

Hugs to all.

Good topic ash. I know that sometimes I feel if I’m not anxious and worried I might be taken by surprise when bad things happen. Sorta like insurance. That’s why I’m trying to live in the moment and have presence and notice when I’m happy and appreciate it. It actually cushions the bad times better because I’m less exhausted and more resilient. A work in progress though.

Like arfie said, anxiety triggers the brain to release endorphines and we are naturally addicted to those because they make us feel good (which, in the cases of anxiety and stress is a total mindf*ck). Luckily, there are lots of other ways for us to trigger the release of endorphines like exercise and meditation. I also think we can also become so accustomed to feeling anxiety that it's absence can be disconcerting.

Good comment Brockster. And you're right, there are other healthier ways to release those chemicals. I've been working on exercising a bit more. It's just interesting that when I get a hole of certain aspects of my anxiety, another situation pops up to scare me lol. It's like the body and mind knows when I start to relax and says NOPE.

Thanks for all the responses everyone. This is a really interesting topic. I've also a bachelor's in psych so things like this pop in my head every now and then.

Good vibes to everyone on your individual journies with anxiety

I would say Yes, it can be addictive especially if you went through it during childhood