The concept of addiction

Addictions are Irrational Beliefs, so-called Presumptions in psychology.
Latest findings suggest a distinct correlation between males and females’ onset.

Common causes of addiction

Generally speaking, the main agonists of Addiction are Idolatry, Visuals, Guilt, Relapse and Neurodivergence.
Idolatry and Visuals are related to the natural brain inclination to Curiosity and Imitation. Relapse and Guilt are part of the Recovery Process. Neurodivergence is associated with Vulnerability, Masking and Performance.
Addiction is synonymous with Innocent Presumption, Pride, Arrogance, Self-righteousness.
In brief, pathological Narcissism.
Substances or Lust become godlike Idols for the Addict.

Addictions in males and females

The male brain is visual. The female brain is emotional.
Physical attraction is the initial response of men towards women.
Mannerism comes first in women.
Eventually, these two feelings fuse together in neurotypical couples after the first meeting at face-value. This is an Healthy Imitation, so-called Complementary.

Love and Drug Addiction

The process is the same for addictive personalities, though the Fusion is detrimental to the female character: Physical attraction typically involves Lust and Pornography in the male character, who sees the female partner as Sex slave.
Same goes with substances: Imitation grows parallel to Intimacy.
Cinematography has been eloquent on the subject, with cult-movies the likes of ‘Christiane F.’ and ‘Toxic Love’ between the most popular, all exploring the connection between Love and Addiction.

Love is a Bond, either beneficially or destructively uniting.
Suffering is a component of Love: when we feel deeply connected, we want to share that experience. Addicts are often charismatic in their own ways, perceived as gifts. At this point, we are hooked. Just a female neurotypical minority, usually in their 30 s, therefore more selective and family oriented, would discern the inadequacy of a longtime relationship, either slipping-away or setting firm boundaries. Girls in their mid-20 s are not so smart, personality is not fully defined until 25. Imitation, a subcategory of Learning in Executive Function, takes over in the form of Role-model towards an older partner, combined with strong Camaraderie bordering Behavioral Idolization. The younger person sees the Highs of Addiction only, while failing to acknowledge the painful Withdrawal syndrome.
From their perspective, the addict carefully hides the Lows.
Addiction becomes the outcome of Successful Performance and Wellbeing, even more so for the Neurodivergent.
A vicious cycle.

Once again, the Amygdala is the main source of superior male  ‘Visuospatial skills’.
Visuospatial skills are the ability to turn Images entirely into Emotions.
The male Amygdala is larger in size and 100% activated by Visuals.
The female Amygdala is smaller. Only the left side is activated by Visuals, a more subtle analytic system.
To say, males see a body, females see body-traits, the latter definitely a plus in relationships and selection.
Conversely, males fare better in the battlefield and worse in Addictions.
Pornography is a powerful hook to men, highly destructive financially and socially, yet legal as for tobacco and alcohol, multibillion businesses, coincidentally.
I have come to the belief that Laws are approved by Money… you pay the bail, you walk, at least in the US.

Addiction and Age

In the social-media era, everything travels online.
Children as young as 6, already possess the latest model of smartphone.
Parents see them as safeguards, while in reality they’re the first means of virtual kidnapping through improper use. Visuals, of any kind. Imagine what videos of drug users or nudity can do to the brain of a 6 yo boy…
Surveys report children having watched pornography by 12 on their phones! These are secured addicts in adulthood.

Anyway, it would seem that sex-hormones are responsible for addiction in both sexes, estrogens in women, androgens in men.
From that, the consolidation of the Impersonation as in Imitation of the addicted person within the Love bond.
Close monitoring of friendships by parents is the primary prevention for Addictions in teens, these days, with males the most at risk.
Mature women can be of help in addictions by sincere care without Love bond until the counterpart shows signs of Recovery.
Family supervision is always recommended.
It’s hard to tell, though under-25 should keep distance from addicts.

After all, Addiction is a Illness

Relapse is very much associated with Guilt.
Getting rid of Guilt is the key for sobriety.
Remember, Addiction is a Illness, never be judgemental.
The human brain is naturally addictive. Substance abusers are thought to have less control over their emotions.

Addictions are isolating, territorial and antisocial.
Humans are sociable, we must interact with all kinds of people in daily life.
Substance abusers tend to withdraw from society or to stick to their group.

Cinematography is big on the addiction subject still, it can’t dissuade against.
In fact, it seems to incite more.

We still haven’t fully understood the addictive brain.
Evidence suggests our brain is subconsciously prone to imitating and exploring novelty. We don’t recognize addictive behavior until we’re addicted.

Mental illness makes it all the worse.
That would explain why vulnerable viewers imitate destructive content rather than steering clear from it.
Soothing content is not appealing to addictive personalities, it doesn’t make them numb.
All these people want, is shutting down emotional pain.
They build their own trap and hardly reach out for help alone.

Babsy, the youngest heroin victim at age 14 featured in the real-life drama ‘Christiane F.’, left a note saying “I love too much”.

Could lack of love be the cause of addiction?
Victims always have the best answers… when it is too late.

I hope readers with or without addictions, understood the compassionate approach of this post.
No inquisitive or judgemental comments are meant.
I write from personal experience and background as an EMT.
Addiction is not Crime, it’s a Cry for help.
Everybody must recognize the need to reach out of the most vulnerable.

Empathy is innate, but we must show it, unless we have a Personality Disorder.
NPD, the medical term for Narcissism, or Self-love, is rampant these New Age days where we are encouraged to be our own Gods.

Remember, Addictions are never a free choice.
And recovery is always possible.

You’re not alone.