We with ADD or ADHD are more prone to addictions: alcohol, pot, stimulating drugs because they make us more focused, sedating drugs because they calm us, gambling, exercise, the internet -email, facebook, freecell, porn, etc – because these help us escape unpleasant tasks and realities (as do the substances) – and much more.
In addiction the dopamine reward centers of the brain accommodate to the stimulus, so that more is required to achieve the result, and if the stimulus is stopped unpleasant withdrawal syndrome ensues- this can happen with the internet also! Hallmarks of addiction are loss of control of the behavior, craving, escalating doses, and withdrawal if stopped.
I have been addicted to caffeine, and to computer games – tried many strategies to control these, didn’t work, had to get rid of them altogether. New rule – will only look at the internet (email, facebook, book sales and reviews) three times daily, then hope to decrease it to twice. No games on my computer (have to be careful about freecell on my wife’s and chess on my iphone). My only current addiction is food, a continuing struggle.
strategies- get help. use strategies to cope with ADD. medications. self help groups. accupuncture. exercise. identify triggers for the abuse and make strategies to choose alternatives. make plan for relapses.
doug 
clik here facebook addiction!
clik here alcohol abuse
Tip # 260 – better late than never!
ADDadultstrategies 
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how do you mean, adhd is the link? i think that we have a higher rate of addictions but that doesnt mean that all of us get addicted. what determines who does and who doesn’t? other genes?
thank you for commenting, maybe we’ll get some other ideas.
doug
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Oddly, this is one I don’t experience as an ADHDer. Neither I nor my father before me ever experienced addiction of any sort. My father smoked for many. many years until one day he decided the medical evidence against smoking was enough and he should give up. He did – instantly and with no side affects, no cravings. Never went back to it. Likewise, I love alcohol and tend to drink even soft drinks in large quantities. So I will happily knock back many pints of beer, glasses of wine and/or spirits especially when socialising. But living and working in Bangladesh, which is a dry country, means that just isn’t possible. I seriously have not missed it nor crave it. Yet when I return to the UK from time to time (once or twice a year) I still happily down the pints!
I wonder if there are other ADHDers who are like me and DON’T get addicted to things? It seems an extreme way of being just as much as addiction is. I genuinely do think ADHD is the link. What do you think?
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