ADDICTION

By no stretch of the imagination would anyone consider me an addict. I don’t smoke, drink, gamble, etc. But I must admit that I do have an addiction. It’s an addiction to the games “Free Cell” and “bridge” on my computer. Once I start playing it’s like eating potato chips – one is not enough. I can’t stop playing and I stay awake much too late to play one more and then just another. Before I know it, it is late into the night !!!


Psychologists say that a gambling addiction is a need for excitement. And the computers like slot machines in Las Vegas produce an adrenal rush that stimulates the winner to play even more. Lights flash, bells whistle, and sounds blair. A sense of euphoria occurs.


As it is, I spend a lot of time on my computer operating the website www.FunnyPhotosContest.com for cute or funny photos and photo captions. I must enter the contestants names in the database, resize photos, post the pictures on the website, tally the votes for the contest, send the prize money to the winners, etc. Thus, when I’m finished working on the website for the day, you would think, I would want to do something else. But no, when I’m done, I decide to relax by playing just ONE game. Unfortunately that’s not what happens. And I should know better. One leads to another, then another, and another.


I suppose I can rationalize that those kinds of games are good for keeping my mind sharp. But recent studies show that perhaps social contacts are even more important for preventing senility, etc. Well what can I say…I wish I would stop, but as hard as I try I doubt that I will.