Question Twelve: How have I compared my addiction with others' addiction? Is my addiction "bad enough" if I don't compare it to anyone else's?

Boy, do I compare myself to others...and I NEVER measure up. So, usually what happens is I think "well, I've never lived under a bridge, I've never mugged a person, I've never been to jail, so maybe I'm not really an addict". And, not in a "whew, I'm not an addict" attitude. It's more like, I feel like an addict, but I'm not sure I qualify...I'm not sure other addicts think I'm an addict.

Since learning about the behaviors that are addiction, I have come to realize that I am an addict...period. And, it doesn't matter the substance...drugs, people, food, computer games...anything in excess, anything I obsess about, anything I behave about compulsively qualifies me as an addict.