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The word addiction is applied to all sorts of conditions and compulsive behaviors where the clinical definition of addiction doesn't apply. No change to chemical receptors in the brain cells, no physical symptons of withdrawal.
This doesn't mean that the compulsive don't need help, but I think it does a disservice both to the truly addicted and those who are emotionally compelled to a behavior. It gets a little too easy for the latter case to claim they can't help it because it's an addiction, ie, a problem with a physcial component.
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