Buzz
While we typically associate addiction with negative impacts on health, many people are hooked on things that don’t actually harm their lives in any significant way.
These addictions are still very real and often necessary for our everyday lives. It might be coffee for some, a need for cleanliness for others, or a compulsion to share endless kitten memes—each of these taps into the brain’s reward system in unique ways.
Things get odd when we encounter compulsions that seem completely baseless. Have you ever encountered children who can’t stop eating sand, or heard about people who have a bizarre addiction to consuming ashes?
These addictions—which lack any apparent cause but are just as real as the more hazardous ones—are the ones that intrigue us the most. Here are some of the most perplexing examples.
10. Tanning
The booming artificial UV tanning industry can be understood as a natural desire to change our appearance, much like how people with curly hair often wish for straight hair, and vice versa. It’s especially useful during the times of year when the sun doesn't quite provide enough of a tan.
The situation becomes strange, however, when you can't stop—it's not just the tan you crave, but the addiction itself.
There are plenty of cases of people becoming addicted to artificial tanning. If you think it’s simply like the obsession some people have with getting their hair done, it's actually much more intense than that.
Recent studies have confirmed that tanning addiction is very real, and it activates the same areas of the brain as substances like heroin. Some research even suggests it might be genetic, although only a small fraction of those who tan regularly could be considered truly dependent on it.
9. Drinking Urine
You may have come across individuals who firmly believe that drinking their own—and in some extreme instances, other people's—urine is beneficial for health. As long as no one else is harmed, there isn’t much we can do to change their minds. Despite the lack of scientific evidence linking this behavior to any health benefits, it’s often a matter of “to each his own,” and we respect that.
However, in some cases, the practice escalates far beyond a simple preference for human urine as a food source. Numerous individuals have reported experiencing withdrawal symptoms if they miss their daily dose of urine.
Take, for example, Robert Wells, a man in his sixties, who cannot stop collecting urine from younger individuals—often without their knowledge—and drinking it. He admits that it is an uncontrollable urge. In fact, he has faced multiple charges of sexual offenses due to his actions of collecting urine from children.
Wells believes that consuming urine from younger individuals will help him maintain a youthful appearance for a longer time.
8. Animal Hoarding
We’ve all heard of the stereotype of the “crazy cat lady,” even though it’s hard to say why it doesn’t seem to apply to men as well. We all know someone who surrounds herself with animals to make up for a lack of social skills, or perhaps just loves animals a bit too much, rather than being simply lonely. However, in some extreme cases, this behavior can escalate to the point where it harms the animals involved and might even resemble an addiction.
Science supports the idea that animal hoarding exhibits many traits of a true addiction, such as denial of the problem, a compulsive drive to continue, justifications for the actions, and complete disregard for personal living conditions. While the “crazy cat lady” trope might seem fitting, real cases are much more severe than just accumulating pets. Overcoming this addiction is incredibly difficult without intervention.
7. Human Blood
Vampires have been a staple in Western folklore for centuries. While it's unclear if these tales are inspired by real cases of people obsessed with human blood, mythology doesn't always stick to facts. We also can't say for sure if these figures were truly addicted to blood or simply indulged because they enjoyed the taste. But since they are fictional, no deep dive is necessary to explain how vampirism supposedly works.
In the real world, however, an addiction to drinking blood is indeed scientifically possible. A Turkish man, for example, was reported to be addicted to drinking his own blood. Doctors described his need for blood as “as urgent as breathing,” though they couldn't pinpoint how he developed this condition.
There was no underlying disorder or deficiency that could explain his craving, although he did suffer from a personality disorder. He had also witnessed some violent incidents earlier in life, but these don’t seem to provide any clarity on how the obsession started. Thankfully, his addiction was limited to drinking his own blood.
6. Coffee Enema
An enema may seem unpleasant, but it’s one of the most effective and commonly used medical treatments for severe constipation. While enemas are typically given by healthcare professionals, there are methods to perform one at home by injecting fluids into your backside to trigger a bowel movement.
A coffee enema—a variation introduced in the 1940s by Dr. Max Gerson, using coffee—is not the same thing. Numerous doctors and scientists have criticized its negative effects on the body, which is why it’s no longer provided in medical facilities across the United States.
That hasn’t stopped a couple from Florida from becoming addicted to coffee enemas. They experience a rush while doing it and suffer withdrawal symptoms if they skip it. They describe the sensation as euphoric, and on average, they administer coffee enemas four times a day. The wife even confessed to doing it as many as 10 times in a single day.
5. Getting Tattoos
You’ve probably seen people with tattoos covering their bodies. With tattoos becoming increasingly accepted in society, it’s likely that at least one person in your social circle has them. Tattoos can hold different meanings for different individuals, and pinpointing exactly why some of us are so drawn to them psychologically is a challenging task.
In some cases, tattoos go beyond simply etching a meaningful art design on your body. Tattoo addiction is a real phenomenon for more people than you might think. Research indicates that around 32 percent of Americans confess to being hooked on tattoos, often feeling compelled to get a new one shortly after their last.
Some researchers suggest that the addiction might stem from a craving for the pain that accompanies the tattoo process. Others think it could be related to an addiction to the attention tattoos bring. However, science is still working to understand what truly triggers a persistent tattoo addiction.
4. Romantic Rejection
Being rejected after asking someone out is a common experience in most people’s dating lives. Almost everyone has gone through it at some point. While it’s hardly the preferred outcome, it’s something many of us navigate if we want to engage in the dating world.
The problem arises when some individuals become addicted to the rejection itself, actually enjoying the heartbreak and pain that comes with it. And no, this isn’t a made-up scenario.
A study published in Journal of Neurophysiology found that romantic rejection activates the same areas of the brain as addiction. The researchers even introduced a metric for it called the Passionate Love Scale, concluding that romantic rejection is, in fact, a form of addiction.
While we may be framing it lightly, this also sheds light on why some individuals who experience rejection resort to violence against the person who turned them down. Tragically, this can sometimes escalate to extreme outcomes like suicide or murder.
3. Drinking Water
Humans are essentially water-based beings. So, it doesn’t take a doctor or an Instagram fitness guru to tell us about the benefits of staying hydrated. Drinking plenty of water keeps our bodies functioning properly, improves our skin, and generally helps us feel better than those who don’t drink enough.
If we told you it’s possible to get addicted to water just like other harmful substances, you might think we’re joking. But according to science, becoming addicted to water is absolutely a real possibility.
In some cases, individuals who don't get their daily dose of water may experience headaches and other withdrawal-like symptoms. Those with “aquaholism” (as it’s informally called) can become irritated if they go even an hour without water and may feel a compulsive urge to drink.
As with any excess, this behavior can lead to some serious negative consequences for the body. Sometimes, it’s associated with a condition called polydipsia, where a lack of sodium in the blood causes extreme thirst. However, most people addicted to water don’t have this condition.
2. Milk Products
Even individuals who don’t suffer from lactose intolerance may experience issues related to dairy. For them, milk-based products like butter or cheese are simply irresistible.
Some people develop an unhealthy obsession with these dairy products, often substituting them for regular meals regardless of the negative impact on their health. If that sounds like an addiction, that’s exactly what it is. Milk and its derivatives contain molecules that trigger the same areas of the brain as opiates do.
Milk contains casein and other similar compounds such as casomorphins. These substances mimic the effects of the highly addictive painkiller morphine. In fact, their chemical structure and impact on the brain are remarkably similar. When consuming cheese, the brain releases a significant amount of dopamine, which amplifies the addictive qualities, essentially creating a craving for more.
1. Plastic Surgery
For much of history, permanent disfigurement from accidents was irreversible. In the past, we didn’t have the advanced medical technology we do today to address such issues. The advent of plastic surgery marked a groundbreaking development, enabling us to repair physical flaws, and it wasn’t long before people began using it to enhance their appearance.
The problem arises when some individuals feel a compulsive urge to keep altering their looks through plastic surgery, transforming it into a true addiction. While the precise mechanisms behind this behavior remain unclear, many celebrities have become known for their ongoing need for surgery.
Experts suggest that a condition called body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) may explain this behavior. People with BDD have a constant desire to alter their appearance. Not everyone who is addicted to plastic surgery suffers from BDD, and it remains a mystery why many people without any underlying medical condition feel compelled to undergo up to 10 surgeries in a single day.
