Are All Addictions Bad? Why “Positive Addiction” Is a Dangerous Myth
In a world where “workaholic,” “gym rat,” or “adrenaline junkie” are worn like badges of honor, it’s tempting to believe that some addictions are actually good. That maybe, if you’re addicted to something healthy — like exercise, business, meditation, or cold plunges — it’s not really a problem.
But let’s get honest.
An addiction, by definition, is a compulsive relationship with a behavior or substance that persists despite negative consequences. It’s driven by a loss of control, an inability to stop, and an underlying need to soothe emotional pain, anxiety, or shame.
So — can addiction be positive?
I say no.
Even if the object of your compulsion looks “healthy” from the outside, if it’s running your life from the shadows, it’s not serving your freedom.
The Myth of “Good Addictions”
There’s a seductive narrative out there — the idea that some addictions are good for you. You’ll hear things like:
- “Better to be addicted to the gym than to alcohol.”
- “Work is my addiction, but it’s made me successful.”
- “I need my morning meditation — I’m hooked.”
But here’s the rub: If you need something to feel okay, and you suffer when it’s taken away, it’s not empowering you. It’s owning you.
A man who trains daily to stay centered, disciplined, and strong is choosing mastery.
A man who compulsively trains to escape his emotions or prove his worth is stuck in a loop — no matter how jacked he looks.
Healthy Commitments vs. Addiction
Let’s draw a clear line between addiction and healthy devotion.
Addiction is:
- Compulsive and unconscious
- Escapist by nature
- Often linked to shame or emotional avoidance
- Out of alignment with long-term goals or values
- Hard to stop, even when the harm it’s causing is clear
Healthy practices are:
- Chosen consciously and aligned with values
- Flexible and adaptable
- Supportive of long-term well-being
- Done from a place of willingness, not fear
- Easy to pause when needed
When “Good” Habits Become Harmful
Anything can become an addiction if it’s used to avoid feeling pain.
You can get addicted to:
- Work
- Sex
- Exercise
- Screens
- Dieting or fasting
- Productivity
- Spiritual seeking
- Meditation
What starts as a tool for growth can become another prison — especially when it begins to erode your health, your relationships, or your sense of self.
So… Are All Addictions Bad?
Yes — because addiction is about how you relate to the behavior, not what the behavior is.
The issue isn’t the substance, the device, or the behaviour itself.
It’s the need. The compulsion. The emotional dependency. The lack of capacity to sit with the discomfort that’s underneath the compulsion.
That discomfort is trying to teach you something.
If it owns you, it’s not healthy. No matter how “good” it looks.
What’s the Alternative?
In my practice, I don’t help men replace a bad addiction with a “good” one. I help them get free.
That means:
- Facing the emotional pain you’ve been avoiding
- Learning to sit with discomfort
- Building self-awareness and agency
- Committing to practices from choice, not compulsion
Recovery isn’t about becoming perfect. It’s about regaining sovereignty over your body, your mind, and your time.
Addiction Is a Signal, Not a Sentence
If you’re stuck in a loop, it doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means something deeper is asking to be healed.
Addiction is often a strategy the nervous system uses to regulate unbearable emotions. It’s not a moral failure — it’s an invitation to look inward.
In podcast episodes like this one with my friend Alex Olshonsky, I talk about how we work with men to shift from unconscious compulsion to conscious choice.
Final Thoughts
There’s no such thing as a “positive addiction.”
But there is such a thing as purposeful practice.
There is such a thing as devotion, discipline, and healthy structure.
And there is such a thing as radical freedom.
If you’re using something to avoid your pain, it will eventually cost you.
If you’re choosing it to expand your capacity and live in alignment — that’s not addiction. That’s power.
🎧 Recommended Listening/Reading
📚 Further Reading
- Glasser, William. Positive Addiction (A concept worth challenging)
- Maté, Gabor. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, here are some resources:
-
* My exclusive group program for men who want to conquer their addictions.
-
* My podcast episode on 12 step programs.
-
* An article on the capacity humans have to heal their addictions.
Post note: My intention with this article is not to pigeon-hole addicts and non-addicts, pathologize behaviour, or marginalize anyone. Rather, I hope to clear up some cultural misunderstandings of addiction and how it affects our lives. To know what addiction is, we need to know what it isn’t. We also need to know what it looks like in our lives, and in the village around us, so we can better understand how to manage it. See how I can help in the links below.
