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happy711 · Dec 29, 2007, 08:38 PM

I know this sounds stupid and not a real addiction like crack, but I am addicted to gum. With the orbit packs that hold 14, I had 6 packs in less than 20 minutes. I don't know why I just can't have one piece at a time and chew it for a long period. Suggestions?/

tickle · Dec 29, 2007, 08:45 PM

You, I have a suggestion. If it isn't sugar free, get your teeth checked for cavities, gum disease or maybe you have a bite problem,a jaw problem... whatever

Choux · Dec 29, 2007, 09:29 PM

Are you addicted to a sugar rush?

Seems to me this kind of situation can happen when one is on a diet... your are looking for a mouth and sugar rush for the least amount of calories.

Are your family and friends annoyed with you? :D

Clough · Dec 29, 2007, 09:37 PM

Sounds like a habit. Some habits can be really hard to break. I wouldn't go so far as to call it an addiction in the usually sense and definition of the word.

Are there situations or something happening in your life, whereby chewing gum provides you some sort of psychological comfort?

N0help4u · Dec 30, 2007, 08:01 AM

Most likely it is habit because your jaws have gotten use to chewing.
I know when I used to chew gum a lot my jaws got use to chewing and then when I didn't chew gum my jaws would feel tensed up until I got use to not chewing it.

KBC · Dec 30, 2007, 08:10 AM

It sounds more like an obsession than an addiction.

Satina · Dec 30, 2007, 08:31 AM

Hello,

It really does sound like there is something in that gum that you are physically addicted to. Does it happen with just that brand? If it's sugar free, sugar substitutes can be highly toxic and highly addictive. Do you also crave diet sodas? Even most sugared gums have highly toxic and addictive sugar substitutes in them now, which most people don't know about. Look at the ingredient label and see if acesfulfame or sucralose or aspartame are listed. Is there anything else that you crave as intensely as this gum? Look for what it has in common with the gum.

Breaking a physical addition can be very difficult, but the first step is knowing what you're addicted to. Then you can introduce healthy substitutions and reduce and then eliminate usage.

Namaste,

Satina

N0help4u · Dec 30, 2007, 08:35 AM

Here is the link for the truth about aspartame. And they do disquise it under various names.
I was thinking it could be that too but he didn't specify

Truth About Aspartame -It is POISON!!!

happy711 · Dec 30, 2007, 10:54 AM

The gum is sugar free so I don't have a sugar rush. I am not on a diet and my family is only annoyed at me when I eat all of the gum. There isn't anything dramatic in my life that makes me chew gum; I just like the way it tastes.

Choux · Dec 30, 2007, 12:49 PM

So, it is just a bad habit?

Takes about two weeks to break a bad habit if you think it is a bad habit.

Clough · Dec 30, 2007, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by happy711

the gum is sugar free so i dont have a sugar rush. i am not on a diet and my family is only annoyed at me when i eat all of the gum. there isnt anything dramatic in my life that makes me chew gum; i just like the way it tastes.

What do you mean that you "eat" all of the gum? Are you swallowing it? I'm hoping that your usage of the word "eat" is just a typo.

happy711 · Dec 30, 2007, 03:05 PM

Lol. I meant that I chew the gum.

life1973happened · Dec 30, 2007, 03:52 PM

Dear (addicted)...
I think you should cut yourself all slack. There are for more things you can be (addicted) to then sugarfree gum. I like candy. In fact with all I buy I might be helping Willy Wonka pay the electric bill at a plant or two.

One of my favorite things to do because I enjoy another activity, I rarley get to do. I substitute by buying Blow Pops. I love them, they taste great and when you suck through to the middle you are rewarded with gum that goes flat in only 6 seconds.

So whether you like to chew gum, suck on Blow Pops, or whatever you enjoy (that's safe and not harmful to others or yourself) I think you and I are fine.

Chew away is what I say...

simoneaugie · Dec 30, 2007, 10:17 PM

A friend's daughter used to do the same thing. She was treated for ADHD and the gum chewing slowed. That doesn't mean that you have a disorder, or that you need to go to the doctor. It's probably just a habit. Can you buy your own gum, and stay out of everyone else's? Pick something new. It can be healthy, helpful or engendering of new growth area of yourself.

wkellys · Dec 30, 2007, 10:45 PM

I know what you are talking about, I have packs of gum every where and in my pocket if I don't have any I feel like I have bad breath and I know that I don't. But the only thing that I know to tell you is get STRIDE it last longer!

Clough · Dec 31, 2007, 01:19 AM

When you get to be my age and have a lot of fillings in your mouth from tooth decay and going to the dentist, you might not chew gum so much because it will start to pull the fillings out of your teeth!

gummer · Feb 4, 2009, 10:27 AM

I have the same thing but I do it why I don't know I'm not looking a any suger rush some people can be like that it all deponds on the person and a diet isn't one of it.

Jake2008 · Feb 4, 2009, 11:20 AM

An addiction doesn't necessarily have to have an addictive component to it, as a cause of the addiction.

That there is nothing addictive in the substance, does not mean it isn't an addiction.

While gum may seem relatively harmless (although as others have said artificial sweeteners are dangerous, and worth thinking about because of the sheer volume of gum you go through), if it is something that you cannot get through the day without, and it is affecting your relationships, and your life, it is more likely than not you are addicted to it.

Unlike a bad habit, like swearing, or never putting the toilet seat down, you are injesting a substance to such a degree, that is far beyond what anybody would consider 'normal' gum chewing.

It didn't sound to me that you wanted to quit chewing, so I won't offer an opinion in that regard. But you might do well to think about how much, when, and under what circumstances you chew.

Sounds a bit silly to most I know, it's 'only' gum, but the substance itself (sugar substitutes), and the volume you use, might be worth thinking a bit more about.

Jonfifa09 · Feb 6, 2009, 07:50 PM

Sometimes you can get addicted to things when your trying to stop another addiction such as smoking.
One person I knew who was trying quit smoking was addicted to muffins lol