Addicted!?!?

[143MPCo]

Five Simple Ways to Tell if You’re Addicted to the Reefing Hobby​

In a healthy individual, hobbies may act as effective creative outlets and stress relievers (duh). Sometimes, though, hobbies can take on a darker role in our lives, essentially becoming an addiction that needs to be overcome, often with the help of outside sources (Nope I can handle it). Read on for five simple ways to tell if you’re addicted to your Reefing hobby.

1. You distance yourself to participate in your hobby (Who needs friends, unless he/she is a reefing buddy)

If you find yourself turning down social invitations or routinely isolating yourself from your immediate family members to participate in your hobby, your hobby might be an addiction. A hobby should act as an activity to indulge in when you have leisure time or when other socializing is not possible, not as an excuse to lock yourself away from the world in your Fish Tank Room playing marine biologist.

2. You put your family finances at risk to indulge your hobby (Never!)

Shopping and gambling, for example, are perfectly acceptable hobbies when discretionary income is being spent (I need my wife to read this one). But when loans are taken out or savings are depleted, it’s time to reconsider the level of joint risk you are willing to assume for your personal needs. (60k on a 200gallon seems reasonable to me, how about you?)

3. You are depressed without your hobby (I hate vacations, lol)

A feeling of missing your hobby when you are unable to do it is normal. Maybe you can’t wait to go fishing when the weather warms up. But feeling like life is not worth living without it indicates that you have developed an unhealthy addiction. (I check my fusion page at least 6times a hr., doesn’t everyone?)

4. You avoid responsibilities to pursue your hobby (no comment)

Have you called in sick to work or forgotten to pick up your children from school because you were so involved in your hobby? If so, it may be time to seek professional help. You don’t need to watch your world collapse around you. There are professional addiction recovery programs that can help you overcome your addiction (dang they got me here).

5. You become angry when your hobby isn’t successful (Been there, done dat!)

Everyone experiences disappointment and regret over bad decisions. But when you find yourself feeling intense rage or remorse over failings in your hobby, it’s time to take a good hard look in the mirror. Hobbies are meant to improve your mood, not detract from it. (keep it positive people!)

If any of the above scenarios sound familiar, you might need professional help from mental health experts. Get help now before your (Reefing) hobby takes over your life. (Umm too late?)

So are you addicted, do you also fall into any of these, and what're you doing to keep the addiction from taking over your life?

[HASHTAG]#addict[/HASHTAG]

 

[dbl]

Alex, nice write up and a poignant topic. This can be a very addictive hobby (not unlike others) and I think it’s important we all keep this in mind.

For the first year or so my new little piece of the ocean was about all I could think about. I’ve since “settled down” and realize it really is just a hobby. Yes, the lives of our creatures are in our charge; but, and I may get lambasted for this, the lives and well-being of our family and friends are much more important!

This is like anything else in life – it’s about balance – a healthy balance. Then again, this is all just one addict’s opinion. Hello, my name is David…..

 

[143MPCo]

Outside of Mr. dbl and myself, no one else is addicted?

 

[4FordFamily]

Ohhhh man ALL of those things apply. What's remarkable to me is that my free time is almost null and yet I'm here learning more and chatting with hobbyists and sometimes neglecting my local friends and family!

Partially that's because I really love this community.

What's really bad is when you have two hobbies like this - cars AND reefing

Even worse is when you call yourself a "reefer" at work and the office looks at you funny. Everybody at work knows my two addictions and any time I achieve something they bring it up when talking about me.

I would say the other way you know that you have an addiction is when you talk about this hobby so much to people that you expect to see their eyes roll back in their head and see eye rolls as soon as someone accidentally opens that can of worms or when I somehow find any way to bring either addictive hobby in to a (what is often a completely unrelated) discussion!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

This is an excellent post! I know we all make jokes about this hobby being "addicting" but when it takes away from our responsibilities and the people that really matter in our lives, that's a very real problem. I think there's so much to love about the hobby that we can be easily drawn to that point if we're not careful. When we become a slave to anything, it's time to take two steps back.

 

[4FordFamily]

This is an excellent post! I know we all make jokes about this hobby being "addicting" but when it takes away from our responsibilities and the people that really matter in our lives, that's a very real problem. I think there's so much to love about the hobby that we can be easily drawn to that point if we're not careful. When we become a slave to anything, it's time to take two steps back.

Agree. With my wife preggers I had to step back a bit and focus on my wife more and spending money wisely for the new baby. Have to keep priorities in order

 

[ZoaReefer]

Guilty as charged!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Oh man love this thread! LOL!

Five Simple Ways to Tell if You’re Addicted to the Reefing Hobby​

In a healthy individual, hobbies may act as effective creative outlets and stress relievers (duh). Sometimes, though, hobbies can take on a darker role in our lives, essentially becoming an addiction that needs to be overcome, often with the help of outside sources (Nope I can handle it). Read on for five simple ways to tell if you’re addicted to your Reefing hobby.

1. You distance yourself to participate in your hobby (Who needs friends, unless he/she is a reefing buddy)

If you find yourself turning down social invitations or routinely isolating yourself from your immediate family members to participate in your hobby, your hobby might be an addiction. A hobby should act as an activity to indulge in when you have leisure time or when other socializing is not possible, not as an excuse to lock yourself away from the world in your Fish Tank Room playing marine biologist.

2. You put your family finances at risk to indulge your hobby (Never!)

Shopping and gambling, for example, are perfectly acceptable hobbies when discretionary income is being spent (I need my wife to read this one). But when loans are taken out or savings are depleted, it’s time to reconsider the level of joint risk you are willing to assume for your personal needs. (60k on a 200gallon seems reasonable to me, how about you?)

3. You are depressed without your hobby (I hate vacations, lol)

A feeling of missing your hobby when you are unable to do it is normal. Maybe you can’t wait to go fishing when the weather warms up. But feeling like life is not worth living without it indicates that you have developed an unhealthy addiction. (I check my fusion page at least 6times a hr., doesn’t everyone?)

4. You avoid responsibilities to pursue your hobby (no comment)

Have you called in sick to work or forgotten to pick up your children from school because you were so involved in your hobby? If so, it may be time to seek professional help. You don’t need to watch your world collapse around you. There are professional addiction recovery programs that can help you overcome your addiction (dang they got me here).

5. You become angry when your hobby isn’t successful (Been there, done dat!)

Everyone experiences disappointment and regret over bad decisions. But when you find yourself feeling intense rage or remorse over failings in your hobby, it’s time to take a good hard look in the mirror. Hobbies are meant to improve your mood, not detract from it. (keep it positive people!)

If any of the above scenarios sound familiar, you might need professional help from mental health experts. Get help now before your (Reefing) hobby takes over your life. (Umm too late?)

So are you addicted, do you also fall into any of these, and what're you doing to keep the addiction from taking over your life?

 

[londonloco]

One day I was cutting up some zucchini as my daughter, then 12, walked into the kitchen:

Daughter: Yum mom, zucchini for dinner?
Mom: No hon, I'm blanching this for the fish, we're having pizza!

Total fail!

 

[saltyphish]

yup got me. I was in the hospital for an extended visit recently and missed my tank the most, well right there with my family.

 

[Robink]

yep, addicted.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

Very addicted trying to give my self a little rest on buying sticks and wrasses (I trying very hard lol). Also have a little one on the way so have to take a step back.
But still can't stop from being around my tanks.

 

[mardoon]

lol , does this make me addictive my dt is 75 and upgrading to 265 and i have fishroom in the basement and dt in living room.

 

[143MPCo]

lol , does this make me addictive my dt is 75 and upgrading to 265 and i have fishroom in the basement and dt in living room.

umm only slightly.

 

[TheEngineer]

Outside of Mr. dbl and myself, no one else is addicted?

I can stop whenever I want.

 

[143MPCo]

I can stop whenever I want.

I need dated, notarized, and signed pictures as proof, otherwise you're reefing on the DL!

 

[Greenstreet.1]

75g

55g wrasse tank

Will have to get a pic of the 20g

 

[TUSI]

Five Simple Ways to Tell if You’re Addicted to the Reefing Hobby​

In a healthy individual, hobbies may act as effective creative outlets and stress relievers (duh). Sometimes, though, hobbies can take on a darker role in our lives, essentially becoming an addiction that needs to be overcome, often with the help of outside sources (Nope I can handle it). Read on for five simple ways to tell if you’re addicted to your Reefing hobby.

1. You distance yourself to participate in your hobby (Who needs friends, unless he/she is a reefing buddy)

If you find yourself turning down social invitations or routinely isolating yourself from your immediate family members to participate in your hobby, your hobby might be an addiction. A hobby should act as an activity to indulge in when you have leisure time or when other socializing is not possible, not as an excuse to lock yourself away from the world in your Fish Tank Room playing marine biologist.

2. You put your family finances at risk to indulge your hobby (Never!)

Shopping and gambling, for example, are perfectly acceptable hobbies when discretionary income is being spent (I need my wife to read this one). But when loans are taken out or savings are depleted, it’s time to reconsider the level of joint risk you are willing to assume for your personal needs. (60k on a 200gallon seems reasonable to me, how about you?)

3. You are depressed without your hobby (I hate vacations, lol)

A feeling of missing your hobby when you are unable to do it is normal. Maybe you can’t wait to go fishing when the weather warms up. But feeling like life is not worth living without it indicates that you have developed an unhealthy addiction. (I check my fusion page at least 6times a hr., doesn’t everyone?)

4. You avoid responsibilities to pursue your hobby (no comment)

Have you called in sick to work or forgotten to pick up your children from school because you were so involved in your hobby? If so, it may be time to seek professional help. You don’t need to watch your world collapse around you. There are professional addiction recovery programs that can help you overcome your addiction (dang they got me here).

5. You become angry when your hobby isn’t successful (Been there, done dat!)

Everyone experiences disappointment and regret over bad decisions. But when you find yourself feeling intense rage or remorse over failings in your hobby, it’s time to take a good hard look in the mirror. Hobbies are meant to improve your mood, not detract from it. (keep it positive people!)

If any of the above scenarios sound familiar, you might need professional help from mental health experts. Get help now before your (Reefing) hobby takes over your life. (Umm too late?)

So are you addicted, do you also fall into any of these, and what're you doing to keep the addiction from taking over your life?

Oh no, I have to hide this thread from my wife cause this will be a proof enough to kick me out into the garage. Excellent write up but next time do it Top Secret lol

 

[143MPCo]

Oh no, I have to hide this thread from my wife cause this will be a proof enough to kick me out into the garage. Excellent write up but next time do it Top Secret lol

...wait, didn't you tell me that's the new fish tank designated room?

 

[TUSI]

...wait, didn't you tell me that's the new fish tank designated room?

I'm working on putting heat in there this summer so I won't freeze in winter cause definetly that's were I'm heading little by little