When I was pregnant,I have a terrible craving to taste/drink mouth wash! I tried not to swallow it but I seriously could not stay away from the stuff. I have no idea why but the sensation it gave me, made me want to do it more and more. This was clearly a pregnancy craving, but would this is classed as an addiction?
Not quite sure but I would say no, because it was just during your pregnancy. Most women have cravings during pregnancy and I have never heard it being classified as an addiction. I wanted melon and Jamaican apple with salt all the time...
No, I don't think this could be classed as an addiction. Many people who are addicted to smoking have cravings for a cigarette - what makes it an addiction is the fact that the cravings only last about two minutes before going away for a while and then they come back even stronger. Every time that craving comes back it becomes more intense each time until the smoker gets their fix. Unless that happened with your cravings for mouthwash (they kept coming back and getting more intense until you got some) then I would say that it's not an addiction.
Thank you for this everyone, I find this really interesting the points that are made about this subject. I know that the feeling was really strong but also know that this was time limited and that the craving worked its way through. Although I still have a desire to have the mouth wash ..... its not longer a craving that I have to satisfy.
As someone mentioned above, cravings usually go away quickly. You might have a strong desire to crunch on ice when your iron levels are low. Crunching on ice doesn't help but it also doesn't hurt. Later you may crave a food or whatever. Addiction is the same craving over and over again. It's a compulsion and drive to have it. Nothing diverts it. If ignored, it will probably come back even stronger. Typically, I think cravings are classed as addictions when the substance involved is harmful to you and avoiding the substance leads to some form of withdraw.
That was a strange craving and remind me of someone who said she craved for detergent bars when she was pregnant. Craving is just wanting of something in a span of time and I think it can still be controlled while addiction is not.
So thinking on what people are saying during this thread then, the craving is the desire which is probably time limited and addiction is more compulsive with withdrawal symptoms if not satisfied and can go on and on and on. So now beginning to wonder about food being called a craving for some but yet others say they have addictions. I know this becomes another conversation in itself, but interestingly then - it might be really hard to determine whether someone is just craving food (ie, could be psychological or physical needs) or whether it has become an actual addiction. Food issues can be short lived or long term. I know food related issues and problems in the past have been treated both within Addictions services and Medical services which means they might be seen both as a craving and an addiction depending which way you look at it?