"I have learned that these affairs are almost like an addiction to alcohol or pornography. They just can't break away from them." -Jenny Sanford, wife of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford
Can you be addicted to a person? It's an interesting idea. When people become addicted to something, it's all about the chemicals that are being released in the brain. Neuro-transmitters like dopamine create the pleasurable sensations that we experience when we eat chocolate, or make love, or laugh. It is the feelings created by these chemicals that we get addicted to, not the things we consume which cause our brains to release those chemicals, but since we know using a substance or activity creates the release, we have a strong association between the person or thing and the feeling that goes along with it, so in that sense we form an addiction to the item.
Addictions can be incredibly powerful, but they can also be changed and abandoned. Hypnosis can help. There are ways to use hypnosis to re-train the brain so that it doesn't associate the chemical release with the negative influence anymore, but with something more positive instead. If you have a serious addiction, always consult with a medical professional before starting any new program. Should you choose to consult with a hypnotist, make sure that person is a credentialed professional.
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