why it seems that chess players have problems with drug addiction,depression and alcohol addiction?

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Avatar of PunyGully
show your experiences,I evidence in myself and other chess players,even GM apparently have the same problem.
Avatar of ABC_of_EVERYTHING

I don't know. Maybe this type of people get attracted to chess. 

Avatar of LeWoeps

Because chess players are also human?

Avatar of sparkleseif1
Because it’s fun
Avatar of AJTrappyR2D2

drug addiction is NOT a game... chess on the other hand 

Avatar of TheHarbingerOfDoom
Drug addiction is more of a hobby
Avatar of SpeckledGrill

I’m addicted to chess...

Avatar of batgirl

What evidence do you have that chess players statistically have more such problems?

Avatar of QueenClaudia2003

Maybe they have an addictive personality. 

Avatar of SpeckledGrill
QueenClaudia2003 wrote:

Maybe they have an addictive personality. 

Kind of what I was saying, chess can give you that same rush when you are winning like addiction to gambling or drugs can, maybe same people who get addicted easily to other things find themselves addicted to chess, also chess requires a lot of thinking and maybe some people use alcohol etc to quiet their overactive brains

Avatar of enoonami02

man watches queens gambit and thinks that all chess players have abuse problems

Avatar of SpeckledGrill
enoonami02 wrote:

man watches queens gambit and thinks that all chess players have abuse problems

I mean the same can be said for artists or many people who are at the top of their discipline can tend to be a bit nuts, I mean let’s face it spending thousands of hours on chess is not what a ‘normal’ person does

Avatar of RainerOR14

I do not think so

Drug = smoking a nice cigar

Depression = lost game

Alcohol = enjoying a nice Whisky

happy.png

Avatar of SpeckledGrill
RainerOR14 wrote:

I do not think so

Drug = smoking a nice cigar

Depression = lost game

Alcohol = enjoying a nice Whisky

 

Some people say alcohol is a drug... whisky’s not a drug it’s a drink!

Avatar of annacarvalhoo

Well, really smart people often get addictions. They use substances to help themselves concentrate better and find inspiration. 
They are human like us, and substances might help them withstand the constant emotional pressure. Anyways, it’s true – there are players addicted to substances, but not all of them are. And the ones that do have an addiction should get help.
Honestly, I don’t know why they are tested because the substances don’t help them play better. Also, according to https://www.outlookindia.com/outlook-spotlight/best-synthetic-urine-to-pass-a-drug-test-fake-urine-reviews-usage-guide-news-232871, it’s not that difficult to cheat such a test. 

Avatar of xFallesafe
I’m not aware of any evidence that chess players struggle with addiction more or less than anyone else. But I do. So I can only speak for myself. I do everything addictively. If something makes me feel good, I’ll do it until it hurts (no matter what it is).

And I really don’t like the game of chess very much. But I do chess puzzles in an absolutely addictive way. I’ve had ~4 different accounts over the last six or so years. And I’ve EASILY done over 60,000 tactics puzzles across those various accounts.

Addicts can’t process emotions and they want to feel emotionally high and/or manic all the time. If there’s any discomfort, they want to change it instantly. So chess plays heavily into the procrastination I engage in when I’m supposed to be doing something important or useful that I don’t want to do. Instead… I’ll just sit down and solve tactics puzzles until my head and eyes hurt. Then I’ll put an ice pack on my head and keep solving them. Then it will get warm, and I’ll grab another ice pack and continue.

The funny thing is that you’ll continue chasing addictions even after they stop working and producing the desired effect. For example, I couldn’t care less about chess, don’t want to even look at tactics puzzles, and can’t make myself focus because I’m sick to death of looking at chess boards. But here I still am.😂 That’s exactly how it is with all my other, more serious addictions too.

But Is it actually true that addiction is more prevalent among chess players? I don’t know.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HUngLgGRJpo
Avatar of Vegosiux

Same reasons other humans also have these problems.

Avatar of Ice

I remember hearing a quote about chess that said something like chess doesn't drive people mad, but helps keep the mad sane. At the end of the day, it's a game and like any other game, it provides a bit of an escape.

Avatar of DreamscapeHorizons

Avatar of Sadlone

Alcohol is good for imaginative attacking players, it reduces inhibition to sacrifice pieces, the two most imaginative attackers of all time Alekhine and tal were both alcoholics , depression hits when 50 ℅ or more of your self image and ego is dependent on your chess strength and results , when playing strength declines due to age then depression takes over, mind enhancing drugs may be effective for a few hours like caffeine and nicotine and may help concentration during a game but don't do much in increasing ability