It’s a happy compulsion, a relief sought constantly. The hours are defined to patterns — with gestures repeated and words offered until a smile is formed. A ritual is created. It’s your answer to a long day, an outlet to battle stress and confusion. You’ve developed a way to numb your worries: it’s a careful combination of salty treats, wireless connections and streaming videos. You devote hours to the online world, snacking mindlessly and searching the Internet (with no cause beyond laughter). There is, you’re certain, no harm in this. It allows you to simply unwind.

It allows you also, however, to partake in a soft addiction.

The notion of the soft addiction is uncommon among the masses, even as it’s experienced by many. Simply defined: this is a behavior that offers no physical harm but is instead a mental burden, allowing individuals to avoid their concerns by spending excessive amounts of time performing specific activities (such as watching television, shopping or posting to forums).

These activities are not — in moderated forms — considered dangerous. When channeled into repetitions, however, they can be deemed addictions. And they must therefore be addressed.

The soft addiction is one many dismiss. Its points are valid, however — with individuals becoming consumed to hobbies that offer no stimulation and no tangible rewards. These behaviors suppress neurological success, often causing thoughts to become sluggish and energy to weaken (which can directly affect emotions). It’s imperative therefore that they be recognized.

Disease is a dangerous word — and one too few wish to offer to this type of compulsion. The soft addiction is a concern, however, and must be countered.