Sports vs. Your Relationship: Are you an addict?

By Rebecca Ahdoot on November 4, 2013

Last year during the NBA playoffs I was listening to the radio on my way to dinner. A female caller called in and complained about a mistress affecting her relationship.

Basketball.

Her boyfriend was a huge Lakers fan and was completely on edge the entire season. After games she began noticing different patterns from him. After the Lakers won, her boyfriend was affectionate, and wanted to be around her. When they lost, however, he lashed out and acted as if she wasn’t in the room.

My boyfriend at the time was sitting next to me and he said, “This reminds me of you.” We both laughed. It’s true.

When my team wins, I’m happy, even ecstatic. And when they lose, it’s best you don’t talk to me at all.

While I don’t think my situation is as serious as others, it’s become a real issue in some homes.

It’s important to understand that there is a difference between a sports fan and an addict.

In a recent study, Josh Klapow, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the School of Public Health, pointed out that football, along with any other sport could easily become an addiction.

“It’s not how much time you spend watching football that matters, it’s whether or not that it’s causing negative behaviors in your life. Whether it’s 10 hours per week or 40, the issue is its effect on your real-life obligations,” he explained.

If you’re not sure where you fit check out some of these guidelines Klapow comes up with to detect a overly obsessed sports fanatic.

  • Thinking about football while doing other things.
  • Becoming irritated when a game is interrupted.
  • Missing important family or other events to watch a game.
  • Becoming depressed, angry or violent when a certain team loses.

For the people who are in a relationship with a sports addict there is an online thread titled “Sports affecting your relationship?” which allows people to discuss and get things out.

In an article titled,“He Loves Sports More Than Me” written by Cynthia Hanson, a women from New York City talks about her struggles of marrying a man who is obsessed with sports.

“Every night Carlos flops on the sofa, flips on the TV, and watches a game until bedtime. He’s so crazy about our hometown teams — the Yankees, the Knicks, the Giants — that he screams obscenities if the referee makes a bad call, dances around the living room if his team makes a good play, and calls his friends to rant and rave while the game is in progress.”

Sound familiar, anyone?

Athletes, next time you want to miss a free throw or fumble the ball, just remember some relationships depend on it.

 

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