Wondering whether your metal detecting hobby has now developed into a full-blown addiction problem? Perhaps you don’t realise that you have a ‘condition’ and you need support. We have identified 10 signs you may have a problem in our humorous article.
Disclaimer: The symptoms of a ‘metal detecting addiction’ vary according to the individual and the machines they are using. There are however, a number of classic signs that are common to most people and specific detector dependencies.
Signs of Metal Detecting Addiction
Check these out below:
1 – MOOD SWINGS – Individuals who are addicted to detecting are prone to sudden mood swings depending upon whether or not they have obtained the necessary permissions … and that includes from your ‘better half’!
2 – DEPRESSION – During the ‘lows’ of addiction, many individuals will fall into a deep depression as they ponder their situation, and even start making abusive posts on Detecting Forums or Facebook groups.
3 – SLEEPLESSNESS – Be aware that many individuals who are addicted to detecting may find it difficult to sleep the night before a dig. If it impinges on your domestic arrangements, some may suggest that their partner sleeps in another bed.
4 – ANXIETY – It is true that almost every addiction causes some form of anxiety in the user. Whether it is nervous behaviour caused by the hobby itself, or concern over finding the next good find, anxiety remains one of the hallmark symptoms of metal detecting.
5 – CHANGE IN APPEARANCE – Men and women who are addicted often look ‘different’ than before they started the hobby. They take to wearing camouflage clothing and have a great urge to make themselves invisible to the general populace.
6 – SULKINESS – During adverse weather conditions when detecting is an impossibility you may have ‘withdrawal symptoms’, and find yourself cleaning your friend and fitting a few new coils. Take the opportunity to gain Brownie Points by fixing that leaky tap in the bathroom.
7 – NEW PEERS – Commonly, long-term addicts will begin hanging around with a different peer group. This means that they will often latch on to administrators and staff on Detecting Forums or Facebook groups, agree with everything they say, and become stalkers.
8 – EUPHORIA – Metal detecting addiction can take individuals to points of extreme euphoria – making them seem giddy or elated at socially unacceptable times, like when enjoying a spot of lovemaking. Dreaming that they have just found an Anglo-Saxon hoard can sometimes be an advantage!
9 – CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR – When they are addicted, individuals will do anything to obtain cash. This may include selling rusty bits of metal they have found on eBay and passing them off as genuine nails from Noah’s Ark, or an antique find.
10 – DELUSIONS – After a year of metal detecting and not finding much, the new detectorist (for some inexplicable reason) turns into a wannabe YouTuber and video records every dug hole and duff find. This is often 35 minutes of boring footage punctuated by shaky camerawork punctuated by booms and whistling wind noises assaulting the microphone.
Conclusion
Knowing common addiction signs and symptoms are important! An individual who has an addiction is not likely to reach out for help, or quit on his or her own. Therefore, it is up to loved ones to step in and help them get the life-saving help they desperately need. By knowing what to look for, friends and family will be able to address the situation earlier on in the process – before the addiction has a chance to spiral too far out of control.
