In this article I describe those caught up in an increasingly common but worrying phenomenon, that of addictive states of mind, seen, for example, in obsessional use of video games or pornography. While the contemporary world has exacerbated the risks, addictive traits often originate in attempts to escape from an inner pain or deadness towards the false promise offered by the object of addiction. The article offers a different view of the dopaminergic system. It also looks at how the contemporary world is posing new challenges for people who have developed with such a propensity, and we will see how those prone to addictive states of mind struggle to bear certain emotional states, finding them overwhelming, and instead reach for a solution via their addiction.