Confessions of a Study-aholic

Leader: Welcome to Study-aholics Anonymous and congratulations to everyone for taking the first step towards healing! To begin, does anybody want to define study-aholism for the group?

Natalie: Is it going over the deep end with studying?

Leader: Very good! To be exact, study-aholism is a disorder common to many college students. While studying is a normal, necessary, and healthy element of college life, often times students become addicted to studying. There are many causes, such as fear, the need for control, and the desire for good grades. Common signs are excessive reclusiveness (usually in the library), midnight pizza cravings, and a constant mumbling of calculus formulas. Well, let’s begin! Natalie, why don’t you tell us your story. Let’s give her some encouragement. [Applause.]

Natalie: Hi everyone, my name is Natalie and I’m a study-aholic.

Everyone: HI NATALIE.

Natalie: I'm a freshman and I've always been an extreme studier, but I suppose the higher expectations at college caused me to become a full-blown study-aholic. It started out slowly—just a few hours in the library every day. But as midterms approached, I found myself practically living there, alone with my books in its silent recesses.

Leader: I think everyone here can relate to that. [Chorus of mumbled agreement.] Remember, we're here to help each other heal. Please continue.

Natalie: The pressure to study took over my life. I studied constantly, even through meals and all night long; I could not stop. I was out of control. Eventually my friends began to notice that I was more than just dedicated and they suspected I was becoming a study-aholic. When I began to plan to make a political theorist mobile that could be hung from a dorm room ceiling, they knew they had to intervene. Thanks to them, I’m here taking the first step toward ending my addiction.

Leader: Thank you for sharing—your story is an inspiration to us all.