DR. WALLACE: I feel like a fish out of water! Our family moved from the northeast part of our country to the Deep South, and it has been a very hard adjustment for me to make.

I'm currently a sophomore in high school, and everything and everyone is so very different than I was used to at my former school. Up there I had a lot of friends, a comfortable routine and every day seemed easy because I knew where to go, what to do and how to fit in.

Down here people are very nice, so don't get me wrong, nobody is bullying me or making me feel like an outcast. But their style of living is slower, more laid back and easy going than I was used to. Back at my old school, life seemed to rush at me at a frantic pace, and I enjoyed the challenge of trying to keep up with everything going on around me socially plus keeping up with all of my school work.

But here, there's no rush, no fast-paced "conveyor belt" to keep with, so I often find that I have these blocks of free time that I don't know exactly what to do with. Yes, I'm a bit bored, but I'll admit the scenery here is awesome, even in the wintertime.

I'll be at this high school for three more years since my parents both have important new jobs in this area. I do have two younger siblings, but they are only in the second and fourth grades, so the transition has not been too rough on them at all. In fact, I think they like their new school and new friends a lot. I wish I was so lucky. What can I do to pick up the pace of my life before I look up one day and see myself off to college? I want my high school years to be enjoyable. — It's So Different Here, via email

IT'S SO DIFFERENT HERE: You're actually lucky in my estimation! To be able to live in and experience different parts of our great nation is a good thing. However, I do also understand that you are experiencing a somewhat unsettling transition from what you were used to at your previous high school.

I suggest that you take some time to think about what you used to like to do with your free time in your former hometown. Think about hobbies, activities and outings that you truly enjoyed. Then seek out similar opportunities to pursue those activities in your new home area.

There are many great people who share at least some of your interests, and if you can find ways to engage in a few of your hobbies in your local area, I trust it won't take long until you make a few new friends on this basis.

Socializing is the key for you at this point. Getting to regularly talk to and share stories with a few new friends will make a world of difference in how you'll soon feel. A part of your present boredom likely stems from not yet having good friends to regularly share time with, thus you have more free time or alone time than you were used to.

I've been fortunate enough to travel all across our country in my lifetime, and many of my fondest memories are those in which I spent time with fellow citizens from all walks of life in every single region of our nation. Be bold and proactive, even starting out in small increments.

Get involved in a few activities at your school, but also seek out other opportunities to meet new people in other parts of your city. Over time you will be introduced to many new people and some will eventually become good friends of yours. There's a phrase called "Southern hospitality" that is often used because it rings so true. Tap into your local community with your free time, and you'll soon be more than busy with a full social calendar to compliment your academic responsibilities.

WHAT IS ADDICTION ACTUALLY LIKE?

DR. WALLACE: I'm a young teenager as I've just had my 14th birthday recently. I have three older siblings, and I'm the youngest in our family.

I often hear my older brothers talking with my parents about different kinds of addictions, such as addictions to drugs or alcohol. I've never taken any kind of drug and I have also never drunk even one drop of alcohol and I don't plan to do either at any point in my life.

Hearing all of this talk does make me curious. What exactly causes an addiction and how do addicted people feel when they are actually addicted? — Curious About This, via email

CURIOUS ABOUT THIS: Addictions crop up for various reasons, usually to fill a void a person feels or due to regular exposure to substances that soon spiral out of control.

A person can be considered addicted when they feel they can't do without a drug, a drink or even an activity that brings them the feelings of escape or relaxation they seek. Addicts crave the source of their addiction and will often do just about anything to continue their addicted behavior.

Sadly, many addicted persons would like to escape their addictions but find it very hard to do with only intermittent or casual efforts. To truly escape an addiction takes a solid desire to do so coupled with a lot of hard work to stay away from the thing that previously controlled them.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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