On Knuckle Popping (an Addiction)

There aren't too many things that are more frustrating than having a knuckle that needs to be popped and being unable to do so. For instance, my right middle finger desperately wants to be popped, and I've tried my hardest to do so, but I just can't seem to get it to do it exactly right. Somehow I manage to pop it, but not where I need to pop it. I twist, pull, yank, turn, and bend, but no sweet release. There is no cavitation.

Many of you may not know this, but I am slightly OCD about popping knuckles and joints. I can pop my neck, back, knees, elbows, fingers, shoulders, and practically anything else that needs popping on my own. I can pop my wrist, right ankle, and right 2nd toe at will, and as many times as I like. With my wrist I can actually see the bone moving and a loud SNAP comes with every turn. Once I start the popping process, I can't stop. I have to follow through, and in a certain pattern and method. Interlock fingers, extend arms, extend hands, relax. Tuck thumbs under fingers, pop, tuck index fingers under thumbs, pop, tuck middle under thumbs, pop, tuck ring fingers under thumbs, pop, and tuck pinkies under thumbs and pop. Stretch all ten fingers wide and as far as they go, bend all at first joints, pop, make fists, squeeze, pop. Rest. Repeat, if necessary. It's a knuckle popping extravaganza!

But why do I feel compelled to pop my joints? It's maddening, and I've tried to quit many times, but my resolve often fails after a few week minutes (or seconds) of resisting. Just thinking about quitting makes me want to pop my knuckles. Seeing someone popping makes me want to pop. Talking about it makes me want to pop. Yes, friends, I confess: I am addicted to popping my knuckles. I do it because I can, and because I always have. But I'm not entirely sure I want to.

There are benefits to this addiction, such as a +1 Dexterity and +1 Luck, but there's also the bad side: -2 Psyche and -1 Annoying. Nevertheless, I am forever bound to this addiction. I shudder to imagine what would happen if my arms were broke and I was unable to move and pop. I'd be miserable. Thankfully, I'm whole and healthy, except for the physiological addiction.