Behavioral addictions are often referred to as process addictions or non-substance addictions. This type of addiction can result in many of the same adverse effects as drug and alcohol addictions Furthermore, like drug addiction, behavioral addictions are associated with impulse control. Impulses cause an individual to engage in behaviors compulsively. As a result, this can lead to negative personal consequences that will severely affect a person’s life. Understanding behavioral addictions is vital to providing effective treatment.
Most behavioral addictions are activities in which people participate on a regular and sometimes infrequent basis. For the most part, these behaviors cause extreme unmanageability. Regardless of which behavior a person can’t stop engaging in, overcoming this type of condition usually requires professional behavioral therapy.
When most individuals engage in the behaviors mentioned above, there may be a “rush” or “high” associated with it. A person may be engaging in the behavior to mask difficult emotions, while others simply get addicted to the activity over time. However, not everyone who gambles or plays video games is going to display compulsive and uncontrollable repetition of the behavior. Instead, there are several signs of behavioral addiction, many of which are parallel to the symptoms of drug and alcohol addiction.
The signs of behavioral and substance addictions are very similar in nature. By definition, an addiction is the state of enslavement to a habit or practice of something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. In behavioral addiction, contrary to some substance dependence, it is the psychological dependence that creates the addiction and related compulsive behaviors.
- Obsession, or constant thoughts of the behavior.
- Continuation of the behavior despite adverse consequences, risky situations, and poor performance of responsibilities.
- Compulsive engagement of the behavior or inability to stop despite a desire to quit.
- Cessation of the behavior causes irritability, cravings to resume the behavior, restlessness, and depression.
- Denial of addiction and issues resulting from the behavior.
- Concealment of the behavior from family and others close to the addict.
- Amnesia regarding the behavior.
- Depression, even when engaging in the behaviors.
Most of these signs are indicative of addiction, regardless of the subject, substances or behaviors.
How Do Behaviors Become Addictive?
When people engage in pleasurable or risky behaviors, they experience an immediate response of either euphoria or an adrenaline rush. When people feel a rush of euphoria surrounding any particular activity, the repetition of that activity is reinforced. This is through the stimulation of survival instincts like eating and having sex. Necessary for sustenance and procreation, eating and sex are a vital part of human survival. However, the stimulus and immediate reward resulting from engaging in these activities are addictive for some.
The release of dopamine in the brain produces the euphoric effects one feels when doing things like eating and having sex. As with drug addiction, when dopamine is released at higher than normal levels, the reinforcement to repeat the behavior is more significant. Natural behaviors like eating and having sex produce lower levels of euphoria than those associated with drug addiction. However, the behavior is intoxicatingly addictive for many people who suffer from behavioral addictions.
Understanding Behavioral Addictions is Vital to Effective Treatment
Other behaviors like gambling, gaming, cutting, and shopping carry with them a risk that produces adrenaline (epinephrine) rush, which also stimulates dopamine release. Responsible for the “fight or flight” mode associated with stressful or exciting activities, an adrenaline rush may cause one to experience things like rapid heart rate, sweating, increased heart rate, and dilation of pupils. Some of these effects are mildly similar to those produced by stimulant drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. An adrenaline rush acts as the body’s natural stimulant to prepare itself for action. Often, this feeling can be addictive for many people, even those who are not considered to be addicts. For example, “adrenaline junkies,” are individuals who seek out risky thrills like skydiving.
Everyone wants to do things that produce pleasure, as it is a part of human nature. Also, it’s a part of the brain’s natural reward process to encourage life-sustaining habits. This process is usually not problematic. However, those who are at risk for addiction and compulsive behavior often quickly develop addictions to seemingly normal behaviors.
Who is at Risk for Behavioral Addictions?
Over the course of an individual’s lifetime, he or she will likely engage in many activities that are common subjects of addiction, like shopping, having sex, using the internet, gambling, and eating. The process of classifying those who are more at risk for developing behavioral addictions is similar to that of analyzing why some people who drink alcohol or use drugs become addicted, and others do not.
Low Self-Esteem
Often, when an individual does not feel his or her self-value, and worthiness for health and happiness, addictive behaviors provide a sense of power, relief, and euphoria. When suffering from low self-esteem, happiness is obtained from outside sources, rather than from within. It opens the door for a sense of higher reward when engaging in pleasurable and exciting behaviors. However, engaging in destructive and addictive habits usually worsens a person’s self-esteem in the long run.
Trauma, Loss, and Guilt
Repressed childhood trauma, loss of a loved one, or guilt can devastate lives when left unaddressed. While the cause of the turmoil is often identifiable by an individual, it is often easier to “escape” the resulting pain and depression rather than address and process the cause. When this happens with any person, he or she is more susceptible to an addiction of all kinds, as there is a constant desire to escape the reality of the trauma. As with drug addiction, escaping emotions isn’t healthy, and only exacerbates these problems in the long term.
Poor Social and Communication Skills
The most effective means of problem solving and survival is communication. As life-sustaining skills, socialization and communication are inherent to human survival. Without developed communication skills, the ability to solve problems, and cope with life’s stressors, finding the path to happiness becomes difficult. Lack of skills to properly communicate and socialize deteriorates self-esteem. Additionally, this causes problems and stress to be internalized with no outlet. Living in such a state can quickly lead to the compulsive engagement of isolating behaviors. For example, these behaviors include gambling, gaming, internet usage, and cutting.
Find Help for Behavioral Addictions Today
When an individual suffers from addiction, there is typically an underlying cause. Like with drugs and alcohol, the most effective means of overcoming addiction is to get to the underlying causes and conditions. Once you identify these and become more aware of your triggers, you can begin to implement healthier coping mechanisms that will improve your quality of life.
At A Forever Recovery, we understand that addiction is most often a symptom of underlying issues. These issues may drive a person to engage in destructive behaviors compulsively. This is why it is imperative to treat the individual and heal the mind, body, and spirit, facilitating the necessary empowerment and awareness to reclaim a happy and healthy life. Our United States treatment program is rooted in cognitive behavioral therapies to help achieve these goals, making for a lifestyle free from behavioral or substance addictions.
Any behavior can be addictive and dangerous when a person loses control of his or her impulses. Understanding this gives significant insight into the importance of healing the individual.
If you or a loved one is suffering from a behavioral addiction, please call us now at our toll-free number to speak with one of our trained counselors. We understand how hopeless addiction feels. Call now to learn more about understanding and treating behavioral addictions.