Behavioral Addictions: Little Known Addictions That Create A Big Impact

May 27, 2011
Written by Wendy Innes in
Focus on Health
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Behavioral addictions can include any excessive type of activity.

Addiction is defined as being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. This is a rather broad definition, as most of us immediately think of drugs or alcohol when we think of addiction.


But other addictions are just as harmful to an addict and their loved ones. Behavioral addictions are often harder to cope with than chemical addictions because these addictions include things done in everyday life.


Pinpointing a behavioral addiction poses a particular challenge to mental health professionals. Only recently has the DSM-5, essentially the bible of the mental health profession, begun to consider recognizing behavioral addictions, but the primary addiction they are considering is gambling. Some in the mental health field believe that giving credence to behavioral addiction is a slippery slope because by recognizing behavior as an addiction might give a person an excuse to keep performing the compulsive behavior.


First, it is imperative to recognize what is not an addiction, such as labeling someone as an addict for a certain behavior, but that behavior does not impair their normal daily functions. For addicts, doing something that “feels good at the time,” but results in a negative consequence, does not prevent them from trying it again. The drive behind addiction is the compulsion to continue the behavior, often to the point that it significantly impairs one’s ability to function in daily life.


Addicts feel an increasing loss of control, and eventually achieve no pleasure from the act.


While it is possible for a person to become addicted to nearly anything, some behavioral addictions occur with little forewarning. All addictive behavior directly satisfies the same pleasure centers of the brain, regardless of whether it causes a physical or mental high. However, as with drugs or alcohol, over time, the “high” becomes increasingly harder to achieve, which prompts the addict to escalate the behavior.


It is a basic biological fact that sex is necessary for the procreation of the human species. It’s a natural part of romantic relationships. The problem is that sex can also have unintended or negative consequences, such as unexpected pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, some of which are incurable and deadly. So what is the difference between a person who enjoys a lot of sex and a sex addict? The difference is that the sex addict will take increasing risks, despite the threat of deadly disease or legal trouble, to find the “high” they are looking for. This can progress from compulsive masturbation to committing crimes like prostitution, where there is no need for any intimate feelings associated with the act.


altAs humans’, food is a necessity, but most people eat when hungry, and stop eating when full. However, for some people, food is a way to cope with emotional and mental stress, which may lead to dangerous health conditions and even death. Persons with eating disorders often face a multitude of problems, including obesity, difficulty breathing, high blood pressure, diabetes, and limited mobility.


As with any addict, getting help is often not a willing choice, and in many instances, residential treatment is the last resort in helping the individual overcome the addiction by dealing with the underlying mental health issues associated with conditions like as anorexia and bulimia.


Shopping, a necessary activity to obtain the things needed to function in everyday life. But what happens when it becomes an addiction that leads to financial ruin and criminal activity? Often, “retail therapy” occurs when someone feels stressed or depressed. The act of buying something lifts the person’s spirits, at least for the short-term. At face value, there is nothing wrong with this, but for an addictive personality, it leads to over spending, which in turn, leads to new levels of stress and depression. The cycle continues until someone or something, such as the law, forces the addict to stop.


Gambling is another cause of significant financial distress in American society, especially with casinos popping up everywhere. Although initially a fun activity, gambling as an addiction is a compulsion to recreate the rush of winning.


Treatment for behavioral addiction is available at inpatient and outpatient facilities, and often includes psychotherapy to identify and deal with the underlying causes of the addiction. Other measures may include anti-depressive and/or anti-anxiety medication.


The biggest obstacle in the treatment of any addiction is getting the addict to accept that there is a problem, and they need help. Even when the addict accepts help, there is a high risk of relapse, and this is even more difficult for those with an addiction to food, shopping, and sex, because the addict cannot simply remove themselves from the negative temptations. Instead, addicts must learn to manage these things in a healthy way.



Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/guide/sexual-addiction
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/qna.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/food-addiction-could-it-e_b_...
http://www.psychologytoday.com/print/40086
http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/addiction-types/behavioral-addiction/in...
 

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Comments

Addictions

Submitted by UCCS-8F11-12 on

There are so many addictions that can be held today in our society, but the one that sticks out most to me is obesity and the addiction to food. Our country is in an obesity epidemic right now, as most of the people in our country are overweight. People hold food as an idol and have not learned how to control themselves when eating. This article above mentioned that addictions affect our everyday life, and this is definitely true with obesity. Those who are obese have a hard time mobilizing, have diseases and carry a very low self-esteem. Food is not that great that we need to indulge further than the point of being full. It is important that our country take a stand against obesity as it is taking the lives of many people in our country, including many young children.

Behavioral addiction is

Submitted by ved12 on

Behavioral addiction is totally damage our mental health. It is more dangerous than drug addiction and very hard to cure. This is really the challenging task for mental health professionals to cure it.
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Food Addiction