I’m guessing that anyone reading this post knows someone who has be touched by addiction. Having worked in social services and community corrections my entire career, the majority of the individuals that I’ve helped had some form or addiction.

The prevalence of persons battling addiction continues to grow. Recent statistics suggest that close to 20 million Americans battle a substance use disorder. Research is finding that the comorbidity, (having more than one mental or physical illness, of substance addiction, mental health condition or a behavior addiction is becoming more and more prevalent. But since this is a newer diagnosis, the research is just beginning.

Defining addiction isn’t as clear

When one hears the word addiction you immediately connect it to drugs or alcohol addiction. Addiction to a substance, like alcohol, nicotine or meth, has telltale signs of increase in tolerance and withdrawal during the use, plus continued use despite significant negative consequences. This is categorized as a physical dependence.

In more recent decades, however, mental health professionals began to shift their understanding that anything that provides the individual with a stimulus is capable of becoming addictive. Called behavioral addictions, these are tied to similar negative consequences without the physical dependence of a substance. And not until recently were these behavior addictions included in the DSM-V or the ICD-10.

Behavior addiction isn’t just an bad habit, it can significantly affect your long term cognitive functioning.

If you’ve listened to radio commercials and around a larger city you’ve probably heard at least one advertised. Most common behavior addictions are gambling and/or gaming, sex/love or porn, shopping, and exercising. One small study published in 2020 suggests that behavior addicts displayed more impairments of judgment and higher risk decision-making. What does this mean? The more the brain is negatively dominated by the addiction, the greater the chances of making poor decisions in life (i.e. financial, relational, moral).

Top 5 characteristics of addictive behavior

So back in psychology 101 classes, I was diagnosing everyone, even myself, with every disorder du jour! It became almost humorous until you realize the impact that labeling someone can be (topic for another blog, maybe?) So let’s get to the nitty gritty. What are the top 5 characteristics of addictive behaviors?

1. inability to control, reduce or stop the behavior

2. increase in tolerance levels. meaning they engage in the behavior more frequently or intensely to get the same stimulation

3. difficulty maintaining daily activities, such as relationships, work/school performance, etc

4. becoming irritable, withdrawn or depressed when they cannot engage in the behavior

5. continuation of the behavior even when they have negative consequences, e.g. losing the house due to gambling debts, legal charges or loss of job.

Now what?

The good news is that behavior addictions are treatable. Addiction develops when we feed that reward center of our brain and the dopamine rush occurs. A behavior chain occurs and repeats, because a neural pathway superhighway has been built that only X behavior will provide the elation and satisfaction. The most effective way to address additive behaviors is through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT is a process of recognizing unhealthy or harmful thinking, releasing the physical urge that coincides, and replacing the thoughts with healthier and safer alternatives, thus creating a new behavior chain. It is a process, it is doable. If you or someone you know is experiencing behaviors that may fall into a behavior addiction, reach out to a mental health professional for help.

Be Well.