An addiction is dependence on a substance or activity to the extent that normal, healthy functioning is impaired. Activity addictions, sometimes considered to be behavioral addictions are often believed to be commodities of substance abuse. The essential feature of behavioral addictions is the failure to resist an impulse, drive or temptation to perform an act that is harmful to the person or to others
Behavioral Addictions or non-substance addictions like:
- Eating (Food)
- Gaming
- Plastic Surgery/Tattoos
- Sex
- Exercise
- Social Media/Internet
- Gambling
- Shopping
- Pornography
Are sets of behavior that a person becomes dependent on and craves. Certain behaviors or actions produce a strong reinforcement in the brain that makes us want to do the actions over and over again. The idea behind this is that someone feels the symptoms of addiction like calmness and euphoria but not from a substance.
Are sets of behavior that a person becomes dependent on and craves. Certain behaviors or actions produce a strong reinforcement in the brain that makes us want to do the actions over and over again. The idea behind this is that someone feels the symptoms of addiction like calmness and euphoria but not from a substance.
- One struggles with dependence and continuous use as a consequence of the behavior and/or the inability to stop the behavior
- Difficulties in significant relationships at home and in some cases at work because the behavior is so disruptive
- Experiencing other negative consequences that are directly caused by the behavior. E.g. losing every asset to gambling.
- Spending majority of time doing, thinking or recovering from the effects of that specific behavior
- Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal (e.g. depression/irritability) when trying to stop
- Minimizing or hiding the extent of the problem
Behavioral addictions can be treated with the help of centers that incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Expressive Therapy in order to build alternatives for addictive behavior.