What’s your ADDICTION?
Are we all addicted to something?
If yes...what are YOU addicted to?
Most people immediately think about drug, alcohol or nicotine addiction. However, this topic is much more complex than it seems.
Today we can hear the term “addiction” everywhere:
- I’m addicted to Netflix
- I’m addicted to FaceBook, Instagram or other social media
- I’m addicted to coffee
- I’m addicted to my abusive spouse (relationship addiction)
- I’m addicted to chocolate....
- I’m addicted to my smartphone
- I’m addicted to online shopping
- I’m addicted to sex
- I’m addicted to exercise
- I’m addicted to botox, plastic surgery, etc.
Everyone is addicted?
It sounds almost like a philosophical question about human nature and human condition.
Today, scientists classify addiction as a disease that affects the brain, not a personal failing or choice. You feel like you can’t live without it anymore. It becomes almost a matter of life and death because it rewires the brain structure, in consequence, it changes the way the brain works.
Most experts talk about two types of addiction:
1. Chemical addiction (substance disorder): alcohol, nicotine, drugs
2. Behavioral addiction (non-substance behavior): compulsive behaviors
We’ve heard a lot about the first one but what about the second one (behavioral addiction)?
There’s some sort of disagreement around the concept of behavioral addiction.
Today, DCM-5 (American Psychiatric Association) recognizes only 2 behavioral addictions:
- Gambling
- Internet gaming disorder
Most medical experts agree that some behaviors can become very problematic over the time. Growing evidence suggests that behavioral addictions are pretty similar to substance addictions in many domains. But experts don't know yet how far those similarities go. They don't have official diagnostic criteria.
However, what are some general signs of a potential behavioral addiction?
According to hearthline.com:
-spending large amounts of time engaging in the behavior
-urges to engage in the behavior even if it negatively affects daily life, responsibilities, or relationships
- using the behavior to manage unwanted emotions
- hiding the behavior or lying to other people about time spent on it
- difficulty avoiding the behavior
- irritability, restlessness, anxiety, depression, or other withdrawal symptoms when attempting to quit
- feeling compelled to continue the behavior even when it causes distress
Would you like to know more about some of them?
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