Behavioural Addictions

What is a Behavioural Addiction?

Behavioural addiction is a compulsive, routine reaction to a positive stimulus; such stimulus can be an object, an experience, a memory, an emotion, or an activity.

Influencing stimuli entice and fulfil the internal rewards system, offering positive feelings which reinforce the need for consistent exposure.

Unlike addiction, which is driven by physical consumption, behavioural addictions are motivated by psychological consumption. Individuals with such addictions will feel the need to be exposed to positively viewed stimulants to feel ideologies of emotions.

For example, exercise increases motivation and happy chemicals and elevates mood. This is common knowledge, yet experiences of it also deliver such reliability. As exposure to those feelings is encountered, exercise levels will be increased to encounter them again and again.

It’s clear how addictive activities and experiences can be when paired with uplifting emotions, especially for those with pre-existing vulnerabilities influencing an exercise addiction.

The realism of behavioural addictions can be extremely challenging to live through, as behaviours, personalities, attitudes, and outlooks become consumed by influential stimuli.

Life becomes engulfed by the source itself, turning a once hobby or irregular experience into a routine-like habit, recognised as behavioural addictions. Some individuals can be at greater risk of fixating on experiences or activities, defined as behavioural addictions.

Those who have encountered trauma, self-esteem issues, unrealistic ideas of reality, unhealthy lifestyles, thrive off false senses of security, and encounter mental health issues are all vulnerable.

Types of Behavioural Addictions

There are many different types of behavioural addictions, as any given stimuli can be addictive where emotional responses are provided in turn of exposure.

However, common behavioural addictions can be serious, life-limiting conditions if allowed to continue.

Internet Addiction: Feeling fixated on online connectivity, to virtual personas, comparing the lives of others, to scrolling through online content, and to the 24/7 outlet of activity.

Internet addiction can result in obsessive behaviours, along with mental health vulnerabilities.

Shopping Addiction: A shopping addiction can be detrimental to the quality of life, where financial and legal implications are common.

Impulsive shopping is common, even when consequences are present.

Sex Addiction: A sex addiction usually results from a lack of connectivity, trauma, detachment, and abandonment.

It’s one of many misunderstood behavioural addictions, which can be highly damaging to relationships, personal self-esteem, and mental health.

Plastic Surgery Addiction: Being addicted to adapting personal image is very unhealthy, controlled by the obsessive behavioural addiction of plastic surgery fixation.

The fulfilment that such changes can make can trigger excessive emotional responses, driving ongoing surgery.

Gambling Addiction: Gambling is a dangerous activity, down to the spiralling emotions it causes. Through positive exposure, a behavioural addiction can soon develop, to again experience the highs, even amidst the lows.

There are further behavioural addictions to consider, which can also be very damaging.

Warning Signs of Habitual Behaviours

Each behavioural addiction will carry its own warning signs. However, some commonalities across the board should be taken seriously, indicating the development of habitual behaviour.

• A rapid change in behaviours
• Frantic mood changes
• Relief through exposure to objects, experiences, activities, or emotions
• Mental health struggles
• Feelings of chasing positive feelings or reinforcers
• Using addictive stimuli as coping strategies
• Leading unhealthy, obsessive routines
• Requiring exposure to addictive stimuli to lead an everyday life
• The negative side effects of such actions aren’t fulfilled

Ultimately, a change in behaviour and response to stimuli indicates behavioural addictions. You may personally struggle to notice such changes yourself. If you do or encounter the concerns of others, considering behavioural addiction treatment will be recommended.

Treating Behavioural Addictions

Treating behavioural addictions will be approached with sensitivity, compassion, and personalisation. Each addiction type is different, as is each client; assessments will be required to understand the depth and motivators behind behavioural addictions.

The treatment aims to detox clients from exposure to influential stimuli while also changing outlooks on the consumption of such stimuli.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behavioural therapy, stress management, support groups, exposure therapy, motivational therapy, educational sessions, lifestyle management, mindfulness and dual diagnosis treatment are prevalent when treating behavioural addictions.

Exact forms and degrees will all depend on the nature of addiction, including the behaviours and emotions linked to stimuli.

Managing Behavioural Addictions

Rehab itself will help to educate and treat clients through behavioural addictions. However, as emotional responses drive addictions, management must be in place, as emotions can resurface.

Relapse prevention planning, lifestyle management, and ongoing therapy will help manage potential triggers of behavioural responses and curb relapse risks.

Confidential support and treatment are available to guide clients through behavioural addiction recovery depending on personal needs and addiction types.

Behavioural addictions are different to stereotypical views of addiction. They are uncontrollable, materialise from our human responses, and develop into vulnerabilities.

Greater awareness of their materialisation is required to understand how damaging ongoing behaviour changes can be.