Addiction is classified as “the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity.“

Behavioural addiction, also known as process addiction, involves compulsive engagement in activities that provide a sense of reward or relief despite adverse consequences.

Unlike substance use disorder, which centres on chemical dependency, behavioural addictions revolve around actions that can be just as harmful and difficult to overcome. While they may not involve introducing substances or chemicals into the body, a chemical reaction still occurs within the brain.

Dopamine, a naturally occurring chemical in the brain, activation is part of the addiction process, where it creates addictive properties associated with certain behaviours. 

There are three stages to the dopamine reward system:

Bursts of dopamine | Triggering of behaviour | Further impact on the behaviour

Once the behaviour is triggered, working away from the dopamine reward system is challenging.

As with substance abuse disorders, including drug addiction and alcohol abuse, there is a connection between addiction and mental health disorders. Therefore, there are treatment options available for treating behavioural addiction.

THE EFFECTS OF BEHAVIOURAL ADDICTION

COMMON TYPES OF BEHAVIOURAL ADDICTIONS

INTRODUCTION TO BEHAVIOURAL ADDICTION

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, commonly referred to as the DSM-5, recognises a variety of disorders or behavioural addictions. Some behavioural addictions include:

Gambling Disorder

Is the compulsive need to gamble, despite knowing the risk factors involved with pathological gambling. Problem gambling was one of the first non-substance addictions listed in the DSM-5.
Click here to read more about Gambling Disorder.

Internet Addiction Disorder

Also known as problematic internet use or pathological internet use, it also extends to social media addiction. This type of addiction is usually seen in adolescents and young adults.

Physical manifestations encompass a compromised immune system resulting from insufficient sleep, reduced physical activity, a heightened likelihood of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, and strain on the eyes and back.

Gaming Addiction Disorder

This type of addiction also usually affects the younger generation, and consequences over a prolonged period of time may be pretty severe. Studies have shown that this addiction can result in significant impairment to an individual’s ability to function in various areas of everyday life.

Sex & Pornography Addiction Disorder

Sex addiction involves risky, compulsive sexual behaviour that can have a severe impact on the sufferer’s physical and mental health. Negative health issues include sexually transmitted diseases, like HIV, which is a lifelong condition that requires ongoing treatment. A porn addiction can interfere with, and ruin, relationships.
Click here to read more about pornography addiction.

Shopping Addiction Disorder

This compulsive behaviour can have negative consequences on an individual’s financial situation. This addiction may even impact their family, leading to depression and anxiety as they try to make ends meet. Compulsive shopping requires a treatment plan that uncovers the psychological reasoning behind this dependence.

Exercise Addiction

Excessive exercising is an obsessive, compulsive need to train hard and often, even through injury, and it can have a negative impact on interpersonal relationships. This addiction and eating disorders usually go hand in hand.

Food Addiction

Defined as a compulsion to overeat or binge eat unhealthy foods consistently, this addiction often leads to obesity and severe adverse health complications. Underlying mental health conditions are usually the reason for this type of dependence or addiction. Without treatment, the food addictions become worse and more challenging to treat.

TREATMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL ADDICTIONS

Cognitive behavioural therapy is an effective addiction treatment. As with drug and alcohol addictions, it’s essential to get to the underlying root cause of the specific behavioural addictions.

Behavioural addictions are complex and require an intensive treatment program. As with substance addictions, it’s of utmost importance to seek treatment.

Recovery from Home, with its team of addiction specialists, offers comprehensive, individualised treatment of addiction or impulse control disorders from the privacy and comfort of your own home. We’ll help you work through withdrawal symptoms and offer post-treatment assistance.

It has an impressive response to treatment through its at-home program. Inpatient rehab facilities require that you are kept away from your triggers while in recovery. In contrast, research indicates that facing your triggers while you recover has a higher chance of success. That is why Recovery from Home offers specialised outpatient treatments.

IMPACT OF BEHAVIOURAL ADDICTION