Behavioural Addiction
There are plenty of behavioural addictions that can affect an individual throughout their lives, and they are often distinctive from drug addiction because there isn’t actually a physical dependence involved, as there is with drugs. Rather, the dependency tends to be more psychological, where there is a draw to addictive behaviours as the individual constantly chases a ‘high’ where their emotions are boosted and their brain’s reward system is activated.
Below we’ll explore different behavioural addictions, what they are, their possible causes and risk factors, and treatment options if you choose to work with InnerLife Recovery. We’re a residential rehabilitation programme in the heart of Spain that offers support for a range of addictive behaviours, including strictly behavioural addictions.
What is behavioural addiction?
Behavioural addictions are characterised by an impulse to persistently return to a particular behaviour, despite negative consequences for you and those around you. They’re impulse control disorders, which means the individual often feels as though they have no control over their behaviour, and they will return to it as though it were a compulsion despite negative consequences to their:
- health
- finances
- emotions
- relationships
In many ways they are similar to obsessive compulsive disorders. The main thing that sets behavioural addictions apart from substance use disorders is that there’s no physical or substance dependence here, yet there are certain emotional withdrawal symptoms that can occur when tackling these behaviour addictions.
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What is addiction?
Addiction is so often just associated with substance abuse such as alcohol or drugs, but addiction can cover a range of things. There are many examples of behavioural addictions that show a person’s life can be profoundly influenced by problematic behaviours, even when they don’t have a physical addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Ironically, it isn’t drugs, alcohol, or dangerous behaviours that characterise addiction – it’s the emotions a person feels when they aren’t partaking in those things. Often, a cycle of addiction continues because individuals don’t like who they are without taking part in their addictive behaviours. They often struggle with self esteem and self worth issues and their only coping mechanism for those feelings is most commonly reverting back to their addictive behaviour.
The point here is that addiction is about more than just the behaviour or substance; it’s often a deep-rooted emotional issue that substances and behaviours mask. But don’t think that means addictive disorders are only for those with a bad background and a history of poor mental health. Yes, mental disorders can play a part in addiction, but people from all walks of life can suffer with it.
Often drug and alcohol abuse, and in this case addictive behaviours, can offer an escape for an individual, providing them with a momentary high, before they’re left facing emotional difficulties once that high subsides. Then the cycle continues. Emotional and mental health is a huge part of tackling any addiction, but a whole-person holistic approach is often the key that finally unlocks a solution to addictions for many people. Understanding addiction really is about understanding the way it affects a person’s life in every facet.
If you choose to work with InnerLife Recovery you’ll find a team of dedicated professionals with experience in a range of addictive behaviours who are ready to support you at our residential recovery centre and beyond with our excellent aftercare services.
How to spot behavioural addictions
Substance addictions are often easier to spot than behavioural ones, but there are certain symptoms you might notice in yourself or a loved one when a behavioural addiction is present. Some of the key warning signs of behavioural addictions include:
- intense obsession with a particular behaviour
- lots of time spent engaging in said behaviour
- neglecting other responsibilities in favour of the behaviour (social, occupational, recreational, home life, etc)
- continued pursuit of the behaviour despite negative consequences
We’ll talk more about some behavioural addiction examples later, but almost any behaviour can become addictive if left unchecked. For example, gambling, internet addiction, shopping, eating, and more. It’s also important to know that behavioural addictions can affect anybody, regardless of race, age, gender, or background, so if you notice the above symptoms in anybody, you might be dealing with addictive behaviour.
The key to the behaviour being classed as an addiction is that it becomes a compulsion for the individual, activating a response in the brain’s reward system, which can create a challenging cycle that’s difficult to break without the proper professional help.
How are behavioural addictions and substance addictions similar?
Treating behavioural addictions and substance addictions require the same approach, despite being different because no substances are used in behavioural addictions, as they are with a substance use disorder. Both addictions still activate the same parts of the brain, still draw an individual into compulsively doing something they know isn’t good for them or those around them, and both have potentially far-reaching negative consequences.
The key to identifying them is that the behaviour is having a negative effect on their lives, yet the individual still knowingly partakes. The reward system in the brain is being constantly activated by engaging in the behaviours, and this often covers up bigger problems for the individual.
It’s also true, however, that people can develop a behavioural or substance habit which might not necessarily ever develop into addiction, as it’s something they can manage without huge negative consequences and they can stop whenever they choose. Habits can lead to addictions and should be managed closely, but there is a distinction between habits and addictions that is important to understand.
Identifying a genuine behavioural disorder or addiction
It has taken a while for behavioural addictions and disorders to be officially recognised by the wider therapeutic community, but it is slowly being understood and officially categorised to ensure proper treatment and support for individuals suffering with such disorders.
The American Association of Addiction Medicine has studied the similarities of behavioural and substance use disorders, and research suggests the two affect brain structure and function in remarkably similar ways. This research helps raise awareness of the seriousness of behavioural addictions and disorders, and encourages us as therapeutic practitioners to treat behavioural addictions with the nuance and care they deserve.
At InnerLife Recovery we recognise that there are countless behaviours which can become addictive and have a very real, measurable impact upon a person’s brain structure and function, and their wider life. We treat the individual before us, creating an individualised treatment plan for everybody who arrives at our rehabilitation centre.
4 Behavioural Addiction Risk Factors
Whilst having one or all of the following risk factors doesn’t guarantee you or a loved one will develop a behavioural addiction, they are recognised risk factors that can certainly play a part in developing a behavioural disorder. Below we’ll explore 4 key risk factors of behavioural addictions and explain why they are considered risky:
Low self esteem
Individuals with lower self esteem are considered to be at higher risk of developing behavioural addictions because they:
- are more likely to engage in risky behaviours to increase self esteem momentarily
- see less value in themselves so aren’t as affected by negative consequences
- are less phased by destructive behaviours as they don’t care what happens to themselves
- struggle to focus on self improvement
Trauma, loss and guilt
When a person has faced trauma, loss, or extreme feelings of guilt in their life, they can be at higher risk because:
- traumatic experiences have long been understood as an addiction risk
- addictive behaviours can often be a quick fix to avoid pain and guilt
- addictive behaviours can act as an escape from reality for some people
- momentary short term relief from certain behaviours can turn into an addiction
Poor social skills
Those who struggle with social skills and communication can be at greater risk of developing a behavioural addiction or disorder because:
- struggling socially can lead to withdrawal from society and solitary addictive behaviours
- individuals may find communities online that don’t require face to face interaction
- activities that offer rewards without social interactions are often preferred
- it’s easier for online behaviours such as internet browsing, gambling, and shopping to become compulsive when alone
Cultural and social norms
Whilst not often explored, the culture in which a person is raised can be a significant risk factor for developing a behavioural addiction because:
certain media can promote risky behaviours
some cultures prioritise excess which can lead to riskier and riskier behaviours
emphasis on material success can lead to addictions
cultures that build peer pressure can influence addictive behaviours
Types Of Behavioural Addictions And Disorders
Addictive behaviour can vary a lot, which highlights just how common behavioural addictions can be. Various behaviours can impact the brain’s function and structure, and repeated behaviours with increasing intensity can make addiction more likely.
Of course, not everybody who engages in these behaviours will develop an addiction or disorder, but some will, and it’s these individuals that will need support in overcoming their addiction and making significant changes to their lives. We can help there. Let’s explore just some of the addictive behaviours we can help you or a loved one move past below:
Gambling disorder and addictions
Gambling disorder is the only addictive behaviour to be included in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), the leading diagnostic psychiatry manual throughout much of the world. It’s one of the most widely recognised non substance addictions in the world.
It is categorised with the same seriousness as obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, and anxiety, but other behavioural addictions aren’t always treated with the same seriousness at this time by the wider psychiatry community – but it is by our team at InnerLife Recovery.
Gambling behaviour can quickly become addictive for some individuals, as it heavily influences the reward system in the brain. The thrill of risking money on a bet, and then the reward and excitement if you win can have a profound effect on the brain. The intensity of these emotions can lead to some individuals consistently placing higher bets more frequently to chase the high.
The cycle of addiction can also begin out of necessity, where an individual becomes increasingly reliant on winning in order to make back the losses they have incurred. The extreme highs of winning and the intense lows of losing combine to create a powerful effect on the brain that can worsen the addictive cycle. Consequences of gambling can extend beyond just financial difficulties too, affecting work life, relationships, and your mental health.
Sex addiction
Sex addiction, whilst not included in the DSM-5 as with gambling disorder, is one of the more recognised behavioural disorders and addictions. It’s characterised as a compulsive pursuit of sexual gratification.
Whilst enjoying sex and desiring it regularly is healthy for most people, compulsive sexual behaviour is different. The satisfaction felt after engaging in sexual behaviour for these individuals is often short lived and leaves them seeking sex again much sooner than most others. As people addicted to sex fall deeper into their addiction, they engage in riskier and riskier sexual activity, increasing promiscuity and frequency of more taboo sexual activities.
The physical and emotional high of sexual activity activates the reward system in the brain, which can often be a mask for individuals dealing with low self esteem and poor feelings of self worth, making them feel desired and increasing the pleasure they experience. This intense thrill can push individuals further into addiction and hypersexuality. The consequences of a sex addiction can cause physical and mental health problems, risk personal relationships, and lead to dangerous activities.
Porn addiction
Addiction to pornography has been on the rise since access to the internet has become more common. Occasional viewing of pornography most likely isn’t a sign of addiction, despite any moral grey areas you might see there.
What constitutes an addiction to porn is a compulsion for the individual to seek out pornography at the expense of other things such as social relationships and a career, and where it is affecting an individual’s mood negatively.
In this cycle of addiction, an individual can feel an intense high whilst engaging in pornography, but afterwards are often left with extremely negative emotions and guilt. This can negatively affect a person’s wellbeing long term, leading to a desire for more pornography to distract them from their negative thoughts.
Internet addiction
Internet addiction disorder is an emerging behavioural disorder that is still being understood by professionals. However, it’s a very real issue that we’ve come to recognise at InnerLife Recovery.
There are countless cases around the world of individuals spending time on the internet at the expense of other activities. Where social relationships and an individual’s work life are affected because that person is spending so much time on the internet, those behaviours become concerning and could be indicative of a behavioural addiction or disorder.
Constantly spending time on the internet can lead to physical and mental health issues and whilst diagnosing an internet addiction can be incredibly subjective without the proper framework in place, many people who have come to us to tackle internet addiction have done so as they themselves have recognised that their internet activity is getting in the way of basic needs, such as eating, sleeping, and bathing.
Video game addiction
Video game addictions share many similarities to internet addiction, because it too is an emerging behavioural addiction that needs more research, but the consequences are very real for the individual facing it.
Often individuals facing such an addiction will face extreme social isolation and physical health problems such as a lack of fitness and sleep deprivation. There’s also the very real risk to an individual’s finances as microtransactions become increasingly common, forcing players to invest more and more time and money into their favourite game(s).
Video games are specifically designed to give individuals rewards without having to interact with others socially, which can be a powerful mix for some people. Game designers design their video games to target the brain’s reward system, so it’s no wonder that certain people become addicted to the high of achieving tasks within a video game.
Shopping addiction
Shopping addiction is much better understood, although not treated with the same seriousness as it ought to be. Many people will describe a friend or family member as a ‘shopaholic’ jokingly, but the draw that purchasing new items can have for some individuals can be as intense as the draw alcohol has for alcoholics.
Often in shopping addictions, an individual can find themselves making more and more unnecessary purchases in higher amounts to chase the thrill of a new purchase, but once they have made their purchase, they can find themselves battling intense emotional lows and extreme guilt.
Addiction to shopping can also lead to hoarding, where an individual collects items they don’t need simply because of the gratification of making a purchase. Financially an individual can face severe consequences and it can even lead to wider criminal issues if help isn’t sought.
Plastic surgery addiction
For those who develop a plastic surgery addiction, there is often a bigger issue at play that the plastic surgery is simply hiding. Some people constantly seek to change and tweak their outer appearance because they aren’t happy with how they look and so turn to plastic surgery as a way to feel happiness.
Here, the individual will feel content shortly after the plastic surgery, but when their negative emotions return, they feel further plastic surgery is the key to that contentment again. This leads to a cycle of constantly getting new plastic surgeries, which can actually be harmful to their physical appearance over time as these surgeries can go wrong. The key to treating plastic surgery addiction is identifying and rectifying the route cause – often their low sense of self.
Common consequences of ALL behavioural addictions
The following are consequences of the behavioural addictions discussed above. Each one may not be relevant to every addiction, but there will certainly be common ones across the range of behavioural addictions discussed.
| Personal symptoms of behavioural addiction | Social symptoms of behavioural addiction |
| Focus on behaviour at expense of other life aspects | Distancing from friends and loved one |
| Financial costs become more evident over time | Volatile behaviour, distressing those close |
| Increased tolerance to behaviour | Preoccupation with behaviour with detriment to time spent socialising |
| Development of health problems (injuries and diseases) | Neglecting familial responsibilities |
| Disturbed appetites and sleeping problems | Sexual dysfunction |
| Display of previously foreign behaviour (e.g. outbursts) | Loss of social interest generally |
| Deceitful about activities despite clear evidence | Isolation |
| Rejection of suggestions for help | Unsuccessful attempts to quit |
How To Treat Behavioural Addictions
At InnerLife Recovery we take a unique, tailored approach to treatment, creating an individualised treatment plan for everybody we meet, regardless of their addictive behaviours. Here are the 5 main steps of recovery with us:
Supervised withdrawal
No, behavioural addictions don’t require detoxification of substances, but that doesn’t mean that certain, very real withdrawal symptoms won’t be seen when an individual gives up an addictive behaviour. We support you through this withdrawal to ensure long term success.
Personalised treatment plans
Once the withdrawal is out of the way, we can start focussing on creating an individualised treatment plan that will work for you. This can be altered as we find what is helping you and what isn’t, to ensure you see the results you want with our support to full recovery.
Counselling and therapy
Support groups and residential recovery centres like ours rely on both group and individual therapy sessions to support you in stamping out your addictive behaviour, whilst also tackling the underlying causes and risk factors that might be encouraging you to stay in your addiction.
Holistic therapies
We recognise that talking therapies alone is never enough in treating any addiction, so we take a holistic approach here that accounts for the whole person. From breathing exercises and yoga, to meditation and support with your diet, we can help in a range of ways that improves your inner life.
Aftercare support
Care doesn’t stop when you leave our facility, we have an extensive aftercare programme in place that ensures your continued success after you leave our structured support at our residential rehabilitation centre. Whatever help you need to return to normal life, we’re with you every step of the way.
Work With InnerLife Recovery Today
Our team of experts are on hand to support you through your addiction, from initial call to championing your continued success after you leave our centre in the heart of Spain, our professional support will ensure you have the best chance of leaving your addictive behaviours in the past. Contact us today to see how we can support you.Â
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