Work Addiction
Exercise Addiction
Spiritual obsession (not to be confused with religious devotion)
Seeking pain
Cutting
Shopping Addiction
Exercise
Gambling Addiction
Impulse control disorders
What are the impulse control disorders?
Intermittent explosive disorder
Kleptomania
Pyromania
Trichotillomania
Dermatillomania
If you have an impulse control disorder, you are especially susceptible to the compulsive behavior that could lead to a severe addiction.
Similarly, mental health issues or mental disorders can exacerbate the risk for both a substance use disorder and a behavioral addiction.
Signs of Addiction
Addiction manifests itself differently in each person, and signs of addiction vary based on what the person is addicted to.
Drug addiction changes the body, specifically the brain, and can have visible physical side effects.
Behavioral addiction does not exhibit the same physical symptoms that accompany drug and alcohol
addiction or substance abuse. Some signs of addiction that aren’t physical include:
Significant amount of time spent using substance or engaging in the behavior
Inability to quit using or engaging in the behavior
Inability to fulfill obligations at school, work, or home
Relationship or social problems
Increased tolerance
Withdrawal symptoms upon quitting
Previously enjoyed hobbies abandoned
Dependency is when a person needs something in order to function normally and is often accompanied by increased tolerance and symptoms
of withdrawal when the drug or behavior is no longer present. It is a gateway to addiction. A person can be dependent without being
addicted if it does not cause a person to engage in compulsive or harmful behavior. If you find yourself or a loved one becoming
dependent on any substance or behavior, it is important to seek help as soon as possible to avoid getting to the point of addiction, which is even more difficult to overcome.
Addiction, whether physical or behavioral, impacts many parts of a person’s life. Repeated use of substances or repeated behaviors results
in physical brain changes, leading to impaired learning, decision-making, memory and judgment. Over time, addiction causes organ damage and increases risk of contracting a communicable disease. Addiction is known to cause depression and/or suicide and affects relationships with family and friends. Legal problems and financial woes are also common issues that result from addiction.
