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Hidden Addictions: Behavioral Disorders Overshadowed by Substance Abuse

Film critics and audiences were strongly divided on the topic of who should have won the Oscar for Best Leading Actress at the 97th Academy Awards in 2025. Mikey Madison won for her role in Anora. However, many felt Demi Moore should have received the award for The Substance, a body horror film about a woman who relies on an experimental medication as she tries to reinvent herself as a younger person. Moore’s character doesn’t get addicted to the eponymous substance. Instead, she develops a horrific compulsion and obsession as she pursues physical perfection. The five nominations The Substance received were unusual for a gory film that borders on exploitation, but French director Coralie Fargeat explained many viewers didn’t understand the underlying warnings about addictive behavior in the 21st century. Keep reading as the dedicated professionals from Sober Lifestyle Coaching, the experts in addiction recovery Encinitas residents can trust for strength-based support for recovery from a variety of addiction and behavior disorders, describe some types of addiction that don’t get the same amount of attention as substance abuse disorders.

Addictive Behaviors Don’t Get the Same Spotlight as Substance Abuse

The Substance won an Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Nonetheless, it could have racked up more awards if the titular black market medication had been psychoactive and addictive. The Academy Awards tend to be more receptive to films about substance abuse. In 2019, for example, Uncut Gems, a film that bluntly portrays gambling addiction, didn’t get any Oscar nominations. In 1986, Paul Newman won Best Actor for The Color of Money, a film that danced around the same topic. Substance abuse disorders are more universally and historically recognized. Plus, they have liquor and drugs as the “bad guys” that follow established Hollywood formulas.

Modern “Substance-Less” Addictions

Moore’s character in The Substance wrestles with various addictions and comorbidities. Body dysmorphic disorder is at the center of the film, but she also struggles with anorexia nervosa, exercise addiction, and narcissistic personality disorder. These conditions have been exacerbated by the explosion of social media in popular culture. Interestingly, other addictions that don’t involve substance abuse are also being fueled by the digital revolution in the 21st century.

Gaming Addiction

Gaming disorder was added to the International Classification of Diseases 11 (ICD-11) in 2019. It’s in the same ICD-11 group as gambling disorder, and it’s described as an impulse control disorder worsened by the widespread access to smartphones. The microtransactions and “loot box” mechanisms of many casual video games often blur the lines between gaming and gambling disorder.

Shopping Addiction

Compulsive buying-shopping disorder (CBSD) isn’t classified as an addictive disorder in the ICD-11, despite sharing many characteristics with gaming and gambling addictions. It’s easy to understand how technology is fueling this condition, which for many patients feels like a terrible addiction. The rise of e-commerce and business models like Amazon’s same-day delivery is a significant driver of modern CBSD.

Sexual Addiction

Hypersexual disorders aren’t classified as addictions by the ICD-11, but they’re often treated as such. Sexual addiction is a behavioral compulsion compounded by the easy availability of pornography, exhibitionism, and sex work on internet platforms. Large-scale epidemiological research is difficult to conduct on these disorders because of societal stigma. However, many psychologists think the hypersexualization of pop culture through media and advertising during the first decade of the 21st century has largely moved online.

If someone you know is facing the challenge of addiction, consider reaching out for professional support from an interventionist. Encinitas addicts who receive this guidance often find it’s a crucial element in beginning a successful and sustained recovery journey. Carlsbad residents can trust the expertise and experience of the compassionate team at Sober Lifestyle Coaching. We know precisely what it takes to get sober, stay sober, and live the healthy lifestyle you deserve. We specialize in working with clients with active addictions as well as clients already in recovery. Our sober coaches provide encouragement, accountability, insight, and understanding through our own recovery experiences. To learn more about how we can help you or someone you love, call us today.