Understanding Behavioral Addiction: Types, Similarities, & Differences
Since the World Health Organization began compiling reports about addictions after World War II, the incidence of substance abuse has been consistently higher than behavioral addictions. However, some mental health researchers have been questioning this trend. Substance abuse has been studied as a public health issue for much longer than behavioral addictions, and the primary reason is a matter of measurability. The data collection and reporting systems for substance abuse are robust when compared to behavioral addictions. This is likely an effect of the “War on Drugs,” but there are other challenges in measuring compulsive addictions to gambling, social media, and other activities. In recent years, many psychologists have called for greater awareness of behavioral addictions because of how closely they’re linked to substance abuse.
The Behavioral Nature of All Addictions
In the Stoic school of thought, all addictions are behavioral because they involve flawed reasoning and misguided actions. Many people who recover through Alcoholics Anonymous experience this realization as they work through the 12 steps, but there’s a problem with this view. The principles of Stoicism don’t adhere to biochemistry because we didn’t know anything about it when they were established in 300 BC. Excessive involvement in a behavior can lead to neglect of other areas of life, thus becoming pathological. When the behavior involves excessive drinking or drug abuse, dependency is just around the corner, and it may not be entirely neurochemical.
Types of Behavioral Addiction
Any activity that consumes your attention to the point of becoming compulsive is potentially addictive. If we leave out substance abuse, the most common types of behavioral addictions include gambling, internet use (particularly social media), sex, food, and shopping. Some of these addictions begin as habits that are hard to break—for example, buying a lottery ticket each weekend, checking Instagram Reels and Stories each night, visiting a swingers club a few times per month, or going on sporadic shopping sprees. When frequent activities are conducted to the detriment of health, responsibilities, and relationships, they almost always turn into pathological addictions and compulsive disorders.
Differences & Similarities between Substance Abuse & Behavioral Addictions
If we set aside food addiction, behavioral addictions don’t normally feature ingestion. Third-party detection is trickier with addictive behaviors. There’s no urine test to determine if an unhealthy addiction to social media discourse is taking over your life. Since there’s no ingestion, there’s no risk of overdosing, but there are extreme points of saturation, such as gambling your mortgage or rent payment away. There are more similarities than differences. Both substance abuse and compulsions are mental health disorders exacerbated by instant gratification, tolerance, and loss of control.
Behaving Like a Sober Individual
Many people who recover from alcoholism and drug abuse are surprised to learn their dependency is more mental and behavioral than neurochemical. This often happens to addicts who feel physically fine after detoxification. They realize other factors drove them to drink or use frequently and excessively. Stoics refer to this realization when they say all addictions are behavioral, and they have a point. You can dry out and become a teetotaler, but if your life turns into quiet desperation during recovery, your journey to sobriety may get compromised by relapse. Sober lifestyle coaches often work with clients who need rational behavior modification for long-term addiction recovery. Carlsbad addicts who want to achieve sobriety must learn to think and act accordingly.
If someone you know is facing the challenge of addiction, consider reaching out for professional support from an interventionist. Carlsbad 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.