Bad habits are common. And it includes everything from substance abuse, poor eating choices, and watching too much TV, to overspending, even if you don’t want to. But, when these bad habits start interfering with your everyday life, you might be dealing with something more dreadful. Even, some activities are so normal like using the internet, playing games, etc. that it becomes hard to believe people can become addicted to them. Yet, the cycle of addiction takes over and put you through constant struggles. This extreme desire to experience a high by engaging in an activity can lead to behavioural addictions.
What is Behavioural Addiction?
Behavioral addictions are driven by uncontrollable impulses. When we are aware of the fact that there are some things we are not supposed to do, but we do it anyway can be defined as a behavioral addiction.
Behavioral addictions begin the same as any substance use disorder. While people with behavioral addictions don’t cause physical dependence, they can experience withdrawal symptoms, negative emotions, and much more. Hence, behavioural addiction treatment becomes significant. If left untreated, it becomes fatal and can destroy relationships, families, and lives. When you identify a behavioral addiction, you can visit a psychiatrist or psychologist. They will help change problematic behaviors and teach you how to survive without the addiction.
In this article, we will learn about the signs, treatments, and types of behavioral addictions.
Signs of Behavioural Addictions
The withdrawal symptoms of behavioral addiction are different from alcohol use disorder and drug addiction, while a familiarity in the mental and emotional symptoms can be seen. The red flags that help determine whether a person is affected by a behavioral addiction may include:
• Guilt and shame
• Denial
• Lack of self-care
• Lying
• Fighting with friends and family
• Missing work
• Sleep disturbances
• Obsessive thoughts
• Minimizing the extent of the problem
Apart from these symptoms, people with addictive behaviors may also experience physical consequences. For example, gambling addicts can develop carpel tunnel, neck pain, back pain, and headaches. Also, psychological addictions may include cravings and anxiety.
Types of Behavioural Addiction
Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction or gambling disorder is characterized by a pattern that a person forms when engaging in compulsive betting and gambling behaviors, despite adverse consequences. Gambling addiction is the first official behavioral disorder that most often targets people dealing with substance use disorder. While earlier people have to go to casinos to gamble, with increasing technology, people now have 24/7 access to gambling apps. Many people with gambling addiction tend to borrow money from their family and friends under false pretenses, accrue large debts, and pay or give collateral for other debts. In many instances, gambling causes money loss, broken relationships, and loss of assets and jobs. According to a survey, a significant number of males suffering from alcohol abuse tend to have gambling addiction also.
Food Addiction
Yes, you heard it right. Food addiction is also considered a type of behavioral addiction. The concept of food addiction is somewhat similar to binge eating disorder as people with food addiction also tend to consume large amounts of food in a short period of time, but not always specific to certain foods.
On the other hand, in food addiction, people get addicted to certain types of food, especially those high in calories. As a result, they feel an uncontrollable urge to eat food that doesn’t relate to the feeling of hunger. While some people develop food addiction because of their love for food, others may have it because of anxiety, stress, anger, or depression.
Sex and Pornography Addiction
Sex addiction, also known as hypersexuality or compulsive sexual behavior refers to a condition when a person feels uncontrollable urges, desires, and thoughts for sexual activities and behaves in a related manner. Always has been a subject of controversy, and the existence of sex addiction is still hanging. Sex addiction can cause distress and harm to a person’s relationships, career, finances, and other aspects of life. One UK survey shows that 1 in 25 people suffer from sex addiction.
Quiet common in behavioral addictions, porn addiction is a hypersexual disorder that includes behaviors, such as excessive masturbation. When a person suffers from porn addiction, they tend to become emotionally dependent on pornography. Also, when porn addiction becomes problematic, it destroys relationships, families, careers, and the ability to function, use a porn blocker and avoid the triggers to get rid of this addiction.
Gaming Addiction
A condition when a person loses complete control over gaming habits and is ready to sacrifice everything and anything for the love of the game is characterized as gaming disorder or gaming addiction. According to a survey, it was reported that about 41% of people play video games to escape the reality of life. While anyone can develop this addiction, youngsters and adolescents are at a higher risk. Also, it disrupts the daily functioning of people, including personal, educational, social, and occupational responsibilities.
Addiction to Smart Devices
Excessive use of mobile phones, tablets, and laptops is a cause for concern. While some people experience a loss of control when it comes to using a phone, others reported that they experience psychological cravings and withdrawals when they are asked not to use their smart devices. According to research, frequent use of mobiles and other smart devices can cause serious physical and mental health issues. Children and teens are most likely to get affected by this type of behavioral addiction because of the rising technology. People who spend more than seven hours on their devices tend to have troubled social relationships and difficulty in completing tasks, focusing, regulating emotions, and making friends.
While email, texting, and basic features of smart devices don’t lead to addiction, social media, porn, and video games are the prime factors in developing this addiction.
Treatment of Behavioural Addictions
Even though most of the behavioral addictions given above are not formally recognized, there are multiple treatment options available for each one of them. In the UK, many rehab clinics provide recovery for behavioral addictions. Because substance use disorders and behavioral addictions have various similarities, the treatment options used for one may be effective for another.
However, there might be chances that the treatment cost of behavioral addictions is not covered in your insurance policy. Still, many rehab centers offer discounted rates for those who cannot afford the treatment costs.
A few treatment options that can help with behavioral addictions are:
Outpatient Treatment
Typically, office-based, outpatient treatment or therapy is a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, and counseling sessions that help people recover from concerned addictions. Provided by a licensed counselor, therapist, or social worker, outpatient therapy lasts about an hour and requires patients to visit the rehab clinic at least twice a week. It can also extend up to 3-5 days a week in intensive outpatient programs.
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient treatment is a residential program for people dealing with addictions. In an inpatient treatment program, the patients stay in 24-hour facilities, usually staffed by counselors, medication prescribes, and doctors. The inpatient treatment is effective for people who think they have a severe addiction and needs a structured environment or routine to get the benefits.
Also, the duration of the inpatient program depends on each individual’s needs. Sometimes it may be a week or two, and sometimes it can take a month or longer.
Support Groups
Support groups are an initiative taken by many communities for people in the recovery phase. In support groups, people with different addictive behaviors come together and share their experiences. Most of the groups are voluntary and might not have a trained professional in the lead. Support groups are proved to be a helpful resource when combined with other forms of treatment.
Get Help for Behavioural Addiction Treatment
Finding help for behavioral addiction can be slightly more challenging than finding help for substance use disorder. Because behavioral addictions are less common and less reported, it might take a lot of research to find a trained professional who specializes in treating behavioral addictions. And when you find one, don’t hesitate to ask all the questions that come to your mind.
Behavioral addiction treatment costs can be higher. So, if you are relying on your insurance provider, call them and ask if the behavioral addiction treatment is covered or not. If your insurance company denies the coverage, you may need to explore options like sliding-scale therapy. Don’t assume things and always ask the rehab clinic you are contacting for recovery of behavioral addictions if they have any options for reducing the financial burden.
Also, the best way to find a behavioral addiction counselor or therapist is to check with your insurance company or use online search tools.
