Alcoholism is a common addiction, with more than 14 million U.S. UU. Adults Struggling With Alcohol Use Disorder.
Recognizing Alcohol Addiction
May Be Harder Than Other Substance Use Disorders.Alcohol is legal for adults 21 and older, and binge drinking is normalized in many groups and social settings. While it is possible to consume and enjoy alcohol responsibly, addiction can have serious consequences. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders excludes sex addiction, making it somewhat controversial. But this dependence is still regularly discussed.
An inability to control sexual thoughts and behaviors could indicate that talking about addiction is justified. Drug addiction can cause health problems, difficulties at school or work, financial problems, and deteriorating relationships with friends, family, and colleagues. While drug addiction often carries stigma, it's important to understand that there are several contributing factors. Addiction is a disease that can be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental and developmental factors.
Video game addiction can be more difficult to recognize and seek help because it doesn't have as many obvious consequences. It's not physically addictive or harmful like alcohol or drugs, but the repercussions are still very real. On the other hand, the Internet and the accompanying screen time have their downsides. Many of us find ourselves mindlessly browsing our social networks for hours.
Although it has not yet been officially recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, research indicates that Internet addiction is a prevalent problem. Addiction to video games and online gambling may fall under the umbrella of Internet addiction. The types of addiction range from everyday drugs such as alcohol and cocaine to behaviors such as gambling. Some types of addiction are specified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), while others are more controversial and have been identified by some addiction professionals.
Constantly defying your odds? Of all behavioral addictions, gambling addiction is the one that most closely resembles drug and alcohol addiction. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) classifies gambling disorder as an addictive disorder. Studies show that gambling addictions illuminate the same areas of the brain as drug addictions, and treatment for gambling disorder is generally included in the same type of therapy settings as drug and alcohol abuse. Can't you keep your hands off that game console? Research shows that video game addiction is more common in boys and men, and one study even found that up to 1 in 10 video players between 8 and 18 years old are gamers out of control (and games start to look more like reality than fantasy).
If you're addicted to video games, treatments include counseling and behavior modification. Video Games and Depression in Young Adults According to Science Direct, behavioral addictions are defined as “an intense desire to repeat an action that is pleasant or that is perceived to improve well-being or that can alleviate some personal distress. What classifies some behaviors as addictive is the difficulty that those affected have in stopping or reducing their participation in them. Some motivating factors for behavioral addictions include the perception of a temporary decrease in depression and anxiety, making it a seemingly logical way to achieve calm or happiness.
For example, gambling addiction illuminates parts of the brain similar to those of some drugs, causing a dopamine high for the user or player. Sex addiction affects the brain in a similar way to gambling addictions, and just like substance abuse treatment, joining a 12-step program can be a useful method of treatment. Addictions based on sex, pornography, or masturbation can endanger the person by complicating relationships or possibly leading to unwanted pregnancies or STIs. They may struggle to gain control of their sexual behavior, followed by shame or regret.
An inability to stop compulsions associated with behavioral addiction often indicates a possible addiction. Although these are the most common types of behavioral addictions, compulsive theft (kleptomania), love and relationship addiction, overwork, compulsive pinching of the skin and hair, and excessive use of television and exercise are also listed as behavioral addictions. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, behavioral addictions “resemble substance abuse addictions, in reference to the impact on the brain and its response to treatment.
People often struggle to resist urges or temptations to reduce or stop behaviors that may be addictive to them, provoke excitement before completing them, and provide pleasure while doing them. Areas of concern may include feelings of guilt or shame after completing the activity. This is similar in people who abuse harmful chemicals. Substance abusers have extreme difficulty resisting the urge or temptation to use the drug and may experience pleasure from using it.
As a result, you may feel embarrassed after completing the activity and may lie about it or hide it. Because behavioral addictions affect the part of the brain responsible for rewards, people can experience effects similar to what they would feel if they were abusing a substance. This can translate into problematic relationships, impulse control challenges, obsessions, distractions, and financial challenges. Treatment methods used for substance abuse may be helpful in treating behavioral addictions.
Twelve groups of steps may be helpful, along with medications for anxiety or depression, if they are at the root of behavioral addiction. Additional treatment methods, such as meditation, SMART recovery strategies, and counseling, can benefit people who may have problems with a behavioral addiction. For gambling or shopping addiction, people can suffer serious financial consequences. This can become a problem if they try to use loved ones for additional financial support.
In addition, they can maximize credit cards and incur debt due to their addiction. For cases of video game and phone addiction, addictive patterns can hinder close relationships. Individuals can be distracted, using it as an escape from the challenges of daily life to fix loneliness, stress, or fill other gaps. People with concerns can seek treatment by contacting a treatment provider.
While controlling compulsions may seem impossible, there are several options for recovery. The first step is to recognize the challenges that behavioral addictions can cause, along with the need for help. This can help you take control of your life. Support is available after taking the first step toward recovery.
Contact a treatment provider today and start your journey. The DSM-5 lists disorders in which impulses cannot be resisted, which could be considered a type of addiction. The types of addiction seen with drug use are defined in the DSM-5, but it uses the terms substance abuse and substance dependence. However, addictive behaviors that result from both types of addiction can have serious negative consequences, from everything that comes with substance use disorder to the dangers of gambling addiction, or even compulsive shopping and sexual behavior to an unhealthy degree.
Withdrawal can take days or weeks; the duration depends on the type of substance that was abused and how long the abuse lasted. This type of addiction can be an impulse control disorder as defined in the DSM-IV-TR or an addiction identified by an addiction professional. To go a little deeper, it's important to be aware of the different types of addiction, how to recognize and treat them, and ultimately how to help yourself or a loved one on the path to recovery. This is due to the lack of current research on the various types of behavioral addictions, which is needed to first determine whether they are unique to other mental health disorders, and then establish criteria for accurate diagnosis and recommendations for evidence-based treatments.
The type of addiction doesn't really matter as much as the underlying problem, causing the patient to pursue that pleasurable feeling while incurring adverse consequences. The physical effects of withdrawal can be serious, including seizures and hallucinations, and depend on the type of substance and the duration of use, so it is important that the person be supervised by a professional. This type of addiction includes misuse of prescription drugs by taking a higher dose than prescribed, using another person's prescription, or taking medication to feel high. While there are similarities for those who experience concerns about substance use or addiction, there are many different types of approaches to overcoming their addiction.
Cravings, compulsions, inability to stop and lifestyle dysfunction point to the existence of some kind of addiction. This type of addiction specifically involves the abuse of cocaine, which is an illegal stimulant drug. . .
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