Common Addictive Behaviors.

When we hear the word addiction, we usually think of alcohol or illegal drugs. However, that is not the case, people also are addicted to medicines, cigarettes, glues, etc. Some substances are more addictive than others. Drugs like crack or heroin are so addictive that they might only be used once or twice before the user loses control. Any activity, substance, object, or behavior that has become the major focus of a person's life to the exclusion of other activities, or that has begun to harm the individual or others physically, mentally, or socially is considered an addictive behavior. Behavioral addictions such as gambling, overeating, television compulsion, and internet addiction are similar to drug addiction except that the individual is not addicted to a substance, but he/she is addicted to the behavior or the feeling experienced by acting out the behavior.

Personality Traits Linked to Addiction

Researchers have studied lots of addiction cases, they came out with some behavioral addiction traits that are common to people who are addicted. Some of the personality traits linked to addiction are:?

Impulsivity:

In psychopathology, impulsivity is defined in three different ways: Fast reaction without thinking and conscious judgment, acting without enough thinking, and. a tendency to act with less thinking compared to others who have similar levels of knowledge and ability The link between impulsivity and substance abuse can be seen in the high number of people with an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. It is a medical condition. A person with ADHD has differences in brain development and brain activity that affect attention, the ability to sit still, and self-control. Impulsivity is one of the defining personality traits associated with ADHD. Researchers have found that about 25% of adults in treatment for alcohol and substance abuse have been diagnosed with ADHD. This makes addiction five to ten times more common in people with ADHD.?

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?1) Nonconformity:

It is failure or refusal to conform, as with established customs, attitudes, or ideas. People who are seeking addiction treatment often describe themselves as nonconformists. They consider themselves fundamentally different from their peers due to their interests, values, and goals. Your desire to embrace your individuality is commendable, but feeling like you’re an outsider can lead to social isolation. The apparent lack of perceived support from friends and/or family can increase the desire to turn to drugs and alcohol when faced with challenging situations.

2) Anxiety.

People who suffer from anxiety can find themselves plagued with worries about personal relationships, fitting in, and managing everyday situations. They can suffer from physical complaints such as insomnia, panic attacks, stomach problems, dizziness, shortness of breath, and muscle tension that make it hard to focus on their daily activities. To calm the constant chatter in their minds, they may turn to drugs and alcohol.

3) Low Tolerance for Stress:

Stress is a natural part of life. However, some people find it significantly more difficult to handle stressful situations, such as an argument with a romantic partner, a high-stakes project at work, or an unexpected health crisis. People who don’t learn to develop positive coping mechanisms to handle their stress may turn to drugs and alcohol for temporary relief. A low tolerance for stress is often associated with high anxiety levels. People can learn to increase their tolerance to stress with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

?4) Sensation Seeking:

Sensation seeking refers to the desire to constantly seek out new experiences when placed in situations without a lot of sensory input. Everyone engages in sensation-seeking behavior to some extent, but people who report high rates of this activity are most prone to addiction. Sensation seekers are risk-takers who enjoy pursuits such as engaging in adventure sports, attending loud concerts or parties, and traveling to meet new people. They are also more likely to drive recklessly and prefer having multiple sexual partners over stable relationships. In general, men and young adults have the highest rates of sensation-seeking behavior which can help explain why these groups also suffer from substance abuse issues at the highest rates.

?5) Blame Shifting:

Blame shifting refers to finding it difficult to take responsibility for your own mistakes. Substance abusers tend to exhibit this personality trait in higher than average numbers, often arguing that their drug or alcohol use isn’t a big deal or that they could quit using if they really wanted to. Extreme blame-shifting accompanied by a lack of empathy for others is associated with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). One recent study suggests that about 12% of people with substance abuse problems also meet the criteria for NPD.

?6) Food Addiction:

Food addiction can be defined as a constant obsession with what to eat, when to eat, and how to obtain more food; overeating behaviors; hiding or hoarding foods, secretive behaviors, and inability to stop overeating or continued eating.