What is addictive behaviour?

Addictive behaviour is when an individual becomes so dependent on or obsessed with something that it forms the major focus of their life, often to the exclusion of any other activities. Their addictive behaviour may even begin to physically, mentally, or socially harm the individual, or people they come into contact with. And an addiction may relate to virtually anything: from an object or substance, to a behaviour or activity.

What are the symptoms of addictive behaviour?

Typically, people with addictive behaviour:

• Become obsessed by, and constantly think of, the object, substance, or activity
• Repeatedly and compulsively engage in an activity or type of behaviour, even if they want to stop doing so
• Seek out the substance or engage in the activity, even if it causes harm, such as health problems, poor performance at work, arguments with family, friends or colleagues
• Have little or no control over the behaviour. For example, buying three dresses when they needed shoes or drinking six beers when they only wanted one
• Experience withdrawal symptoms (such as irritability, craving, restlessness or depression) if they stop the behaviour
• Conceal the behaviour if anyone expresses concern, for example by hiding credit card bills in a drawer, or alcohol under a bed
• Deny that the behaviour causes any problems
• Claim that they have no recall of what they bought, how much they lost gambling, or what they did after drinking heavily
• Feel anxious if they cannot control their environment
• Have been psychologically or physically abused
• Often feel depressed
• Have low self esteem

What causes addictive behaviour?

Addictive behaviour specialists have various theories about the causes and best ways to treat it, or prevent it from happening. On drug addiction alone, for example, a US government publication ‘Theories on Drug Abuse: Selected Contemporary Perspectives’ suggests that there are no fewer than 43 theories of chemical addiction and more than 15 methods of treatment!

Some experts believe that certain behaviours produce beta-endorphins in the brain, which makes the person feel ‘high’. It has been suggested that if someone continually repeats an activity in order to achieve a feeling of wellbeing and euphoria, they may enter an addictive cycle in which they become physically addicted to their own brain chemicals. This in turn leads to repetition of the behaviour, even if doing so leads to bad physical or social consequences. However, other experts believe that addictive behaviours are simply bad habits.

Some researchers suggest that there are similarities between physical addiction to various chemicals (such as drugs and alcohol) and psychological dependence on eating disorders or compulsive activities (such as gambling, sex, work, running or shopping).

Physical addictions to substances such as drugs and alcohol often have a psychological element as well, which is why an alcoholic who has not drunk alcohol for many years, still craves a drink. Accordingly, some researchers feel that we need to regard both physical and psychological dependencies as elements in an addictive process. They believe that because all addictive behaviours have common factors and characteristics that make them similar, they should not be divided into separate diseases, categories, or problems.

Some experts suggest that there is a wholly genetic cause, while others claim that addictive behaviours are learned as a response to the complex relationship between inherited and environmental factors. But many people view an addictive behaviour such as gambling or alcoholism as ‘a disease’.

So it seems that, unlike the situation with the majority of common diseases, there is no conclusively agreed cause or definitive treatment for most addictive behaviours.

What treatments are there for addictive behaviour?

Unfortunately, the lack of agreement among professionals about the causes of addictive behaviours makes it difficult for them to agree on the best methods of prevention and treatment. They disagree about whether or not medication is a valid treatment method and they debate the merits of total abstinence compared with controlled use of substances (such as alcohol) or participation in activities (such as gambling).

But despite the fact that there are numerous theories about the causes of addictive behaviour, and much debate about the best forms of treatment, there is general agreement that some therapies can help people suffering from addictive behaviour. So, if you believe that you, a family member or a friend might be addicted to an object, substance, activity or behaviour, do discuss it with your GP or a counsellor – there is help available.