Otherwise known as impulse control disorders, behavioural addictions are addictions in which a person compulsively undertakes a certain action or behaviour on a repeated basis. The repetition of the action or behaviour takes place with a total disregard of negative consequences that may impact a person's well-being, health or financial situation. Unlike a drug or alcohol addiction, there is no particular substance that the person is addicted to. Instead, they are addicted to performing the behaviour and the reward system that takes place within their brain when they perform a certain action.
Just like a substance addiction however, addictive behaviour can take its toll on a person's life and become all-consuming to the afflicted person and to loved ones around them. If you or someone you love has a behavioural addiction, it is important to seek help and treatment as soon as possible.
At Rehabs UK, we can help with behavioural addictions and treatments and you can get a free assessment by contacting our Treatment Advisors.
The study of behavioural addiction is still relatively new, and while there isn't a specific list of behavioural addictions that are determined as such, there are many kinds of activities that can result in addiction. These range from fairly harmless activities such as shopping and cleaning, to those with dangerous financial and personal consequences (such as gambling and sex). In theory, it is actually possible for a person to become addicted to any type of activity, while other people may engage in a potentially addictive behaviour time and again, without actually becoming addicted to it. What causes a behaviour to become an addiction is the associated dysfunction of the brain's reward centre that is linked to the repetition of the behaviour. Any behaviour that a person finds impossible to stop, while being aware of its potential to cause psychological and physical harm, may be seen as an addiction.
The exact causes of behavioural addiction are not known, and the way an addiction affects a person can vary. In every person though, there are usually certain factors that contribute to and exacerbate the development of a behavioural addiction, including genetic, mental and environmental elements. Over time, the persistent engagement in the addictive behaviour causes the brain's reward system to change, so the person needs to continuously repeat the behaviour to get a release of dopamine. If the behaviour doesn't occur, then dopamine levels fall, so the behaviour needs to be engaged in again so that the brain's reward system can normalise itself.
It has been suggested in current studies that men have higher rates of addiction than women, but women fall into the cycle of addiction far more quickly than men. According to a UCLA study, women are more socially and naturally susceptible to psychological stress, anxiety disorders and mood problems, which can all fuel addictive behaviour.
Research suggests that common psychological and mental health conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar Disorder and Major Depression Disorder can make a person more likely to develop a behavioural addiction. That said, the relationship between the two is very complicated, and there is more of an overlap than an exact link between the two.
Those who have low opinions of themselves will generally have a very pessimistic view of their life and future situations. This will make them more inclined to indulge in high risk behaviours to help them manage and feel in control of their life, especially when they are faced with a problematic situation.
If a person has lived through a traumatic experience, or has frequent feelings of guilt in relation to a traumatic event, they have a higher risk of engaging in risky and addictive behaviours to escape their thoughts and feelings. Too much shopping, social media, gambling or sex can all distract a person from what they are really struggling with deep down.
If a person lives in a solitary environment, with little or no social interaction with other people, they may be inclined to engage in compulsive behaviour for long periods to prevent feelings of loneliness. Some activities, like computer gaming or accessing social media, give a sense of community, even when a person is accessing them from an isolated position.
