An Overview of Behavioral Addiction

How to Live With and Treat Addictive Behaviors

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Most people understand addiction when it comes to dependence on substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, illicit drugs, or even prescription medications, but have a hard time with the concept of addictive behaviors.

Behavioral addictions (also known as process addictions) follow the same pattern as substance-based addictions, creating problems in many areas of a person's life. They also have similar effects to substance addictions in relationships, which are often neglected in favor of the addictive behavior, undermining trust and putting pressure on partners and other family members to cover up and make up for difficulties that come about from the addiction.

Yet, it's also possible to develop a behavioral addiction. People can get hooked on everything from gambling to sex to the internet.

What the DSM Says

Although even experts disagree about whether behavioral addictions are "real" addictions, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) explicitly included behaviors in the addictions category. But gambling disorder is the only officially recognized behavioral addiction.

The Impact of a Behavioral Addiction

Even though they're not specifically labeled as addictions, compulsive behaviors can lead to real problems in our lives, functioning, and relationships. These behaviors can also cause severe stress and can be difficult to kick, even if we want to quit.

Often people with behavioral addictions eventually get tired of the toll their behavior takes on their lives and the lives of those around them. They may also suffer major losses such as money problems or relationship problems. What had at one time seemed exciting and fulfilling becomes an embarrassing burden.

Some activities are so normal that it's hard to believe people can become addicted to them. Yet the cycle of addiction can still take over, making everyday life a constant struggle. People may seek out more and more opportunities to engage in the behavior. The desire to experience a "high" from the behavior becomes so strong that they may continue to engage in it despite negative consequences.

In some cases, people can also experience withdrawal, including negative emotions and other symptoms, when they aren't able to engage in the activity.

We get how hard and distressing a behavioral addiction can be. Even if there might not be a service specializing in behavioral addiction, a psychiatrist or psychologist will still be able to help with changing problematic behaviors, improving relationships, and coping without the addiction.

What Are the Symptoms of Behavioral Addiction?

Understanding the addictive process and the danger signs can help us to tell the difference between addictive behavior, problematic behavior that's not an addiction, and normal behavior that's non-problematic.

Red flags include:

  • Spending the majority of time engaging in the behavior, thinking about or arranging to engage in the behavior, or recovering from the effects
  • Becoming dependent on the behavior as a way to cope with emotions and to "feel normal"
  • Continuing despite physical and/or mental harm
  • Having trouble cutting back despite wanting to stop
  • Neglecting work, school, or family to engage in the behavior more often
  • Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal (for example, depression or irritability) when trying to stop
  • Minimizing or hiding the extent of the problem

What Are the Most Common Forms of Behavioral Addictions?

Outside the world of professional psychiatry and psychology, the media has embraced the concepts of behavioral addictions, such as sex addiction and shopping addiction, and has also categorized other behaviors such as self-injury and self-harm, and excessive plastic surgery as "addiction."

Some other common behavioral addictions include:

Although most of these addictions are not recognized by the DSM-5-TR, many healthcare providers believe these are disorders that can be treated.

So, How Is Behavioral Addiction Treated?

The good news is that treatments that have been developed to treat substance dependencies have also been successfully used to treat behavioral addictions. Addiction professionals are developing competencies to treat a range of addictions, and clinics exist that specialize in treating behavioral addictions.

We can also benefit from seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist, who is skilled in helping people to overcome emotional difficulties and make changes in their lives.

Treatment may include:

How Do I Cope?

We know how difficult it can be to admit to ourselves, let alone someone else, that we have a problem. It can be even harder when the problem is poorly understood and may not be taken seriously by our friends and family. Understanding the stages of change can help us to be gentler on ourselves if we aren't ready to seek help.

If you don't want to seek help in overcoming your behavioral addiction at this time, focus on ensuring that your behavior doesn't harm you or those around you. Even if you don't want to tell other people about your problem, try not to lie to those closest to you. 

What This Means For You

Self-help can be an important first step. Consider finding out more about the behavior and some of the ways you can manage it. Many people live with behavioral addictions, and although they can wreak havoc on your life, it is possible to recover. Your provider is waiting for you when you are ready to take the next step.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a behavioral addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD
Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada.