Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsImpactRed FlagsTypesSo, How Is Behavioral Addiction Treated?How Do I Cope?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Impact

Red Flags

Types

So, How Is Behavioral Addiction Treated?

How Do I Cope?

Most people understand addiction when it comes todependence 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 SaysAlthough even experts disagree about whetherbehavioral addictions are “real” addictions, theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5) explicitly included behaviors in the addictions category. Butgambling disorderis the only officially recognized behavioral addiction.

What the DSM Says

Although even experts disagree about whetherbehavioral addictions are “real” addictions, theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition(DSM-5) explicitly included behaviors in the addictions category. Butgambling disorderis 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 asmoney problemsor 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 alsoexperience 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.

An Overview of Behavioral Addiction

What Are the Symptoms of Behavioral Addiction?

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

Red flags include:

What Is Addiction?

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 assex addictionandshopping addiction, and has also categorized other behaviors such asself-injury and self-harm, and excessive plastic surgery as “addiction.”

Some other common behavioral addictions include:

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:

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

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 lieto those closest to you.

What This Means For YouSelf-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.

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 theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a behavioral addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Robbins TW, Clark L.Behavioral addictions.Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2015;30:66-72. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2014.09.005Petry NM, Zajac K, Ginley MK.Behavioral addictions as mental disorders: To be or not to be?.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2018;14:399–423. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032816-045120Alavi SS, Ferdosi M, Jannatifard F, Eslami M, Alaghemandan H, Setare M.Behavioral addiction versus substance addiction: Correspondence of psychiatric and psychological views.Int J Prev Med. 2012;3(4):290–294.Yau YH, Potenza MN.Gambling disorder and other behavioral addictions: Recognition and treatment.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2015;23(2):134–146. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000051

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Robbins TW, Clark L.Behavioral addictions.Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2015;30:66-72. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2014.09.005Petry NM, Zajac K, Ginley MK.Behavioral addictions as mental disorders: To be or not to be?.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2018;14:399–423. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032816-045120Alavi SS, Ferdosi M, Jannatifard F, Eslami M, Alaghemandan H, Setare M.Behavioral addiction versus substance addiction: Correspondence of psychiatric and psychological views.Int J Prev Med. 2012;3(4):290–294.Yau YH, Potenza MN.Gambling disorder and other behavioral addictions: Recognition and treatment.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2015;23(2):134–146. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000051

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Robbins TW, Clark L.Behavioral addictions.Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2015;30:66-72. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2014.09.005Petry NM, Zajac K, Ginley MK.Behavioral addictions as mental disorders: To be or not to be?.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2018;14:399–423. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032816-045120Alavi SS, Ferdosi M, Jannatifard F, Eslami M, Alaghemandan H, Setare M.Behavioral addiction versus substance addiction: Correspondence of psychiatric and psychological views.Int J Prev Med. 2012;3(4):290–294.Yau YH, Potenza MN.Gambling disorder and other behavioral addictions: Recognition and treatment.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2015;23(2):134–146. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000051

Robbins TW, Clark L.Behavioral addictions.Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2015;30:66-72. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2014.09.005

Petry NM, Zajac K, Ginley MK.Behavioral addictions as mental disorders: To be or not to be?.Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2018;14:399–423. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032816-045120

Alavi SS, Ferdosi M, Jannatifard F, Eslami M, Alaghemandan H, Setare M.Behavioral addiction versus substance addiction: Correspondence of psychiatric and psychological views.Int J Prev Med. 2012;3(4):290–294.

Yau YH, Potenza MN.Gambling disorder and other behavioral addictions: Recognition and treatment.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2015;23(2):134–146. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000051

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