What are addictive behaviours?
Addictive behaviour is the term used to describe an individual’s difficulty in controlling repetitive behaviours which have harmful consequences. Some individuals experience powerful compulsions to excessively use or participate in things which trigger a self-perpetuating process. These processes cause pain and distress for those with the behaviours and those around them who want to love and protect them. Addictive behaviours can develop from seemingly innocuous social habits like:
- Drinking alcohol
- Gambling
- Eating
- Shopping
- Sexual relationships
- Using the internet
- Recreational drug use
- Watching pornography
- Smoking
Addictions form due to the way these activities make individuals feel, they tend to begin as a form of escapism which becomes powerfully habitual. Addictive behaviours cannot be stopped easily, addiction recovery takes time, patience and a great deal of support.
What causes addictive behaviours?
There is no one known cause for addictive behaviour, however we do know that there are many common factors which may influence an individual’s disposition to exhibiting addictive tendencies. This could include:
- Genetic predisposition
- Peer pressure
- Lack of parental supervision
- Learned behaviour
- Socioeconomic opportunities
- Physical, sexual, emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Comorbidity (one condition occurring with another) between other mental health disorders and addiction
