Addiction Comes In Many Forms
When people are addicted, they engage in behaviors they can’t stop, or they use substances despite the harm they may cause to their lives.
There are genetic and brain-based reasons for addiction behaviors. One study indicates the predisposition to addiction could be related to a breakdown in cognitive processes, specifically the part of the brain that becomes increasingly fixed or focused on the addiction.
Some research suggests that addiction can fall into behavioral addictions or substance addictions.
Helping Those With A High Risk Of Addiction
While there may not be one personality type that is more susceptible to addiction, there are individuals who, through a combination of factors, traits, and impulse control issues, may be more likely to abuse substances and form an addiction.
For those in this position, there are a range of behavioral therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy , that are available to locate the source of behaviors and impulses as well as developing coping mechanisms to deal with and overcome them. If a person has developed an addiction to a substance or behavior already, attending an inpatient or outpatient rehab center can help by incorporating these therapies alongside other treatments proven to help with addiction. Contact a treatment center today to find out what options are available.
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How To Set And Reinforce Healthy Boundaries
Talk to your loved one about boundaries at a time when youre both calm, not in the heat of an argument. Decide what behavior you will and will not tolerate from the person and make those expectations clear. For example, you may tell your loved one, If you cant talk to me without screaming abuse at me, I will walk out.
- Calmly reassure the person with BPD when setting limits. Say something like, I love you and I want our relationship to work, but I cant handle the stress caused by your behavior. I need you to make this change for me.
- Make sure everyone in the family agrees on the boundariesand how to enforce the consequences if theyre ignored.
- Think of setting boundaries as a process rather than a single event. Instead of hitting your loved one with a long list of boundaries all at once, introduce them gradually, one or two at a time.
Dont
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Low Tolerance For Stress
Stress affects everyone, but some are particularly affected by it, feeling overwhelmed by situations or work that may seem manageable to others. An argument with a friend or partner, a looming deadline, or just a bad day can feel absolutely awful, and spur people to seek relief. For those who turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, the potential for addiction may be a concern.
Hhs Awards More Than $16 Billion To Combat Addiction Overdose Crises Nationwide
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HHS has awarded more than $1.6 billion in investments for communities across the country to address the addiction and overdose crises.
According to a release from HHS, investments made through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations State Opioid Response and Tribal Opioid Response grant programs, and the Health Resources and Services Administrations rural communities opioid response programs will help communities looking to leverage every tool at their disposal from prevention to harm reduction to treatment and recovery to provide support for those in need.
According to the CDC, more than 107,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2021, an increase of more than 15% from 2020, HHS said in the release.
Providing access to evidence-based, person-centered care is a central part of HHS strategy for ending the overdose crisis, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerrastated in the release. Through these grants, we are investing in evidence-based supports and services for individuals, families, and communities on the road to recovery.
We are taking action to support the critical needs of rural and tribal communities by expanding access to opioid use disorder treatment, HRSA administrator Carole Johnson said in the release. Too often, the needs and challenges of these communities are overlooked or not well served.
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Treatment And Therapy At 1st Step Behavioral Health
If you are suffering from an addiction as a result of an addictive personality or you want to avoid relapse, just contact us here at 1st Step Behavioral Health. Let us help you overcome addictive personality traits once and for all! Call us today:
Reviewed for Medical & Clinical Accuracy by Brittany Polansky, MSW, LCSW
Brittany has been working in behavioral health since 2012 and is the Assistant Clinical Director at our facility. She is an LCSW and holds a masters degree in social work. She has great experience with chemical dependency and co-occurring mental health diagnoses as well as various therapeutic techniques. Brittany is passionate about treating all clients with dignity and respect, and providing a safe environment where clients can begin their healing journey in recovery.
Mental Health Conditions Vs Addictive Personality
However, just because it is not classified in the DSM-5, does not mean that therapy cannot help. Often, its individual therapy that begins the process of breaking some of these destructive behaviors. The one-on-one space to freely express the compulsive nature of having an addictive personality is a valuable means of treatment.
Other illnesses that are often diagnosed along with an addiction, as well as with an addictive personality include:
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Do I Need Health Insurance To Receive This Service
The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.
How To Deal With A Drug Addict
Drug addiction knows no boundaries, affecting people from all walks of life. Friends, family, employers, and coworkers can all fall prey to the lure of drugs and alcohol under the right circumstances. Knowing how to deal with a drug addict can help you disengage from the web that addiction weaves, which will save you much frustration and heartache. Substance abuse can make a good person do bad things, but some tips on how to handle a loved one that is a drug addict.
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The Addictive Personality Isnt What You Think It Is
In her new book Maia Szalavitz recalls her behavior as a child in school and at home. Anxious, bright and slightly obsessive, she didnt seem to fit the stereotype of the addictive personality. Nevertheless, in college she would become addicted to heroin and cocaine, forcing her to reexamine her assumptions about addiction and its treatment. The following is an excerpt from Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction,
Although addiction was originally framed by both Alcoholics Anonymous and psychiatry as a form of antisocial personality or character disorder, research did not confirm this idea. Despite decades of attempts, no single addictive personality common to everyone with addictions has ever been found. If you have come to believe that you yourself or an addicted loved one, by nature of having addiction, has a defective or selfish personality, you have been misled. As George Koob, the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, told me, What were finding is that the addictive personality, if you will, is multifaceted, says Koob. It doesnt really exist as an entity of its own.
It seems that the same regions that gave me my intense curiosity, obsessive focus, and ability to learn and memorize quickly also made me vulnerable to discovering potential bad habits and then rapidly getting locked into them.
Alcohol Tobacco And Other Drugs
The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. SAMHSAs 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that approximately 19.3 million people aged 18 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year.
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Addressing Addiction And Getting Help
Though addiction is a complex disease, it is treatable. The best treatment options are those specific to each person and their needs.
Studies show that addiction treatment is most effective when combined with behavioral therapies, which can include individual, group, and family therapy.
The Genetics Of An Addictive Personality
Much research is being done on the medical diagnosis of addictive personality as personalities are multifaceted and complicated. Research has discovered a link between genetics and someones ability to have an addictive personality. Those born to parents who have been addicted to a substance or exhibited a behavioral addiction are more likely to exhibit addictive personalities themselves.
Additionally, individuals born to parents who have suffered anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, or bipolar disorder can be predisposed to having an addictive personality. Genetics are not the sole indicator of addictive personalities however, they can be a great influence on someones personality traits.
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Getting Help To Overcome Addiction
Fighting through the hard times of addiction includes getting high-quality substance abuse treatment. Today, evidence proves that addiction is a physiological disease that affects the brains wiring and chemistry. This means that psychological and psychiatric care are just as important.
If you or a loved one struggles with an addiction, contact Ashley Addiction Treatment at to get the help you need today.
Personality Traits Of An Addictive Personality
Simply because you fit the description of several traits of an addictive personality does not necessarily mean that you have one. However, it may mean that you should watch your relationship with harmful substances and activities because you may be more prone to addiction. The following personality traits may be indicative of someone with an addictive personality.
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Protective Factors Against Developing An Addiction
A person who has risk factors for addiction isnt guaranteed to develop an addiction. Certain protective factors may help prevent addiction, especially if a person is at higher risk. Protective factors, especially those present in childhood, can include:4
- A belief in self-control known as self-efficacy.
- Parental support and monitoring.
Do Addictive Behaviors Lead To Addiction
Some people are more likely to develop a substance use disorder. We often blame their personalities for placing them at risk. But, that increase their risk of addiction.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse also includes having addicted parents or family members with mental health disorders. These things can make someone predisposed to having addictive traits and addiction. For example, growing up with parents that misused alcohol can increase your risk of struggle with alcohol abuse.
However, its impossible to pinpoint addiction to someones personality.
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Dont Believe Quitting Is Too Difficult
If you have an addictive personality, you may believe that quitting everything addictive is just too hard. Maybe you went from sex to overeating, overeating to drugs, and on and on. You may think that life without excess is too boring and too normal. This is denial.
Do: Get help with your addiction. Even people with long-term addictions can get help. After you find that it is possible, you may grieve the lost years once you recover.
The Disconnected Cautious Trait
According to the Scientific American article, the bold, risk-taker type who develops addiction is more likely to be male. On the other hand, cautious people who have difficulty with social relationships and who at the same time may suffer from depression, anxiety, or both can also develop addiction these personality types are more often women.
Considering the self-medication idea mentioned above, people with these personality traits may be more likely to try to manage symptoms of anxiety or painful feelings of loneliness, disconnection, and depression by using alcohol or drugs that dull those feelings. This may then lead to the person becoming dependent on the substance to feel good in general, which in turn can lead to tolerance and addiction.
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Healthy Habits For Someone In Recovery
There are many healthy habits you can create for yourself in recovery. Some of these may include:
- Good sleeping habits: A good nights sleep can help your body heal from the damage caused by addiction. Good sleeping habits can also help reduce the possibility of relapse.
- Self-care habits: Creating a life without drugs or alcohol involves re-establishing even the simplest self-care routines, such as taking a shower, going for a jog or a run, meditating, or putting on makeup. When creating healthy habits, do anything that can make you feel better and take your mind off the pressure of maintaining sobriety.
- Active habits: Being physically active has positive outcomes for your physical health and can also benefit your mental health by serving as a way for you to release stress and depression. Exercise can also help you focus on something more worthwhile than your cravings.
Why Is Addictive Personality A Problematic Term
The concept of an addictive personality is tricky because of how loaded and charged the term has become, says Ben Friday, a therapist in Sacramento.
It can often be weaponized by family or others in society. It is typically seen as a derogatory term, which most of my clients are unlikely to endorse when living with a use disorder, he explains.
The negative implications of the term can also impact your healing process, says Friday.
When labeling someone as having a personality trait, we typically view these as fixed points, so people feel hopeless about change if they view this as a facet of their personality, he adds.
But mental health challenges can be managed and support is available if youre experiencing mental or emotional distress. Theres nothing that implies you have to or will experience these symptoms for the rest of your life.
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Signs Of An Addictive Personality
Individuals with an addictive personality can be identified by several traits. Experiencing mental conditions like depression and anxiety can, but do not always, indicate addictive personalities. There are a number of better indicators of addictive personalities, including:
- Comfort eating/binge eating
- Never feeling satisfied/needing more of a particular feeling
- An inability to stop using harmful chemicals
- An inability to curtail other harmful activities
Being able to stop and control ones actions indicates healthy boundaries and a lower level of attachment. If you or someone you know hides their harmful behavior, that could signal a problem needing intervention.
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Do You Have An Addictive Personality Find Out How To Fight It
Having an addictive personality isnt anything new or rare. There are so many people who are having an addictive personality disorder, its just something that unfortunately not a lot of people talk about.
Its of huge importance to discuss this topic because this type of disorder can actually be quite hazardous, hence, if youre currently struggling with it, or know someone, then make sure to immediately do something about it.
Luckily, there are a plethora of ways that you can fight it. Of course, its not easy, but with the right people by your side and the proper steps, youll be able to do it. If you want to know what needs to be done in this case, then just keep reading.
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Are Addictive Personalities A Myth
Contents
Most addiction research today states that there is no one personality that is more likely to develop an addiction than another. While certain personality traits might be present in multiple individuals struggling with addiction, these specific traits can exist as minor parts of completely contradicting whole personalities.
Thus, a social standard for what an addictive personality should look like might not actually provide an accurate understanding of what types of individuals are more likely to develop addictions.
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What Are The Signs Of An Addictive Personality
Theres no established list of traits or signs that indicate someone may have an addictive personality or may be more prone to developing one.
In other words, theres no cookie-cutter type of person that is more likely to face mental health challenges, including addiction and substance use disorder.
Although theres no evidence that supports the idea of an addictive personality, feeling addicted to something may be similar to symptoms of substance use disorder:
- intense and persistent emotional and physical needs or cravings for something or someone
- mood episodes that may lead you to change from one mood to another without any evident reason
- a tendency to neglect your duties and relationships to give something else your entire attention
- difficulty exiting a situation even if persistently experiencing negative consequences
- emotional or physical pain when away from the subject of the addiction
In some instances, an addictive personality may be mentioned if youve experienced these symptoms repeatedly and related to more than one object or activity. For example, if you tend to feel this way in all or most of your relationships, hobbies, or interests.
But, again, this is likely due to other reasons and not because of your personality type.
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