8.4: Behavioral Addiction
Substance and behavioral addictions are known as Addiction Disorders. With substance addiction the person is physically addicted to a substance or drug, however with a behavioral addiction they are addicted to the positive physical and mental feelings associated with the behavior. Both types of addiction impact a persons physical and mental health and both types of addiction have similar negative consequences. Both addictions are characterized by a dependence on a substance or an activity [2] .
Experts have identified six criteria to determine a behavioral addiction:
- Salience: Domination of a person’s life by the activity
- Euphoria: A ‘buzz’ or a ‘high’ is derived from the activity
- Tolerance: The activity has to be undertaken to a progressively greater extent to achieve the same ‘buzz’
- Withdrawal Symptoms: Cessation of the activity leads to the occurrence of unpleasant emotions or physical effects
- Conflict: The activity leads to conflict with others or self-conflict
- Relapse and Reinstatement: Resumption of the activity with the same vigor subsequent to attempts to abstain, negative life consequences, and negligence of job, educational or career opportunities.
Common Behavioral Addiction Disorders include gambling addiction , shopping addiction , and internet gaming addiction .
As with drug addiction, the best treatment for behavioral addiction is prevention.