Addictive behavior seems to be glamorized all over the internet, the media and with celebrities all over the world. We joke about binge watching Netflix, drinking way too much but “living our best life”, eating too much food, and songs that encourage drug abuse is even more shared. These subliminal messages are beginning to make extremes in addictive behavior more normal, and could be the cause for the increase in use of substances like drugs or alcohol.
No matter what your age is, gender, or background, anyone can become addicted to using drugs or alcohol for the mental benefits it provides. People who have an addictive personality tend to become easily dependent on substance that provide short term pleasure, relief, and an escape to the troubles occurring during their reality. Teenagers and adults who are going through stressful environments are even more prone to abusing drugs and take on symptoms of an addict after using intense substance long enough. The psychology of addictive personalities may be hard to understand, since they rely not just on our actual experience but on how we interpret them in our minds. Luckily from years of studies experts have been able to pinpoint a few telltale signs to know if you may have an addictive personality or not. Every addict looks and acts differently when they are developing an addiction so knowing what to look out for is crucial. Let’s break down the top signs of an addictive personality and how they can be better understood.
Signs of Addictive Behavior
- The addictive behavior may be related to your genes, but it might not be either. Studies have shown that even twins who were born to addicted parents but then adopted by non-addicted families found that genes were responsible for about half the chance becoming addicted during their lifetime. If you environment and family encourages the use of drugs or alcohol, you may have an increased chance to become addicted yourself after enough exposure. If your parents or close relatives are abusing substances near you on a consistent basis, you could start picking up their traits and behavior after a certain amount of time. Make sure that you talk to a counselor if you feel unsafe or unwelcome at home if this is the case. The same goes for having close friends who are abusing drugs, as spending enough time around them can lead you down the road to addiction to fit in with them. No one wants to realize that they’ve developed a dependence on drugs from another person’s influence/
- People who crave excitement, spontaneity and often go through “phases” in life are the most common sources of addictive personalities. They may love taking their car and driving fast, taking risks in their daily lives and career, having sexual outings with different people, and doing various activities without considering the consequences to feel pleasure overall. Dopamine is the main chemical in the brainthat makes you feel pleasure, so once a person gets a taste for it they often seek it out as much as possible to get away from their daily stress. If you add addictive drugs and alcohol into the mix, the person who seeks pleasure will be more prone to using them on them on a regular basis so they can get their fill and immediately feel better in the short term. In fact, some people with addictive personalities have said to experts that trying new drugs or alcohol drinks helped them feel the best they’ve ever felt. As their addiction increases, their bodies develop a strong tolerance and need to consume larger quantities to recreate that amazing feeling.
- People who have additive personalities have an inability to quit the bad habits that they started. In their mind, finding an exciting hobby, person, or hobby in their life leads to an “all or nothing” mantra. They want to go all in on what was invited into their daily routine and will have a hard time stopping to reflect on if it’s really a good influence on them. In younger adults or children, recognizing this trait can be difficult as different personalities and outliers exist. There’s not one set persona or behavior that allows a parent to diagnose as an addictive personality. Yet, as they grow into adults and face issues with their addiction,experts say that just acknowledging the trait for not being able to quit substances or negative activities alone is the first step to getting the treatment needed for a healthy and productive life.
- Many people who abuse substances and negative behaviors may experience high stress and a poor sense of self confidence. In many cases, this stress may be independently created when someone chooses to worry and feed into the insecurities that developed since childhood. It may also be caused by external factors like their boss at work, a friend from their night out, or their parents who are exerting extreme pressure to do well. People who struggle with mood disorders like anxiety or bipolar disorder are also more likely to have higher stress levels due to the imbalances of hormones that could be happening in their mind. Coupled with a low sense of worth, individuals can turn to self-medicating themselves with drugs or alcohol to feel better temporarily. They may find that these substances provide more emotional comfort and pleasure than even talking to another peer about their problems.
Assess Your Situation
Even if you or someone you know is taking a drug, understanding where the line falls between occasional use to and a full on addiction is important. Learn as much as you can about addictive personalitiesand you may be surprised at which people in your life might have one. We all want to know more about ourselves to make better decisions for the future, so don’t hesitate now!