Understanding and Treating Process Addictions

Understanding and Treating Process Addictions

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When you think of addiction, you probably think of drug addiction or alcohol addiction. These issues fall under the umbrella of substance use disorder (SUD). There is another type of addiction, however, and one that doesn’t involve physical substances. It’s possible to become addicted to a behavior; these are called process addictions. Process addictions can be just as harmful as SUD and should be treated by a mental health or addiction professional.

What Types of Addiction Are Considered Process Addictions?

A process addiction is a psychological addiction to a certain activity or behavior. In many ways, process addictions work similarly to substance addictions, but there isn’t a substance being consumed. Instead, the person is addicted to the chemical response from their brain when they perform certain behaviors. This type of addiction can affect people of any age and gender.

Process addictions can be more difficult to spot than substance addictions. There aren’t usually obvious physical signs of a problem, like rapid weight loss or erratic behavior. People with process addictions usually try very hard to remain in control and appear normal to the people around them. They may be very secretive about the activity that takes up so much of their time. Some examples of process addictions not mentioned here include:

  • Shopping addiction
  • Exercise addiction
  • Television addiction
  • Work addiction 
  • Pornography addiction

It is important to note that having a process addiction is not the same as having a hobby that you really enjoy and spend a lot of time doing. Addictions are compulsive in nature, cause people to ignore negative consequences, and are often accompanied by feelings of shame. 

Gambling Addiction

This is perhaps the most well-known example of a process addiction. A gambling addiction happens when a person becomes dependent on the chemical release of adrenaline and dopamine in the brain when they gamble. Gambling addiction is common because of the extreme emotional highs and lows caused by the act of gambling. One moment, you’re losing money, which makes you desperate to win it back. The odds of winning are usually stacked against you, so if you do get a small win, the psychological reward center explodes with pleasurable chemicals. High on the good feelings, you bet again, thinking that you might be on a lucky streak. Then you lose money, and the cycle starts again. 

Unfortunately, people with a gambling addiction usually lose much more money than they win. This can lead to financial strain and debt that can seriously affect them and their families. They may go to extremes to find more money that they can gamble with, sure that this time they’re going to win big and win back all they’ve lost. When it gets to this level, professional help is often the only option to get better. With treatment, however, gambling addictions can be overcome.

Food Addiction

This type of addiction is a process addiction that manifests as compulsive overeating or an unhealthy obsession with food, often intertwined with anxiety and other mental health issues. Food addiction shares similarities with internet addiction and gambling addiction, as individuals struggle to control their behavior despite negative consequences. 

Having a food addiction can be particularly difficult to get help with because of the misinformation and stigma surrounding it. Many people assume that people with food addiction just need to go on a diet or exercise to lose weight. This assumption is wrong in a couple of ways: people with food addiction are not always overweight, and not all overweight people have a food addiction. Stereotypes and misconceptions like this contribute to stigmatization that makes it difficult for people with food addiction to seek help. 

Food addiction shares many symptoms with binge-eating disorder, and the two conditions often overlap. If you have a frequent compulsion to overeat that interferes with your daily life, you may have a food addiction and should seek professional help. 

Gaming Addiction

Internet addiction, or gaming addiction, involves a compulsive need to play video games, often to the detriment of other aspects of life. This process of addiction activates the brain’s reward system in a manner similar to SUD, leading to intense cravings and difficulty controlling gaming habits.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of gaming addiction is crucial for early intervention and treatment. Psychotherapy, particularly cognitive-behavioral approaches, can help individuals address underlying issues and develop healthier coping mechanisms. 

Sex Addiction

This process disorder involves compulsive engagement in sex despite negative consequences for you or your sexual partner. Sex releases dopamine and endorphins into the brain, which can cause feelings of pleasure. Additionally, reckless sex can cause the release of adrenaline, which gives people the thrilling feeling of facing danger. These are the things that can cause a process addiction in some people. 

Sex addiction can have unintended consequences for everyone involved, including the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy. This is just one of the reasons why people with a sex addiction should seek professional help. 

Our Treatment Approach for Process Addictions

Alpha Behavioral Health takes a multifaceted approach to treating process addictions, recognizing them as complex behavioral disorders that require individualized care. Our team addresses these conditions with compassion, understanding that they’re often intertwined with other mental health issues. Here, the treatment protocol begins with a comprehensive assessment, followed by tailored intervention strategies that target the specific behavioral addiction. We employ evidence-based therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), to help you regain control over compulsive behaviors and redirect your attention towards healthier pursuits.

Comprehensive Assessment

Your comprehensive assessment at Alpha Behavioral Health begins with a thorough evaluation of your behavioral patterns, risk factors, and potential co-occurring disorders. This in-depth analysis helps our team understand the root causes of your process addiction and any associated stress or violence that may be exacerbating the condition.

During the assessment, you’ll undergo a series of interviews, questionnaires, and possibly psychological tests to provide a complete picture of your mental health. We understand that this can feel invasive, but this is the first step to understanding your condition and getting you the best help possible. This comprehensive approach allows us to identify any underlying issues that may contribute to your addictive behaviors.

Intervention Strategies

At Alpha Behavioral Health, intervention strategies for process addictions are tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re a gamer struggling with excessive play or someone battling a shopping addiction, our team develops personalized approaches based on extensive research. We incorporate elements from successful programs like Gamblers Anonymous, adapting them to address your unique challenges.

Your treatment plan may include individual therapy sessions, group support, and skills training to help you manage triggers and cravings. We offer specialized techniques to break the cycle of addictive behavior. Our goal is to equip you with the tools necessary to overcome your process addiction and regain control of your life:

  • Personalized therapy sessions
  • Group support meetings
  • Skills training for trigger management
  • Specialized techniques for gambling-related issues
  • Ongoing support and follow-up care

Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT and behavioral therapy form the cornerstone of Alpha Behavioral Health’s treatment approach for process addictions. These evidence-based methods, recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, help you reshape thought patterns and behaviors associated with your addiction. By targeting the neural pathways that release dopamine during addictive behaviors, CBT enables you to develop healthier responses to triggers and cravings.

Your treatment plan may incorporate physical activity and exercise as complementary strategies to manage impulsivity and reduce stress. These activities can help regulate your mood and provide natural dopamine release. Through a combination of behavioral interventions and lifestyle changes, you’ll learn to redirect your energy towards positive pursuits, breaking the cycle of addiction and fostering long-term recovery.

Fostering Long-Term Recovery for Process Addictions

Your journey to long-term recovery from process addiction begins with understanding the psychological factors that drive your behavior. Recognize that excessive screen time or compulsive gambling are symptoms of deeper issues. Alpha Behavioral Health encourages you to work with your therapist to uncover and address these underlying causes.

With the guidance of our trained addiction professionals, you can develop healthy coping mechanisms to replace addictive behaviors. Your recovery plan will include strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges without resorting to harmful behaviors. You’ll also have a chance to engage in support groups and continue therapy after primary treatment to maintain your progress and prevent relapse. When you choose us for your recovery journey, you’ll take an active role in your recovery, set realistic goals, celebrate small victories, and learn from setbacks. All of these steps contribute to a future that you can control, one of lasting wellness and long-term recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions About Process Addictions

There is a lot of misinformation out there about process addictions, and it can be hard to tell what sources to trust. If you’re concerned about a loved one, you probably have questions that don’t have an easy answer. Read on for some in-depth answers to frequently asked questions regarding process disorders. If you still feel unsure, reach out to Alpha Behavioral Health for guidance.

What can I do to help my child who’s addicted to their phone?

It’s important to note that for technology or phone addiction, there has been very little research into the development and effects of actual dependence. Having a process addiction isn’t the same as spending a lot of time doing something and getting a feeling of pleasure from it, although that is often how process addictions begin. Your child may be spending a large amount of time on their phone, and that could have effects on their physical health, such as their eyesight, and their mental health, such as depression symptoms due to lack of natural light exposure. However, this does not necessarily mean they have a process addiction or need to be treated for one. 

If the time spent on their phone begins to interfere with daily functioning, it may be time to consider the possibility of a process addiction. That means that your child neglects basic needs such as eating, sleeping, hygiene, and socialization in favor of time on their phone. Another sign of a phone addiction is negative mood shifts when not on their phone. Anxiety, sadness, or irritability when not able to partake in the addictive process is a warning sign of process addictions. 

You can attempt to combat the process disorder on your own by encouraging activities that don’t involve screens and setting designated phone-free times throughout the day. Try having an honest and respectful conversation with your child about their digital habits. Behavioral addictions, like phone addiction, can affect the brain’s reward system similarly to SUD, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. 

However, process addictions can be difficult to combat without professional intervention. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional, ideally one that specializes in process addictions. This is often the best option for getting your child help and improving their well-being. 

How can I recognize process addictions in myself?

It can be extremely difficult to recognize process addictions in yourself. Often, when people realize they have a problem, it’s already been going on for a while. But it’s never too late to recognize a mental health issue and get help for it. 

The first step is to acknowledge what behaviors take up most of your time. Process addictions are often all-consuming and interfere with normal daily activities like eating, sleeping, and working. If any behavior fits that description, there may be an issue that needs to be addressed. 

The next step is to observe your emotions surrounding the behavior. Usually, there is a feeling of compulsion to engage in the behavior, and holding back from it creates feelings of anxiety, sadness, or irritability. This reaction is similar to cravings and withdrawals that people with substance use issues have. That is a sign that you are psychologically dependent on the behavior to bring you some sort of reward in the form of dopamine or adrenaline. 

Consider the following signs: an inability to control or stop the behavior despite negative consequences, neglecting important areas of life such as work or relationships, and lying about or hiding the extent of your involvement in the activity. Other signs include feeling a need to increase engagement in the behavior to achieve the same effect, similar to how tolerance builds with substance dependence. Recognizing these signs and symptoms early on can prevent further mental distress for you and your family.

Try to be brutally honest and vulnerable with yourself. There doesn’t have to be shame in admitting that you have a problem. If you suspect that you might have a process addiction, reach out to loved ones and ask for help in getting treatment.

What are some healthier habits that can replace addictive behaviors?

Healthy habits like exercise can be a great addition to your daily routine when trying to overcome addictive behaviors. However, it’s important to be mindful of the fact that your brain’s reward center is currently responding to stimuli in an unhealthy way. “Replacing” your addictive behaviors with other habits may lead to swapping one addiction for another. 

All activities and behaviors should be carefully moderated during this time. Taking up hobbies like exercising and cooking can be healthy distractions from your compulsions. Work with loved ones and/or an addiction professional to make sure that your behaviors are at a healthy, moderate level. You should get enjoyment out of your hobbies without the compulsive need to engage in them or feelings of shame afterward. 

Try to develop a structured routine where you block out time for basic daily tasks like eating, cleaning, bathing, and sleeping, as well as enjoyable activities like socializing and self-care. You should focus on engaging in new experiences that do not revolve around compulsive behavior. Clubs and volunteer work can be a great way to gain a sense of purpose and take your attention away from yourself for a period of time.

Having a process addiction can be an isolating experience, but you don’t have to go through this alone. Help is available at Alpha Behavioral Health. We offer evidence-based treatment modalities and personalized care to help people with process addictions overcome their compulsions and take action toward positive change. You can be in control of your life again, but it can be hard to do alone. Professional intervention is the best option for treating addiction and mental health disorders. Don’t wait to ask for the help that you need and deserve. Call Alpha Behavioral Health at (833) 257-4218 to learn more about process addictions and take the first step toward healing.