What Are The Signs Of An Addictive Personality Disorder?
Addictions are thought to arise due to a variety of factors, some of which may be inherent in an individual’s personality. Addiction can lead to serious challenges surrounding relationships, work, and mental and physical health; so it can be helpful to know how to identify signs that are thought to be associated with its development. Though there isn’t one personality type thought to lead to addiction, there are certain factors—impulsivity, other mental health conditions, risk-taking behavior, etc.—that may contribute to addictive behaviors or substance dependency. In this article, we’re going to discuss several common addictive personality traits and how you can navigate their potential effects.
What is an addictive personality?
While experts believe there is not one specific personality type that’s more prone to addictive personality disorder than others, there are several traits that can contribute to the likelihood that a person will become addicted to a substance or behavior.
These include genetics, family history of addiction, having another addiction, the need for excitement or thrill, impulsivity, or difficulty quitting. One of the most common factors underlying addiction is the feeling of reward, which is experienced in the brain as the chemical dopamine is released, and in turn makes a person feel satisfied.
Addiction can be a sign of common mental health disorders, including substance use disorders and impulse-control disorder. Someone with addictive personality traits may experience alcohol dependency or other substance addiction. They may also display addictive behavior related to activities, such as gambling, playing video games, or eating.
What are the signs of an addictive personality?
While people can express addiction in various ways, there are several characteristics and factors that can indicate the presence of an unhealthy relationship with a substance or behavior in an individual’s life. The following are common addictive personality traits.
Impulsivity
A person with an addictive personality may have an increased propensity for risky behavior and acting without fully considering the consequences. Research shows that impulsivity is a common trait in those experiencing addiction. A lack of inhibition can impact an individual’s ability to abstain from addictive behavior or stop once they have started. For example, someone who is addicted to alcohol may be easily persuaded to have a drink, even if they have obligations.
Comorbid mental health conditions
There is a proven connection between addiction and various mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and bipolar disorder. Some people with mental health challenges use substances or addictive behaviors to cope with their symptoms. Additionally, substance use disorder and other addiction-related conditions can exacerbate or cause mental health challenges.
Disregarding negative outcomes
Someone with addictive traits may continue to engage in harmful behaviors even as those activities impact their health, work, or relationships in negative ways. For example, a person who is addicted to gambling may experience serious financial consequences but struggle to stop this behavior; or a person who is addicted to alcohol may continue drinking despite developing physical health concerns.
Trouble stopping
Difficulty ceasing an addictive behavior goes along with the trait of impulsivity mentioned earlier. For example, a person who is addicted to gaming may play for hours without realizing that a significant amount of time has passed. There is a neurobiological reason for trouble stopping addictive behavior—the brain’s reward system produces a dopamine boost when an individual engages with their addiction. For someone with addictive traits, the desire to feel the effects of an increase in dopamine can make it hard to stop the activity.
Obsessing
Obsessions are marked by an intense focus on one subject or activity, and they are thought to be common in people who experience addiction. For example, there is a proven link between obsessive-compulsive disorder—in which obsessions are a primary characteristic—and substance use disorder. An individual with addictive personality traits may become so focused on the object of their obsession that they eschew their responsibilities.
Negative relationship effects
Because of their behaviors, a person with an addictive personality disorder may have strained relationships. They may become dishonest with their partner, family members, and friends; or their addiction can cause them to stop spending as much time with loved ones. Some people with addictive traits become withdrawn in order to avoid interactions that may prevent them from engaging with their addiction.
Secrecy
Many people with addictive personality traits want to avoid worrying loved ones or feeling shame that may be associated with their addiction. This can lead them to participate in addictive behaviors alone. An individual with alcohol dependency, for example, may bring a flask to events so that they can drink when they’re alone. This can make it harder for others to recognize the addiction and cause the individual to isolate.
Managing the effects of an addictive personality
People with addictive personality traits can learn to control their addictions. While a comprehensive treatment plan developed by a healthcare professional is often necessary to reduce addictive behaviors, there are also several proven strategies that may reduce symptoms and increase the chances of recovery.
Journal
Journaling can help individuals process their feelings surrounding an addiction while also reducing symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. Additionally, journaling can help someone with addictive traits track their progress and identify situations that may frequently lead them to engage with their addiction. For example, by reviewing journal entries, an individual may realize that they often drink alcohol when they are with certain friends or family members. They may also be able to recognize which strategies have been effective in managing addiction.
Journaling can also help address symptoms of comorbid mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression. In fact, research suggests that journaling can produce both mental and physical health benefits.
Give yourself grace
If you are living with addiction, you may be experiencing mixed emotions. It can help to remember that addictive personality traits are often signs of a mental health condition (e.g., substance use disorder, impulse-control disorder). As with other illnesses, addiction can happen to anyone, and it is not a sign of weakness or a deficiency. If you’re addressing an addiction, try to be forgiving and understanding toward yourself.
Practice self-care
Nurturing your mental and physical well-being can help you reduce stress, boost your energy, and better manage an addiction. Many self-care activities can directly reduce the effects of an addiction. For example, eating a balanced diet and exercising can help improve outcomes when it comes to a food addiction. Self-care can comprise everything from taking a long bath to doing a jigsaw puzzle to exercising.
Develop a support network
Studies show that social support can provide significant benefits when it comes to mental health. Talking about your emotions with someone you trust can be cathartic, giving you an outlet for your feelings. Discussing an addiction be particularly helpful if you’ve been keeping it a secret. A loved can provide you with insights into your situation that you hadn’t considered. They may have even been through the same things as you and might have tips for addressing certain addictive traits.
Consider developing a support network of people you trust. This can include friends, family members, mentors, co-workers, and a mental health professional. You can also find support groups that are based around certain addictions. These can connect you with people who have gone through, or are still going through, similar challenges as you. Consider searching for groups that meet in your area or virtually.
Managing the effects of addictive traits with online therapy
If you’re living with an addiction, professional counselors can help you identify addictive personality traits and work through the challenges an addiction can present. Studies show that online therapy can help individuals address addictive behavior and improve the odds of recovery. For example, in a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers examined the benefits of online therapy for those experiencing addiction, finding that treatment doubled the likelihood of abstinence in individuals who entered the program still engaging in substance use. The study also mentioned the increased availability provided by online therapy platforms.
Online therapy is a convenient and flexible way for you to address an addiction or a similar mental health-related concern. With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can work with your therapist to identify potential addictive personality traits remotely, through video call, voice call, or in-app messaging. Your therapist can also connect you with useful resources, such as articles or at-home exercises that will allow you to address the effects of addiction on your own time.
Takeaway
What are the signs of an addictive personality?
“Addictive” traits manifest uniquely between people and having them doesn’t mean an individual is destined to develop an addiction. But when they interfere with one’s daily life and productivity, some behaviors and characteristics may be associated with an addictive personality. Some of these include:
- Trouble with controlling impulsive behavior and/or making impulsive decisions despite the negative consequences.
- A desire or obsession with experiences, substances, or behaviors that give one pleasure or the same “rush” that one may derive from an addiction.
- A low tolerance for stress and emotional discomfort.
- Obsessive thinking about certain behaviors or substances.
- Difficulty with moderation when partaking in certain activities.
- Trouble controlling urges or delaying gratification.
- Struggling to set and maintain healthy boundaries in relationships or around behavior.
- Using substances or behaviors to “escape” from reality or emotional difficulties.
What are 4 common symptoms of addiction?
Again, addiction looks different for different people, and not everyone will have the same symptoms. Here are some common symptoms that people may exhibit when experiencing an addiction:
- Problems in daily life with work, school, and social commitments. These may include tardiness or absenteeism or poor performance.
- Financial difficulties due to excessive spending on the source of addiction.
- Loss of motivation to do things that were enjoyable for the individual in the past.
- Becoming defensive when speaking about the source of the addiction, lying and deceptive behavior.
Is there an addictive personality type?
There are many factors contribute to how and why a person develops an addiction, including heritability or genetic factors, social influences, and psychological conditions. However there is no one personality type more predisposed to addiction than others.
What are the six major characteristics of addictive behavior?
Addictive behavior isn’t always obvious. Some people with an addiction may try hard to hide it from their friends and loved ones. Others may have an addiction without exhibiting symptoms that fall within the parameters of an official diagnosis.
While it can vary depending on the specific addiction (e.g., drug and alcohol addiction, behavioral addiction), there are six common characteristics often associated with a developing addiction:
Loss Of Control
People with addictive behavior often find it challenging to control their contact with the addictive substance/behavior— despite the potentially negative consequences.
Intense Cravings
Strong, seemingly irresistible urges to engage the object of addiction are a hallmark of addictive behavior. These cravings can be triggered by various cues, such as stress, environmental factors, or emotional states.
Tolerance
Over time, individuals with addictive behavior may develop tolerance, which means they require increasing amounts of the substance or engagement in the behavior to achieve the desired effect. This can lead to escalating consumption or engagement.
Withdrawal Symptoms
When an addicted individual reduces or discontinues the substance or behavior, they often experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be physical, emotional, or psychological and can be highly distressing or uncomfortable.
Negative Consequences
Addictive behavior typically leads to negative consequences in various aspects of a person's life, such as health, relationships, work, and finances. Despite these adverse outcomes, individuals with addiction often continue their behavior.
Preoccupation And Neglect
People with addictive behavior often spend a significant amount of time thinking about, obtaining, using, or recovering from the addictive substance or behavior. This preoccupation can lead to neglect of other important life responsibilities and interests.
What is the difference between addictive personality and obsessive personality?
While obsession is a common factor underlying both conditions, people with obsessive-compulsive disorders engage in obsessive behaviors to cope with anxiety and “control” psychological discomfort. The behaviors are often ritualistic in nature and become part of the individual’s daily life. Addictive behaviors often arise from a need for pleasure, with people using psychoactive substances as a form of self-medication or escape from daily life rather than to control it.
Do people with ADHD have addictive personalities?
Research suggests that ADHD and addiction are often comorbid conditions, and there may be a genetic component to their link. There are also many similarities between the symptoms of ADHD and addictive behaviors, such as reward seeking, impulsivity, and a predilection for anxiety.
What is an addictive personality type 1?
The “type one” personality refers to a type defined within the parameters of the Enneagram Personality Test. The Enneagram Test features nine personality types based on an individual’s communication types, motivation styles, fears, and more.
The personality type one is sometimes called “the Perfectionist” because of their principled nature and need for approval. These qualities along with their idealistic nature and desire for control can leave the Perfectionist vulnerable to conditions like alcohol addiction and others. These individuals may develop addictions as a means of escaping the reality of their sometimes unreasonably high personal standards. These addictions won’t be obvious to those who know the Perfectionist, as they’ll likely go to great lengths to hide them.
What is an addictive personality in a relationship?
When a person is predisposed to addiction through factors like genetic makeup and a history of neglect from a parent or close family member, they may develop an addiction to their relationships. When this type of addiction arises, they may rely on the partnership for the same feelings of happiness they may receive from any other addictive substance/behavior.
People in an addictive relationship may be dependent upon their partner and feel as if they can’t live outside of the relationship. They may be willing to commit quickly, and act impulsively to keep their partner.
What are the 10 stages of addiction?
While there are six major characteristics of addiction, there are ten stages of the recovery process that include lapse and relapse. It's important to note that not everyone who experiences a lapse will progress through all of these stages, and relapse is a common part of the recovery process for many people.
This process includes stages that build upon the last, and recognizing them can help individuals seek treatment before getting to the final stages of relapse:
- Emotional Relapse: In this stage, individuals may begin to display emotional and behavioral signs of vulnerability, even if they aren’t consciously thinking about using substances. They might isolate themselves, neglect self-care, or experience mood swings, anxiety, feelings of shame, and anger. These negative emotions can result from internal or external triggers that may lead to impulsive behaviors.
- Mental Relapse: During this stage, individuals may have thoughts about engaging in addictive behaviors, reminisce about substance use, and experience cravings. They may minimize the potential consequences of a relapse and even find themselves planning to relapse.
- Physical Relapse: This is the first time someone uses a substance after a period of abstinence. It often occurs impulsively or in response to a specific trigger. They may exhibit risk-taking behaviors and act on their cravings regardless of the consequences.
- Awareness Of Lapse: After the physical act of reengaging with the addiction, the individual may become cognizant that they’ve relapsed. As a result, they may feel guilt, shame, or disappointment. At this point, it's still possible to prevent a full relapse from substance abuse.
- Continued Use: Without intervention at this stage, the individual may keep practicing the addictive behaviors, rationalizing that since they’ve already relapsed, they may as well continue.
- Preoccupation With Use: In this stage, individuals begin to resort to old feelings of obsession and their thoughts are dominated by cravings.
- Full Relapse: At this point, the addiction is active again and it’s likely that the individual has resumed regular substance use/addictive behaviors. During this phase, it’s likely that the individual will experience a loss of control over their addiction and experience long term consequences as a result.
- Denial: After a full relapse, individuals may deny the severity of their problem or try to justify their substance use. This can be a significant barrier to seeking help.
- Increased Tolerance and Dependence: Over time, individuals' tolerance and dependence on the substance may increase, leading to more frequent and higher doses of use.
- Seeking Help: In some cases, individuals may experience a time where the consequences of their substance use become unbearable, leading them to seek help or enter treatment again.
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