Process Addiction Treatment

Much like a substance use disorder, process addictions share similar characteristics, especially when it comes to the ability, or lack thereof, to stop or limit the compulsive behavior, even when you are fully away that it is negatively impacting various aspects of your life. Some of the common signs of a behavioral addiction disorder are:

• Spending an unusually excessive amount of time thinking about or actively practicing the addictive behavior
• Using an unhealthy process to relieve unpleasant feelings
• Cutting out other activities, responsibilities, as well as personal or professional relationships that once held value in your life
• Using the process, or compulsion, as an escape from negative and painful feelings
• Continuing to partake in the behavior in spite of knowing about the effect on your mental and physical health, relationships, work life, school, and other roles and responsibilities
• Compulsively seeking the high, the behavior delivers
• Increasing the behavior to achieve the high as your mind and body become tolerant of it
• Experiencing a withdrawal when you are forced to stop the behavior

As with substance addiction, the addicted individual can often experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms once the process is removed. For example, an internet addict cannot access their phone or Wifi. When a person with a behavioral addiction is unable to partake in their addictive behavior, they could experience severe mental distress.