Signs of Addictive Behavior

Addiction can come in many forms. Most people associate addiction with drugs or alcohol, but many other things can become an addiction. Addictive behaviors are any that have the potential to be dangerous if the person feels as though they have to engage in the behavior. The need to repeat certain behaviors to release distress can make it extremely difficult to reduce or dissolve these behaviors.

Patterns of addictive behavior

When it comes to addiction there is a pattern that most people fall into while they are in active addiction.

Quitting

They want to quit but cannot seem to follow through with that desire.

Relapsing

If they return to their old environment they will face the triggers that can cause a relapse.

No control

Understanding that they do not control the substance, but that it controls them, requires a change in their thought process.

No pleasure.

Sometimes the person is disgusted with the substance or behavior, but they continue to indulge.

Being intentional

It takes a choice and intentionality to remain out of addiction. With faith-based counseling, the person can rely on God’s word for strength.

Cross-addiction

This is simply replacing one addiction with another.

Genetics

Some people have a genetic predisposition to addictive behavior.

Addict vs. abuser

Once an abuser crosses the line and becomes a compulsive user they become an addict. An abuser can abuse the substance but not rely on it. An addict relies on the substance to feel normal.

What are the most common addictive behaviors?

Addictive behavior is not the same for every person or situation. Most of the behaviors associated with addiction are common across the spectrum of addictions.

Secretive

A person struggling with addiction will typically go to great lengths to keep anyone from knowing what is going on. They may disappear for hours and keep friends away from family.

Manipulation and lying

A common addictive behavior is manipulation. The person will do or say something to receive something in return. Promising to quit the addiction if they can get financial help. Lying about where they have been and what they were doing is done to get what they want or cover up their addiction.

Changes in appearance

A rapid decrease in weight is one of the most common appearance changes that could indicate an addiction problem with substances. Personal hygiene becomes a low priority.

Mood swings

The emotions of a person who is in active addiction are sporadic and unpredictable. The most prevalent mood or emotion is anxiety, or they may be restless and confused. Most of the time, addiction keeps a person from getting the proper amount of sleep, leading to irritability and paranoia. Some people will even become aggressive and violent.

Changes in energy levels

They may be happy and full of energy and all of a sudden there is a change to extreme tiredness.

Not meeting obligations

Sometimes the addiction will take precedence over work, school, and family obligations. They may miss family functions. The person becomes fixated on using money to satisfy the addiction rather than paying bills.

Paraphernalia

It is common for items such as empty liquor bottles, syringes, and pill bottles to be lying around the house when a person is addicted.

Loss of interest in former hobbies

The person in active addiction will spend more time pursuing the addiction and forget about the hobbies or events they once enjoyed.

Possible legal problems

Sometimes the person finds themselves facing legal problems as a result of their addiction. These could be situations such as driving under the influence, stealing, assault, possession of illegal substances, and fraud.

How to help someone who has addictive behavior

It can be painful to discover your loved one is struggling with addiction, but understanding how addiction works is the key to understanding how to help them. Once you have identified the signs of addictive behavior you can focus on how to get them into a program that will help them.

Be patient with them

You can’t expect the first conversation about the issue to be received enthusiastically. There is no quick fix, and one conversation won’t get the message across that you want to help them.

Don’t wait to confront them with concerns

It isn’t the easiest conversation, but it is necessary when your loved one is in active addiction. Let them know that you have noticed the behaviors, and you are concerned for their safety.

Practice compassion

As hard as it is to love a person with addictive behaviors, it is the one thing that you can give them repeatedly. They have to know that they can trust you for them to allow you to help them.

Don’t forget to take care of yourself

When helping someone with addictive behaviors there is a tendency to forget that you need sleep and nutrition. The stress, anxiety, and grief can cause you to isolate and become negligent with self-care.

What are the treatment options for addictive behavior?

Most of the time when the addictive behavior has been identified the person requires addiction treatment. Several successful programs are available to those who want help. The important thing to remember is that the person with the addiction must want the help. Even though it is available and has worked for others, it will never work for someone who doesn’t want to change.

Hospital management is the most common treatment for certain substances due to withdrawal symptoms. These types of programs have professionals available to help with the physical symptoms of withdrawal.

Medications can be prescribed to help reduce the cravings. As long as they are taken as prescribed these can be beneficial in the recovery from addiction and help to alleviate addictive behavior.

Therapy and support groups are another way of finding the underlying cause of the addictive behavior. Through Christian counseling, a person can understand the causes, triggers, and recovery aspects of addictive behavior.

One of the most difficult forms of treatment to obtain is rehabilitation or sober living. In these settings, there are therapy sessions, educational opportunities, and recovery support that will encourage the person to pursue a healthy lifestyle without addiction.

Outlook after treatment

When a person completes treatment and has chosen to live a life of sobriety, they can expect to live a healthy life. It is important to keep positive and faith-filled influences within reach to maintain that sobriety. Many Christian counselors can help with faith-based therapy.

To maintain sobriety the person needs to understand how to change the thought process that can lead to addiction. God’s word speaks about transforming our thought process each day through meditation on God, Himself and viewing our suffering in light of eternity.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. –  2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NASB

Next steps

When a person is in active addiction they will most likely display several of the addictive behaviors mentioned above. There are treatments available, and the success rate is high when the person chooses to seek sobriety. There is always hope for recovery. Taking time to help your loved one begin to take the first steps will help with the success rate of their recovery.

If you have noticed that your loved one is exhibiting these addictive behaviors contact a Christian counselor in your area. They will help you with the next steps in getting your loved one the help they need to obtain successful recovery.