Many people struggle with addiction to substances such as drugs and alcohol, but not everyone struggles with addictions of this type.
Some struggle with their appetite or gambling, while others may have problems using the Internet or mobile phones. And it is this topic that we want to talk about in this article.
There are many people who suffer and have to fight daily with an addiction, but not all of them suffer from it. There are two types of addictions: substance and behavioral The first have to do with the abuse of substances such as drugs, alcohol, nicotine or caffeine. The second type involves engaging in behaviors or activities that cannot be stopped or reduced, even if they cause harm to the person’s life. These are called behavioral addictions.
An addiction as dangerous as the one that involves drug use: the behavioral one
Non-substance or behavioral addictions imply that the person suffers from dependence on an object or behavior, not on something palpable such as, for example, drugs
Non-substance addictions have a higher risk of relapse, as they use addictive behavior to cope with some aspect of their life. These addictions often develop in response to trauma, stress, loneliness, or other difficult times in a person’s life Some examples may be work, or internet addiction.
For an addiction to exist, it is not necessary that there be a physical element that can be consumed. Sometimes it is simply a behavior that causes us to fall due to a biological imbalance
Just as someone can become addicted to a substance, someone can also become addicted to a behavior. For example, gambling is a behavior that can be addictive without the addition of any physical element This is because the brain becomes unbalanced due to the release of dopamine when playing.
The most common substanceless addictions today
We have already talked, in this same medium, about how the brain acts when an addiction is developing. Brain structures and neurotransmitters come into play in this process, and for that reason, we must be aware of possible warning signs.
For us, what is relevant in this article is to tell you, so that you have this very important information, what are the main addictions without substance This does not mean that there is not more, since any behavior you can imagine can be susceptible to becoming an addiction.
For this reason, it is very important that we are prepared to have a correct understanding of how they work, but also what their prognosis and evolution are like.
In this way, the most common behavioral or non-substance addictions today are the following.
1. Gambling addiction or gambling addiction
Gambling is a truly addictive and destructive problem that affects many people. One of the main reasons for this is the way gambling addiction affects the brain.
A game addict You may feel intense excitement or pleasure when you are gambling, but then feel the same amount of despair, disappointment, and frustration when you lose your bets The addict cannot control the impulse, even if he does not want to.
It is a very serious disorder that has important personal and family consequences. It can affect people’s ability to function in society, and it can also greatly affect their financial situation.
2. Work addiction
Work addiction is a modern phenomenon. It occurs when a person cannot stop working even if they want to and even if it is not a formal imposition of your organizational or work context.
There are many reasons for this addiction, but one of the main reasons is that people have been educated since childhood to work hard, they need to work from home due to personal or family problems, and people think that society will not appreciate them if they do not. do. What’s more, they believe that they are not doing their job well.
Work addiction can be very harmful, causing depression and anxiety in some cases It can also lead to burnout and poor performance at work, which could lead to dismissal.
When a person spends too much time at work and stops worrying about other things, they can develop a limiting disorder that must be approached with special care.
There are many professions that require a lot of time and dedication to succeed, but In most cases it is possible to balance work and personal life and maintain a healthy balance.
3. Sex addiction
Sex is a basic need of every person. However, If maintained through obsessive behavior or abused, this can become a very serious problem that must be treated It can affect personal relationships, and really all areas of the addict’s life.
It is important to note that many sex addicts use pornography, something that can be very harmful to themselves by not actually meeting the expectations they have.
