Common Threads Link Addictive Behavior

Many people have features of an addictive personality. They heed the call to the "pleasure center," located in the frontal lobe of the brain. As many of us yield to the urges and cravings of the pleasure center, our negative beliefs and behaviors reinforce the need to continue self-defeating addictive behavior.
Beneath the addiction, one finds personality characteristics that sustain the addiction. According to Charlie Whitfield, these characterisitics are common to all addictions. People most likely experience problems with trust, dependency, abandonment, shame, guilt and the expression of deep feelings. Once the addiction is uncovered, these issues must be addressed through group addictions meetings or individual therapy.
Often adults, whose parents were alcoholics, choose to attend Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings in order to resolve the fallout from family behavior. Family members can be affected by addictive behavior and may adopt behavioral characteristics similar to the addict.
Addictive behavior lies on a continuum. For some of us, our tendency to compulsively engage in a particular behavior may not affect our everyday functioning. For example, many people engage in a pattern of ritualistic jogging. This may be considered a positive addiction because the activity promotes physical fitness and can release endorphins that elevate one's mood and behavior. If, however, the jogger begins to dismiss friendships, social activities and responsibilities in order to sustain the jogging pattern, then the activity takes on a different meaning. Furthermore, many joggers may become so obsessive about their interest, that they begin experiencing significant weight loss, making them appear too thin and fostering body misperception problems.
People struggle with addictive patterns such a weight gain, gambling, sexual addictions, eating disorders, compulsive shopping and self-cutting. I am merely providing a brief list of addictive behaviors. A comprehensive list is too exhaustive to print.
Many people ask me, "Are there any common characteeristics or features that likn various addictions into a pattern? The following is my perception of the common threads that link all addictive behaviors.

• Most addictive behaviors are an attempt at avoiding unpleasant and painful experiences.
• Most addictive urges and underlying self-defeating beliefs trigger cravings.
• Most people with addictions experience masked emotional problems such as anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive characteristics.
• Most addictions are fueled by thwarted anger and self-blame, particularly among adolescents.
• Shame-based feelings are at the core of all addictions.
• Most people who experience addictions complete a "repetition cycle" of abuse. The cycle starts with an experience or urge, yielding to cravings, feeling numb with a decrease in anxiety, manifesting guilt and remorse, followed by an escalation of anxiety and a repeat of the cycle.
• The primary goal of addictive behavior is to decrease anxiety.

If you think you might have a problem with addictions, listen to your partner, listen to your friends and listen to your own inner voice. Don't wait until you "hit rock bottom." Demonstrate courage by addressing your problem now.

James P. Krehbiel is an author, contributing writer, and cognitive-behavioral therapist. He recently released a new book, Stepping Out of the Bubble: Reflections on the Pilgrimage of Counseling Therapy. The book can be purchased at http://www.booklocker.com/books/2242.html. James can be reached at http://www.krehbielcounseling.com.