The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s connection.
—Johann Hari
Addiction Therapy
Pleasure and pain are opposite sides of the same receptors in the brain. When we push on the pleasure side of the brain for too long, it can lead to pain in the form of addiction. As a society we are pushed towards compulsive over-consumption in the pursuit of pleasure and happiness, but this often leads to more pain. Our brains are not evolved to handle a world with overwhelming abundance. The net effect is that it takes more reward to feel pleasure, and less discomfort to feel pain. Although substances and other compulsive behaviors provide short term relief, they ultimately can lead to more suffering. The more we try to insulate ourselves from pain, the more we seem to experience it.
The difference between overuse and addiction can be a challenging line to navigate. In both cases, working with a qualified counselor can help reduce compulsive and addictive behaviors in order to develop a healthier relationship with yourself, substances, and your loved ones. To some degree we all use different behaviors/people/substances to numb reality. However, if you continue to allow yourself to avoid your emotions, then you will not find better ways of dealing with them, and you will have to face the unintended side effects that come with escaping reality.
When treating overuse and addiction concerns, I help people manage their cravings, increase their impulse control, and improve their relationships. Depending on what is right for your recovery, I facilitate either a harm reduction or abstinence approach. When possible, it is helpful to include family members, partners, or close friends in treatment in order to provide additional accountability and change the relationship patterns that perpetuate addictive behaviors. My experience working with addiction and overuse has also made me well suited to support partners and families affected by their relationships with loved ones who struggle with addiction and/or codependency.
Process/Behavior Addiction
Addictions can take many different forms. Behavior or process addictions are behaviors that people compulsively engage in despite repeatedly experiencing negative consequences. Common behavior addictions include eating, working, gambling, sex, shopping, and digital media. Whether the process or behavior is an addiction or something that is overused, it can create a number of mental, physical, relational, and career complications. Many people chase the initial reward/dopamine hit they feel while engaging in the behavior but later feel guilt, shame, and unwanted cravings for more.
Substance Addiction
Substance use disorders, also known as addictions, can occur when use of recreational or prescription drugs becomes compulsive and people are unable to stop on their own. A number of factors can tip the scales from recreational or medical use into addictive use, these may include: genetic predisposition, family history, unhealthy coping, using substances to avoid or escape, increased dependency due to pain. Some of the hallmarks of addiction include: increased tolerance, craving, withdrawal, and continued use despite negative consequences. Commonly abused substances include alcohol, drugs, tobacco, prescription medication, nicotine, and polysubstance (more than one substance addiction).