Have you ever found yourself doing something, purchasing something, or seeking out a particular activity and wondered if it’s more than just an interest? Addiction isn’t something people seek out. Often, it can sneak up on you gradually over time. By the time you recognise you have an addiction, it can be at the point where it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to break.
That brings us to the question of how habits take hold in the first place. Follow along as we dig deeper into the psychology of addiction and the science of how the human brain develops dependencies. Whether relatively harmless habits or full-blown addictions, it ultimately comes down to reward-seeking behaviour.
What’s Going on in Your Brain?
While you may understand the word ‘addiction’ and what it entails, what people don’t always understand is the psychology behind it. An addiction can tap into the brain’s ‘reward centre’. It can be an addiction to a particular substance, shopping, exercise, and so forth. Whatever releases dopamine into the brain, making you feel relaxed and happy, is seen as a positive. It causes an immediate rush that is registered in the brain as pleasure.
So, if an activity or substance can immediately push out negative thoughts and flood your brain with pleasure, it’s no wonder it becomes addictive.
Addictions Tend to Start Small and Unnoticed
A surprising thing about habits and addictions is that they don’t tend to start with a bang. Typically, it’s a subtle change in your routine and habits that is sparked out of curiosity. It seems innocent enough at first, and definitely not any cause for alarm. What can happen, though, is that this habit gradually takes up more of your time, attention, and focus. That’s not easy to spot, which is why others can often see addictive behaviours in a family member or friend before the person themselves does.
Knowing that addictions often form gradually also makes it hard for you to know when to put on the brakes. All you know is that the activity makes you feel good, so of course you want to keep it up.
There Are Triggers for Addictions
Another interesting aspect behind the psychology of addiction is that there is often a trigger involved. Emotions tend to be the most common trigger. A person may feel stressed, unhappy, lonely, bored, anxious, or any combination of these. When that emotion takes over, they reach for their vice or addiction to quell their feelings. Engaging in their addiction of choice provides an instant dopamine rush.
Once a person understands they likely have a trigger, or several triggers, it can help them control their addiction. Finding other, healthier, and potentially less destructive habits to manage negative emotions can be the way forward. This, of course, takes a lot of willpower and self-reflection. It can take a lot of time to get to this point, and you may even need professional help.
If you don’t know what your personal triggers are, try keeping a journal of your emotions. Track how you feel, what you did about it, and what the result was. There’s a good chance you’ll see some patterns. Other techniques that can help include undergoing cognitive therapy, joining a support group, and engaging in behavioural reflection.
This also brings us to behavioural conditioning. Once you have identified the emotions that act as triggers, it’s all about curbing negative behaviour. Perhaps your impulse is to visit an online casino and spend hours gambling there. In this case, you may want to turn to a roundup of the top 20 slots in the UK for licensed, transparent platforms built with self-limiting and time-tracking tools that help users keep play under control. The idea is that you can still play and have a great time, but these tools help you do so in a responsible manner.
Addiction Is More Rampant Than Many Think
For people currently dealing with addiction and trying to gain control over their addiction, it can be easy to feel like they’re alone. But it may surprise you how widespread addiction is. Considering the range of addictive substances and activities, it’s easy to see why addiction is so common.
In Ireland, 20% of teens have admitted to using illegal drugs, while in the UK the figure is 12%. However, drinking and smoking levels are falling and are below the EU averages.
These statistics only reflect those who recognize their addiction. Now think about how many people don’t see their actions or activities as an addiction. Instead, they see it as a way to have fun, unwind and relax, and push their stress aside.
Understanding Addiction Is Half the Battle
There are so many layers to addiction. For some people, it happens quickly, and they begin to spiral from there. For others, addiction may develop gradually and appear more socially acceptable at first. No matter what the addiction is, finding ways to better cope with your triggers can be incredibly effective. That may also include reaching out and getting help. There’s no shame in admitting you can’t do everything on your own.
