The Truth Behind Addictive Personality: Traits and Coping Strategies

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), which is the American Psychiatric Association’s guide for mental health diagnoses, does not include addictive personality.

Although there are many distinct kinds of addictions and obsessive behaviours, psychologists do not agree with the idea of “addictive personality,” which is a controversial topic. Addiction is not a personality type; there are numerous elements that can contribute to the development of an addiction.

Clinically speaking, “addiction” is a complex mental health condition in which you are unable to stop using substances despite the negative effects.

It Is Misleading to Use the Term “Addictive Personality”

Although certain attributes may increase your risk of addiction, the phrase “addictive personality” is misleading. Any personality type can become addicted; there isn’t a particular kind of individual who is more vulnerable than others.

Features of So-Called Addictive Personality

There is no medical test to identify individuals at risk of addiction. However, those who struggle with addictions tend to have the following personality qualities more frequently:

A passion for thrills

Dopamine is a brain molecule that causes pleasure. It is released when you drive quickly, take chances, have sex, or use drugs. More than others, addicted individuals yearn for that dopamine rush.

The need for more adrenaline

According to experts, “people who are prone to addiction say the first time they tried heroin or had a drink was the best they ever felt in their life.” They get more tolerant as their addiction worsens and require higher doses more frequently in an attempt to recapture the original high.

Impulsivity

Research examining the brains of individuals with addiction revealed that they are more prone to act on impulse without thinking through the long-term effects of their choices.

Incapacity to stop

A person persists in their search for the substance or behaviour even in the face of problems with friends, family, employment, or education.

Coping Strategies

A lot of people believe it’s impossible to overcome addictive personality traits. They claim that if you have this illness, you will almost certainly always suffer with addiction and will never be able to get over these issues. This is definitely not true.

It is possible to overcome these problems with perseverance, commitment, and professional attention. There are numerous strategies you can employ to combat the impact of addictive personality traits. These five are as follows:

Bring it up in conversation. Nothing is more comforting and helpful than confiding in someone you can confide in about your issues. It happens that friends or relatives won’t always understand what you’re going through. They might not be aware of the difficulties you’re dealing with. Talking to them will therefore make you feel less alone and alone, which are two things that people with addictive personality disorders frequently experience.

Attend therapy sessions and get counselling. Speaking of talking about it, counselling is a terrific way to talk to someone who can help you deal with the addictive aspects of your life and who understands you. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one type of therapy that can assist you in determining and resolving the triggers and underlying causes associated with the addictive behaviours you are experiencing.

Spend time with individuals that uplift you. It is recommended to stay away from people in your circles if they are also dealing with the impacts of an addictive personality or if they don’t support you in overcoming your own challenges. Those that actually care about your well-being and won’t condone detrimental behaviour should be your circle of support.

Make an effort to do more of what “is” beneficial for you and less of what “feels” nice. Activities that one partakes in primarily for their own satisfaction are indicative of addictive personalities. However, there may be issues with this kind of behaviour. It is therefore vital to learn how to centre your attention on taking the best possible care of your health and the health of those you love.

Adopt a positive outlook. Our thoughts typically dictate our actions. You can learn more about how to swap out unhealthy thought patterns for constructive ones by using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). You’ll need to apply these techniques to your daily life, emphasizing the good things in life and surrounding yourself with positive people. It will be quite difficult at times to stay on the correct path. If you fall, try not to get upset with yourself. Simply pick yourself up and carry on!

It’s crucial to keep in mind that your destiny is not dictated by your personality. You can live a thriving, fruitful life while getting support. Acknowledging any potential problem is the very first step. You’re already headed in the right direction when you ask yourself if you’re prone to addictive behaviour.