Addiction is a complex condition characterized by persistent problematic behaviors despite knowing the negative consequences. Substance abuse of drugs or alcohol may be the most common activity associated with addiction, but different addiction types can develop. When individuals develop a dependency on drugs or alcohol, they have a substance use disorder.
In fact, addiction is a physical disease where the individual’s brain chemistry has been altered by substance use making the body reliant upon it to function properly. Another addiction type is a behavioral addiction, or what is often called a process addiction. Addiction types like these include gaming addiction, sex addiction, and gambling addiction, to name a few. Process addictions involve an underlying mental health issue of which the addiction is a symptom.
Whether the addiction is behavioral or chemical, there is compulsive use and diminished control. As a result, addiction can have a significant impact on an individual’s life and their family. Addiction therapy programs help each individual understand the roots of their addiction and build the coping skills they will need to return to a healthy routine. At our inpatient detox center, we can help individuals struggling with a substance use disorder through our numerous programs.
Addiction Types: Substance Use Disorder
There are two main categories of addiction. These types of addiction include behavioral addiction and substance addiction. Substance use disorder is when someone is addicted to substances, such as drugs or alcohol. Behavioral addictions consist of compulsive behavior that takes over an individual’s life. These addictions can include overeating, gambling, video game addiction, shopping addiction, and sexual addiction. Many of these behaviors are part of everyday life, but when the behaviors get in the way of life, it’s a sign that you could be facing addiction.
Substance addiction is one of the types of addiction to know. It’s a relapsing and progressive condition characterized by compulsive drug or alcohol use despite negative consequences. The addiction impacts the individual’s ability to control or quit substances. The two mechanisms that help fuel substance addiction are dependence and tolerance. When someone has developed a tolerance to the substances, it requires higher doses to feel the effects.
When someone is dependent on the drug, he or she needs it to feel normal. Unfortunately, whenever they stop using, withdrawal happens. For some substances, these withdrawal symptoms can be incredibly uncomfortable or even life-threatening. A medical detox program helps deal with these withdrawal symptoms to begin recovery sober and focused on change. In our detox programs at Tides Edge, clients can take advantage of therapies to help them in recovery like:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Yoga therapy
Addiction and dependence are not the same things, but addiction is almost always accompanied by tolerance and dependence. Every drug produces short- and long-term effects, so some drugs lead to addiction easier than others. It’s not just illegal drugs that people become addicted to, and prescription drug addiction has also increased in the past few years.
Addiction Types: Behavioral Addiction
Behavioral addiction or process addiction is one type of addiction that most people aren’t familiar with. It’s similar to substance abuse addiction since the individual becomes dependent on the pleasurable feeling that certain behaviors bring. As such, they start to act out that behavior compulsively. Some common behavioral addictions are gaming, food, exercise, sex, shopping, and gambling. Since almost everyone engages in these activities, it’s not an addiction until they start struggling with their mental or physical health due to these behaviors.
The person may have difficulty forming significant relationships because the behavior is so destructive, and there are negative consequences. Whether or not any behavior can become an addiction is still up for debate. However, several behaviors are commonly reported at an addiction level and can wreak havoc on people’s lives if they remain untreated.
Signs of Both Types of Addiction
No matter the different types of addiction, there are some common signs that someone could be struggling. These signs include:
- An individual spends time engaging in problem behavior or using substances
- The inability to stop
- A strong desire to engage in behavior or substance use
- Inability to fulfill obligations at home, work, or school
- Social and relationship problems
- Withdrawal symptoms, should an individual stop behavior or use
Finding Help for Addiction
With the different types of addiction, there are also different types of treatment and drug and alcohol detox programs. In fact, many health insurance plans can cover treatment for mental health and addiction disorders, and more Americans have access to this treatment. For example, at Tides Edge Detox in Jacksonville, FL, we offer comprehensive detox for addiction to several substances. Treatment programs include:
- Alcohol detox program
- Opioid detox program
- Heroin detox program
- Cocaine detox program
- Meth detox program
Call 866.723.3127, or contact us online to learn more about what treatment may be available for the different types of addiction and get on the road to recovery. Tides Edge Detox is here to help you in recovery.
