How to Navigate the Two Types of Addiction: Behavioral and Substance
Behavioral Addiction and Substance Addiction
Addiction is a difficult issue for everyone involved—family, children, spouses, friends, and especially the individual suffering from addiction. There is often so much guilt, shame, anger, and regret involved with addiction issues, and navigating it can be quite difficult. This can be uniquely true for individuals who are suffering from a different type of addiction. When most people think about addiction, they may immediately picture drugs and alcohol. However, there are so many other things that can cause addiction issues—some you may never have realized. Keep reading to learn more about two types of addiction and how to get help navigating addiction through a self-help app.
What is Behavioral Addiction?
Behavioral addiction is similar to drug addiction, except that the individual is not addicted to a substance but the behavior or the feeling brought about by the action. In addition, the physical signs of drug addiction are absent in behavioral addiction. Others have stated that behaviorally addicted individuals have certain symptoms and will undergo the same consequences brought about by addiction to alcohol and drugs, as well as other obsessive behaviors.
Examples of behavioral addictions include:
- Eating
- Dieting
- Exercise
- Gambling
- Internet
- Shopping
- Shoplifting
- Sex
- Video games
- Relationships
- Codependency
Types of Substance Addiction
When you picture substance addiction, you may picture cocaine, alcohol, prescription pills, or other drugs. However, there are many other types of substances that people can get addicted to. Some of these include:
- Sugar. It’s true: People can become addicted to sugar. Sugar releases dopamine, and, according to Rutgers University, t the effects of sugar addiction, withdrawal, and relapse are similar to those of drugs of abuse.
- Coffee. Coffee is a stimulant and, like other stimulants, can become addictive. If you are a regular coffee drinker, you may be well aware of the feeling you get when you skip your morning coffee or haven’t had enough yet. Many people experience headaches, nausea, and fatigue.
- Cigarettes. Nicotine releases a chemical called dopamine in the same regions of the brain as other addictive drugs. It causes mood-altering changes that make the person temporarily feel good. Inhaled smoke delivers nicotine to the brain within 20 seconds, which makes it very addictive—comparable to opioids, alcohol, and cocaine.
Navigating Addiction Through the Foojan App
Addiction is a serious issue that often requires professional help to navigate. If you are experiencing addiction in your life, whether it is you or a loved one, the Foojan app can help.
The groundbreaking Foojan App reflects years of research and the formal application of therapies practiced by eminent psychotherapist Dr. Foojan Zeine. This includes Dr. Zeine’s highly acclaimed Awareness Integration Theory (AIT), which enables you to identify your negative core beliefs, release constraining memories from the past, and pursue a fulfilling future of your own design. This customized self-help app was developed to meet Dr. Zeine’s desire to share her knowledge and unique therapy style with as many struggling and searching individuals as possible.
We invite you to experience a new way of self-help by visiting us at foojan.com!
