Worried that you may have an addictive personality? The power of addiction comes in many shapes and sizes. Drug addictions, food addictions, gambling addictions, shopping addictions, sex addictions, work addictions, they all have one trait in common. That is, the addiction is being used as a substitute for some repressed emotion or unfulfilled desire. Until the action triggering the addiction as a response is identified, the addict will be unable to address the root cause of his problem. This is the first step.
What is an addictive personality? There are specific traits that seem to be accentuated in the “addictive personality”. This means that the drug addict has a psychological makeup that is conducive to addictive behavior. Many of these addictive trait issues stem from poor impulse control, or the desire for instant gratification in many circumstances. This may be brought on by congenital predisposition to brain chemistry level fluctuations, which impart various symptoms of discomfort for the sufferer.
Impatience, agitation, anger, nervousness, irritation, moodiness, depression, grandiosity and elevated mood level shifts are all potential indications of addictive personality disposition. These predispositions to addictive behavior may have been present for a long time before the sufferer turns to drug abuse in an effort to ease the above symptoms.
Self-medication to address the physical and psychological discomforts listed above through substance abuse often results in chronic drug addiction. Escapism, the inability to face the realities governing one’s life situation, is a primary component of the addictive personality. Additionally, people with addictive personality attributes may seek the emotional effect of non-feeling through using drugs that numb their emotions, divorcing them from their pain.
Other coping techniques that drug addicts may use to justify their addiction are deep denial, as if non-admittance negates the existence of the problem. It becomes a situation whereby “I’m not drug addicted, I can stop any time that I want to. It’s just that this one and that one have been doing so and so to me, and that’s why I’m using drugs. If so and so weren’t this and that, then I wouldn’t be a drug addict. It’s their behavior that has driven me to indulge in drugs, for a break from the madness.”
And so it goes, denial, assigning blame and responsibility for the systematic drug abuse to every and anybody but themselves. This primary trait of the addictive personality emanates from core disruptions of their psychological being. Perhaps it is a reaction to former abuse, self hatred or other self-esteem issues that lead a person with addictive tendencies to enter full blown drug addiction. Specific causes of drug abuse may only be uncovered after long sessions of drug counseling or mental health therapy, especially if there are underlying emotional or psychological health issues that have been overlooked.
Finally, view other examples of addictive personality traits, including minimizing the effect that drug dependency is exerting in their lives. Another mind trick that the drug addict may play on themselves is associating selectively with other drug abusers, and then rationalizing the activity with the “everyone’s doing it, I’m no different than the rest,” mentality….a sure sign that the drug abuser is in deep denial.
Only when the drug addict decides to confront their addiction, first acknowledging that a problem now exists, for which they are completely and independently responsible, will the steps to recovery from substance abuse begin.
September 10 2011 at 20:02
For me I know I’m an addict because once I start anything (drugs, drinking, sex, food) that takes me out of myself, I can’t stop. It sounds easy right? For some reason it took me years to figure out and years to stop but now I’ve been sober since January 2009!
September 10 2011 at 13:58
50yrs. old have been using drugs since I was 13.Jails,institutations,only thing left is death! had 5yrs. clean recently relasped on cocaine”crack” got 5months clean now only “cause ? Still have burning desire!!! The only thing I”ve did is swap addictions for married man that won”t let me use and no way to go anywhere!Finally Sober Nation!! At least a means!!
September 02 2011 at 18:11
I was interested in this article..When i realized that I was an actual drug addict and it wasnt just for fun as I had thought in the beg..I began to wonder and realized that yes..everything I have tried I liked and continue to use in excess until something happens to make me stop.
And something does have to happen otherwise I dont. ~Look Deep Within Yourself..You’ll find What you are..wether you like it or not..Changing it is the hard part but some never get past the looking part..sadly~ !Besos! V.
August 24 2011 at 13:58
I always wondered exactly what an “addictive personality” meant. I can relate to it tho. I can get addicted to so many things other than drugs or booz.
August 23 2011 at 11:12
yes, yes i do have an addictive personality
August 19 2011 at 5:54
Me and my son enjoyed reading your blog post. Keep up the good work.
July 28 2011 at 20:40
“Other coping techniques that drug addicts may use to justify their addiction are deep denial, as if non-admittance negates the existence of the problem. It becomes a situation whereby “I’m not drug addicted, I can stop anytime that I want to. ”
Sounds like me a few years back. This is a great article. Keep it up!