You can literally be addicted to anything – gambling, exercise, food, not eating food, work, alcohol, drugs, prescription drugs, the television, shopping, coffee, sugar, sex, video games, love, Facebook, science, cults, and probably 10 other things! In addictions, there’s a compulsion to continue doing the addictive behavior. You have to have that cup of coffee – and then one more and one more. Or you have to have that pair of new shoes – and then one more and another. Even with sex, you can be addicted. You have to have sex at night, in the morning and why not have a quickie during lunchtime? Some who are addicted to sex will get different partners just so they can keep up the habit.
Can Certain Things Make You More Likely to Struggle with Addiction?
What is it that all addicts have in common? There’s probably not a totally universal list that would encompass every single addiction – but psychologists tell us that there are personality characteristics that all addicts have in common. On the contrary, you won’t find that certain signs of the Zodiac are more prone to develop addictions. Here’s a list of the common personality characteristics that addicts may have, and a few lines about each one of those characteristics giving you more of an in-depth look at it:
- Low self-esteem
This is almost always at the root of addictions and is often a big part of counseling during drug rehab treatment or alcohol treatment during recovery. Low self-esteem is always raised by personal achievement and making others’ lives better.
- A sense of aloneness
The person who tends to become addicted hasn’t yet realized we all come into this life alone and go out. Getting comfortable with periods of aloneness is an important skill to develop.
- Insecurity
What’s it going to take to overcome insecurity? It’s knowing exactly who you are and how you’re unique, and what your purpose is in this world.
- Delayed gratification is usually a problem.
Delaying gratification is a skill that everyone has to learn while growing up.
- Depression/anxiety
Sometimes it’s simply that you’re not around happy people that make you depressed or anxious. When happy people are influencing you, you learn to be happy. Moods that become your personality are learned behaviors.
- High-stress levels with poor strategies to manage them
Again, dealing with stress is a learned behavior.
- Impulsive nature
From a natural healing standpoint, impulsiveness means the liver needs to be cleansed.
- Physical or sexual abuse in childhood
A previous history of abuse is difficult to overcome – and a child will create his or her own mental coping ways that often involve addictive substances.
- Love to get attention for what they do
This trait may come from getting too much attention when younger – or not enough.
- Antisocial personality, awkward in social settings
Everyone goes through a time during childhood where they learn to get along with others. It’s possible that something traumatic may have occurred in your life during this time if you have this characteristic.
- Values nonconformity
This may be why those who have strong relationships with parents and a strong religious background rarely have addictions.
- Tolerance for deviance
If the lines are blurred about what is right and what is wrong, a person develops a tolerance for deviance. In fact, if you do have a drug addiction or alcohol addiction, you’ll find out at a drug detox or alcohol detox center that a large portion of time is spent in equipping you with new skills. Those new skills will address many of these personality characteristics so that you don’t end up back in for addiction treatment with another type of drug addiction or alcoholism. And you may be surprised to find out what type of person has the highest rate of addiction – it’s doctors, who also have very high rates of alcoholism and prescription medication addiction.
What are the Signs of Addiction?
Those who are addicted tend to show certain signs that they are addicted to others, although the signs may not be picked up unless you know what to look for:
- They can’t stop doing the behavior even though they know it’s not what they want to do.
- They know the activity is eating up large amounts of time but can’t help themselves.
- They may begin hiding the fact that they engage in the behavior from their closest friends and family.
- They look forward to the next time when they can participate in the activity.
- They obsess about the activity.
- They deny the activity if confronted about it.
- They experience withdrawal symptoms if they give it up for a while.
- They are afraid of their life crashing down if they are forced to stop the activity.
- The activity keeps them from fulfilling personal responsibilities.
- If the activity involves drugs, prescription drugs or alcohol, they may experience memory lapses during or after the behavior.
If you noticed you have a personality that matches those who tend to get addicted, don’t fret. Here’s why: Your personality is never fixed in life. Your personality is different than what it was when you were 5 years old, 10, 15, 25, and 35. You’re constantly evolving and choosing who you want to be in life – and how you want to act. Life constantly offers you choices daily. If you currently have addictions, seeking drug rehab or alcohol rehab (addiction treatment) is the best way to go because it offers you professional advice for the situation. Years of study into the field of addiction science has uncovered many facets that are employed during drug treatment or alcohol treatment – and they are quite effective. Checking into a drug or alcohol rehab is not shameful; the shame comes from continually denying you need treatment and then the actions that result during that time. Cut short the time you spend being addicted and get on with your real life! Call a drug treatment center today.