other addictions

Addictions sometimes are divided into two types – substance addiction and process, or behavioral, addiction.

Substance addictions involve ingesting an addictive substance like drugs or alcohol. Process addictions involve a compulsive behavior, or series of compulsive behaviors, that comprise an activity, or "process." These include obsessive or compulsive computer gaming, eating, gambling, shopping, or having sex.

Sometimes people find it difficult to take process addictions seriously, thinking that the affected individual "should just be able to stop" the negative behavior. But these negative behaviors are compulsive, and the individual who engages in them feels as out of control as someone who is addicted to a drug. Compulsive behaviors can cause changes in brain chemistry similar to what happens with ingestion of alcohol or another drug. A number of factors, including genetics, age, emotional development and social influences, affect how reliance on certain behaviors can become an addiction.

It is important to realize that process addictions can be just as debilitating and harmful as substance addictions. They should be taken extremely seriously, because, like substance addictions, they can lead to complete devastation of the individual, and of those around him or her.

Thus, both substance and process addictions demand urgent attention, as well as great care and expert professional treatment administered by licensed psychotherapists and addiction specialists. There are a number of treatment options available for addictions. Please let us know if you have any questions we can help you answer.


your next step
If you know of a child, young adult, or an adult who is struggling with an addiction of any kind, please contact us for a private consultation. The earlier the intervention, the sooner the individual can return to normal development and healthy functioning. We look forward to helping you.

Call us at (415) 945-0923 or email help@recoveryservices.com to make an appointment.