What is Addiction Replacement?
Anyone who has ever battled addiction knows the all-consuming power it has. It’s that song on repeat you can’t eject from your mind. That love affair you pursue, despite its toxic nature. The inexorable urge to continue doing the one activity – that while it temporarily makes you feels good – puts you directly in harm’s way.
But it’s not like anyone plans on becoming an addict. No one really sets out to have their lives destroyed by it. It just happens, and it happens gradually. Whether originally taken to relieve stress or due to peer pressure, substances impact the way a person thinks, behaves and feels. And when taken over a long period of time, an addiction can unfold, making it incredibly difficult for a person to stop using on their own.
That’s because addiction – a chronic, relapsing brain disease characterized by a physical and psychological dependence on drugs, alcohol or a behavior – causes a person’s brain chemistry to change.
When drugs or alcohol are consumed, large amounts of dopamine in the brain is released and triggers the brain’s reward system. And after prolonged use of a substance, the brain stops producing normal amounts of dopamine on its own. This makes pleasurable activities challenging to enjoy without the use of drugs or alcohol.
By the time an individual realizes the problem, they’re in a vicious cycle of use and thus need medically supervised intervention.
But there is a misconception that addiction is tied to only one vice. And when a person does seek treatment, they might be under the impression that they’re receiving a cure-all for all their compulsions.
Understanding Addiction Replacement
It’s common for people who have received treatment for one addiction, are also facing challenges with other problems, as well. Whether that’s eating disorders, excessive gambling, impulse control, depression, anxiety, or other co-occurring disorders.
Unfortunately, addiction replacement – the act of replacing one addiction with another addictive behavior to produce the same high or feeling – is far too prevalent. And further proves that addiction is not merely a bad habit, it is a disease.
Transferring from one vice to another, happens with ease and for a variety of reasons: to relieve stress, pain or anxiety associated with being newly sober.
According to Addiction Center, common addiction replacements include:
- Binge eating
- Gambling
- Overworking
- Benzodiazepines
- Nicotine
- Sex
- Pornography
- Shopping
Once prolonged use has reached the level of addiction, the brain is hijacked, rewired to crave the substance. And it’s not necessarily the substance itself, but the feeling it produces despite the negative consequences.
And with lowered levels of dopamine the brain produces organically during the early ages of sobriety, recovering addicts can easily trade past addictive behaviors for other activities as a way of fulfilling the cravings. This can also reduce the side effects of withdrawal.
Identifying Signs of Addiction Replacement
Transferring addiction doesn’t necessarily mean transferring to another substance. Many people transfer to seemingly harmless activities, like exercise, work or shopping. But these, too, can interfere with their quality of life.
According to Addiction Center, these are signs that an addiction replacement has taken place:
- Constantly thinking about your new activity or vice
- Losing sleep to participate in new activity
- Trouble at work, school or at home
- Relationship issues with spouse or loved ones
- Neglecting self-care and personal hygiene
- Experiencing stress or anxiety if unable to complete new activity
- Development of depression or suicidal thoughts
Preventing and Treating Addiction Replacements
First step is acknowledging the struggle with substance dependence. The next, finding a treatment program that can help restore overall health.
Addressing any unconscious emotions with a therapist is the only way to fully stop replacing addictions, Addiction Center says. This allows you to work through them rather than converting them into different activities or substances.
Research suggests instituting “a broader conceptualization of this brain disease,” not just identifying patients by their preferred drug. The particular drug of choice can be transitory.
Educating patients in rehab centers regarding the real risk of transferring addictions, is a way to prevent addiction replacement from developing.
There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to recovery. From detox and inpatient/outpatient facilities to support groups and therapy sessions, there are countless options to assist in a successful recovery. It should be very much customized to achieve your recovery.
