Why is it that some people can take prescription drugs or drink alcohol but never develop an addiction while others do? It’s possible for everyone to develop an addiction, but it seems like certain people can develop one faster than others. One reason is that they have an addictive personality.
What Is an Addictive Personality?
An addictive personality is a set of traits that make people more likely to develop an addiction. Keep in mind that it isn’t an actual disorder or something that doctors can diagnosis. It’s simply a set of traits or environmental factors that put people at a higher risk for addiction.
However, people who have addictive natures typically have certain genes. Studies show that addiction is a condition that tends to run in families. If parents struggle with addiction, for example, then their kids are very likely to struggle with it too.
The good news is that, unlike other disorders, people have a chance to avoid developing an addiction. Abstaining from using drugs can prevent the disease. They must also keep in mind that addiction doesn’t just pertain to drugs. It also includes activities that trigger a reward response in the brain, such as sex, gambling, and shopping.
Traits of an Addictive Nature
People who have addictive tendencies generally have a few traits. For example, they show signs of impulsive behavior. It usually involves them acting without thinking about the impact of their decisions.
These types of people also seek out new experiences or flavors of life. They enjoy the rush of experiencing new things. Because of that, they’re more likely to try psychoactive drugs just to see what kind of sensations that they’ll have.
People with an addictive personality also suffer from social alienation. They might value nonconformity more than others, for instance. They tend to isolate themselves socially or don’t care about being around others. These traits cause loneliness that they try to cover up with drug abuse and other addictive activities.
How Common Are These Traits?
In the grand scheme of things, having an addictive nature isn’t very common. Only about 10 to 15 percent of the world’s population has it. With that said, millions of people still have addictive tendencies.
These people have a hard time learning to cope with drug and alcohol use. They also have a hard time knowing when enough is enough. Those who develop an addiction because it might want to seek Pennsylvania addiction recovery services. These services can help them deal with addiction in healthy ways.
Steps to Recovery Can Help You With Your Addictive Traits
If you have an addictive personality, you can get help from Steps to Recovery. We work hard to help our clients overcome personality flaws that might make them more likely to abuse drugs. Achieving that often involves teaching them to cope with stressful situations healthily. We provide this education and other services through a range of programs, including:
- Intensive outpatient rehab
- Individual and group therapy
- Gender-specific rehab
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Family therapy
- Outpatient treatment
At Steps to Recovery, we understand that comorbidity or co-occurring disorders are a big part of addiction. These terms refer to mental health diseases or conditions that occur together. Treating addiction starts with treating the underlying disorder with which you struggle. Addressing both problems at the same time can help you recover from addiction and avoid relapse.
Don’t let your addictive personality put you at a higher risk of developing an addiction. Learn more about how treatment for an addictive personality can help you avoid ruining your future with drug abuse. Call Steps to Recovery today at 267.719.8528 to get help with changing the course of your life.