From drugs and drinking to shopping and smoking. These can be habits; things we do without much thought or analysis to them, but they can also develop into something more compulsive. So how do we know when a bad habit becomes something more serious?
There are five stages of habitual to addictive.
• Recreational: Individual is conscious of behavior, (how much, how often), it is regulated to moderate and safe amounts, does not feel drawn towards the behavior. If drugs/drinking does not get “wasted” nor is it ever a priority over responsibilities. It is not excessive in frequency or amount.
• Moderation: Add up all the recreational behaviors, but then add in a desire or preoccupation for the behavior.
• Habitual: All of the above and intensify that preoccupation to something more conditional. A conditioned behavior is one that the subconscious begins to make the person “think” of and desire often. It is an expected way of life, it is frequent and occasionally excessive. They often deny seriousness and have mild regret after.
• Compulsory: It has gotten to a point where the person feels they have no choice in the behavior. They feel consistent, but not yet constant, pressure from the subconscious to seek the pleasure over and over again. At this stage we might argue with ourselves, but to lose it is no longer a choice, it has become an unseen force that seems larger and more powerful than the individual experiencing it. There is less denial, but they rationalize that it is beyond their control. There is often intense regret.
• Addictive: Final stage; the compulsion has become so large and powerful that acceptance takes place. This is the major difference between the addict and the compulsive; the addict knows they are addicted and struggles both internally and externally with this knowledge. The addict may accept that he is an addict, but often does not feel it’s worth treating or that there would be any success in treating it. This is an advanced stage, often accompanied by a surrender of the will and spirit to the disorder, “oh well… I’m an addict, I do drugs, it’s what I do…”
Any behavior can go from habitual to addictive, not only drugs. If you want to get control of a behavior, there is a scientific process to do so. It is a brave and rewarding journey and we can learn to be free of what imprisons us.
Scott Spackey is a certified counselor, life-coach, clinical hypnotherapist, addiction counselor and interventionist. For more information, please call 661-299-1966, email: Scott@Life-Mind.com and visit www.LIFE-MIND.com.