By: Lakeview Health
There are many forms of addiction. Because of this, there are many forms of rehab, detoxification, and methods for living a sober lifestyle and reclaiming your life. Due to this, if you or a loved one currently suffers from addiction, it is important to understand these different types of addiction. This will help you determine the best kind of treatment, which in turn will give you an optimal chance at successfully maintaining sobriety.
Types of Addiction
In general, there are two types of addiction, which are then broken down into smaller sub-categories. The most common form of addiction you’re likely familiar with is alcohol and drug addiction. There are dozens of kinds of drugs a person may become addicted to, which is why this form of addiction receives the majority of attention.
The second kind of addiction is known as a behavioral addiction. Often behavioral addiction does connect with substance addiction, so it isn’t unheard-of for one to lead to the other.
Substance Abuse Addiction
Substance abuse is one of the types of addictions that generally receives the most attention. Some of the more commonly referred to as kinds of substance abuse addiction include:
- Alcohol addiction
- Prescription drug addiction
- Drug addiction
- Smoking addiction
Smoking is generally one kind of addiction that is battled on your own. Similar to coffee, smoking releases certain chemicals within the body, but it doesn’t significantly alter your mental state. That doesn’t mean you can’t develop a dependency on smoking. There’s a reason why so many individuals struggle with kicking their smoking habit. If you are struggling with one of the other forms of addiction, it is important to not swap one addiction for another. Many will replace their alcohol or drug addictions with smoking, which isn’t a healthy alternative. With the help of rehab centers, it is possible to get a fresh start on living a completely addiction-free lifestyle.
Forms of Behavioral Addiction
There are several forms of behavioral addiction. The most common forms of behavioral addiction are:
- Sex
- Eating
- Pornography
- Shopping
- Exercise
- Gambling
- Social Media
- Video Games
As you can see, there is a wide range of behavioral addictions. Some, on face value, might look like healthy addictions (such as exercise). However, over time, these addictions erode a person’s connection with friends and family. Often, they skip out on what they need to do and instead focus on their addiction. There is often a temporary, immediate chemical release in the brain that, if not fed regularly, can lead to depression and anxiety. Addiction to social media, for example, can lead to a person needing to feel accepted through Snapchat or Instagram, and if they don’t hit a desired number of likes, they might begin to feel their self-worth depreciate.
Asking For Help
When it comes to these different types of addiction, you need to find the right rehab center for you. If you are suffering from a substance abuse problem, many of the rehab centers will help with this. If, however, you’re struggling with sex, Internet, exercise, or gambling addiction, you’ll need to consult the rehab center to find out if these particular forms of behavioral addiction are addressed.
The Right Rehab For Different Types of Addiction
No matter the form of addiction you or a loved one are currently suffering from, the fact that you’re looking up ways to move past the addiction is already the first step. The next step, now that you understand these different types of addiction, is to contact a rehab center for help. Beating addiction is a challenge, but it isn’t one that needs to be done on your own. Lakeview Health is here to help every step of the way. So if you have questions about the services provided or are ready to move forward with beating addiction, now is the time to contact the Lakeview Health team at [DIRECT].
