Process Addictions Flashcards
The 3 C’s (Common Characteristics of Addiction)
- Compulsive use
- loss of Control
- continued use despite adverse Consequences
Compulsive Activity (gambling)
-conflict between stated intention & actual behaviour
-overcome by irresistible urges/impulses; strong discomfort if not acted upon
-pathological gamblers may beg, borrow, steal
(once triggered, act as if in trance, broken only when experience ends (relapse indicator)
loss of Control (gambling)
-the chase (trying to win back money lost)
-double down (double bet to eliminate previous loss)
-end of gambling binge similar to alcoholic blackout
-guilt, remorse, anger, cheated out of $
-loss of predictability ( struggle to maintain limits, unpredictable, intermittent
(other entertainments abandoned to devote more time to gambling)
continued use despite adverse Consequences (gambling)
-higher risk for self-destruction than any other behaviour
-longer able to hide behaviour=more debilitating they become
-no obvious signs of addictive intoxication
-family members feel abandoned (wives 4x likely to attempt suicide)
-spouse fears an affair
-gambling not linear like S.A.; up & down
(gambling both the problem & the solution)
Characteristics of Sex Addiction (Level 1/3)
Level 1. Behaviours
-normal, acceptable, tolerable
(masturbation, porn, prostitution, multiple affairs)
Characteristics of Sex Addiction (Level 2/3)
Level 2. Illegal Behaviours
-victimizing, nuisance crimes
(exhibitionism, voyeurism-sexual stimulation by visual means, obscene phonecalls)
Characteristics of Sex Addiction (Level 3/3)
Level 3. Illegal Behaviours
-grave consequences for victims, severe legal consequences for offender
(rape, incest, child molestation)
Progression of the Addiction (Sex) (Phase 1/5)
- Initiation Phase
-impact of sexual observations/experiences intense during youth
-sex D.O.C. to cope/escape
Progression of the Addiction (sex) (Phase 2/5)
- Establishment Phase
-repetition of addictive cycle
-preoccupation, ritualization, sexual acting out
-then despair, shame, guilt
-cycle renews
Progression of the Addiction (Phase 3/5)
- Escalation Phase
-more frequent acting out
-more intense, riskier
-occurs w/greater loss of control
Progression of the Addiction (Phase 4/5)
- De-Escalation Phase
-many never experience this phase
-behaviour may intermittently decrease
-substituting drugs/alcohol or be sheer will power
Progression of the Addiction (gambling) (Phase 5/5)
- Acute Phase
-constantly preoccupied w/gambling cycle
-becomes isolated/alienated from family/friends
-only stopped by physical consequence, incarceration or absence of opportunity
5 Processing Addictions (GSSEW)
Compulsive Gambling
Compulsive Shopping
Sex Addiction
Eating Disorders
Workaholism
Bulimia Nervosa
-restraining food intake for period of time followed by over-intake (bingeing) period
-result is guilt, low self-esteem
Anorexia Nervosa
-refusal to maintain healthy body weight thru eating/exercise
-obsessive fear of gaining weight
Binge-Eating
-compulsive overeating
-consume huge amounts of food
-out of control, powerless to stop