When we think of addiction, most of us think of drugs or alcohol. There are frequent changes to the American Psychological Association’s categorization of addictions. Only recently has pathological gambling been recognized as a concern. There are several “addictive or compulsive” behaviours that have become a concern for many people. Here are some of the newer ones based on newer technology:
- Cell phone
- E-Bay
- On-line gambling
- Internet
- Cybersex
- On-line Pornography
People who spend considerable periods of time in these activities often experience a greater sense of isolation, legal and financial difficulties, interpersonal conflicts, changes in eating and sleeping and increased irritability.
The following is a quick assessment to see whether your behavior is within your control or compulsive.
- Do you feel better when you are engaged in the activity
- Are you more likely to engage in the activity when you are under stress, or feeling anxious, sad, depressed or lonely?
- Is the time you spend on the activity on the rise, or do you need to do it more frequently or for longer periods of time to obtain the same feelings of pleasure or satisfaction?
- Do you engage in the activity when you should be doing something else?
- Have you tried to cut back and either don’t or can’t or do you stop for a while only to return to your previous behaviour after a short period of abstinence?
- Are you hiding the activity, the consequences of it, or your levels of use from your family and friends?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, your behaviour may be problematic and you may need to reach out to an addictions professional.
B.C. has more addictions facilities than any other Province in Canada. There are lots of employment opportunities for Addictions Counsellors. To find out more about the training and certification and employment prospects in this exciting field, contact denise@rhodescollege.ca .
