People associate addiction with drug and alcohol use, but it’s more widespread. What are process addictions, for example? They are the lesser-known forms of addiction that focus more on psychological compulsion than physical dependence. If you or a loved one has a process addiction, please reach out to the center for addiction and mental health in Oregon.
What is Addiction?
An excellent place to start learning about process addictions is with a basic definition of addiction. The American Psychiatric Association defines it as a complex brain disease that leads to compulsive behavior. They focus on substance abuse disorder and alcohol use disorder, but there are more addictions.
For example, some people become addicted to gambling, some to video games. You can even develop an addiction to eating. Any behavior that stimulates the reward center of the brain is a potential addiction.
How Does the Reward Center Work?
When asking, “What are process addictions?” the answer is found in the reward center. In many ways, addiction hijacks this part of the brain.
The reward center or pleasure center of the brain floods a tiny spot in the middle of the organ called the nucleus accumbens with dopamine, a chemical that makes you feel good. The hippocampus creates a memory of this feeling and how you got it. That’s how you figure out and remember things you like and dislike.
Drugs and certain behaviors can trigger the release of dopamine, too. Your body creates a rewarding path and records a memory of the pleasurable feeling. After a while, the need for that pleasure takes over despite the consequences like missed work or used savings. Drug and alcohol rehab programs in OR provide a way to live a better sober life.
What are Process Addictions?
Process addictions are activities or actions that make you feel that pleasure, such as:
- Eating
- Sex
- Spending money
- Gambling
- Video games
- Internet porn
These activities and actions stimulate the reward center and can become addictive.
What is the Difference Between Drug and Process Addictions?
Drug and alcohol addiction involves a physical dependency to a chemical. Process addictions are just about getting that reward. The body doesn’t withdraw from an addiction to sex or eating the same it does from drugs or alcohol. That doesn’t mean there isn’t withdrawal from process addictions, though. The withdrawal is more psychological than physical. You fight the same urges as someone who takes drugs; you don’t have the physical side effects of withdrawal like vomiting or seizures, though.
Are Process Addictions New?
The concept of process addictions has been around for decades and their compulsive behaviors for centuries. Process addictions are more accepted and known today, due in part from internet accessibility.
What is the Treatment for a Process Addiction?
Addiction treatment is primarily behavior modification, so it works for process addictions, too. Many treatment facilities like Crestview Recovery may handle process addictions as well as substance abuse.
Crestview Recovery sits in an area where rehabs are more challenging to find. They see clients from all over the Pacific NW, including Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.
Crestview Recovery primarily handles substance abuse treatment. Their services include:
- Partial hospitalization
- Intensive outpatient treatment
- Outpatient care
- Aftercare
- Dual diagnosis therapy
- Individual therapy
- Trauma therapy
The facility has 30 beds available and works with men and women 18 years old or older. Residential and outpatient rehab programs in Oregon are available based on your recovery needs.
Crestview Recovery has joint commission accreditation, and they offer extended care, meaning over 90 days for their treatment programs.
There is more to Crestview Recovery than your traditional treatment programs like behavior modification or cognitive behavioral therapy. While there, you can enjoy a fabulous environment and amenities like white water rafting, skiing, and snowboarding.
If you are still asking, “What is process addictions?” or think you need some form of treatment, give us a call at 866.262.0531. We are here to help you get answers.
