Do I Have an Addictive Personality?
Lindsay Knake
| 4 min read
Lindsay Knake is a brand journalist for Blue Cross B...
Key Takeaways
- Addiction is a complex, chronic disease characterized by compulsive behaviors or substance use despite negative consequences.
- Certain traits, such as poor self-esteem, thrill-seeking and difficulty with emotional self-regulation, can increase a person's risk of developing an addiction when combined with genetic and environmental factors.
- If substance use or behaviors are interfering with daily life, relationships, work or finances, individuals can seek help from a primary care provider or mental health professional.
You may have heard the term “addictive personality” thrown around as a reason why some people struggle with substance use or simply to put down their phone.
What does it mean to have an addictive personality? Let’s take a look at the definition of addiction and traits and factors that increase someone’s risk of developing an addiction.
What is addiction?
This complex, chronic disease is characterized by compulsive behaviors or substance use regardless of negative consequences, according to the American Society for Addiction Medicine. If a person does not have the ability to control their craving for a substance or behavior and continue to pursue it even if it causes themselves or others pain or difficulty, that is a sign of addiction.
Addiction often involves substances such as alcohol and drugs, but it can also apply to behaviors such as gambling, shopping, screen time and food, according to the Mayo Clinic. The substances and behaviors give your brain a surge of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which creates the feeling of pleasure. But with compulsive use or behavior, the dopamine hit becomes smaller, driving someone with addiction to use more of the substance or engage more in a particular behavior to get the same reward. In time, addiction can change the brain’s reward, stress and self-control centers.
While environment and genetics are contributors, the reasons why some people form addictions are not fully understood, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Genetic factors account for up to 60% of a person’s risk of addiction.
Additional risk factors for addiction include:
- Early childhood trauma
- Exposure to drugs and alcohol
- Mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety
- Poverty
What is an addictive personality?
While an “addictive personality” isn’t a diagnosis, there are traits associated with a higher risk of addiction, especially when combined with genetic and environmental risk factors, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Poor self-esteem or self-worth: Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves, how confident we feel about our abilities and whether we feel worthy of love and connection. A lack of self-esteem can lead to anxiety and depression or a desire to numb the painful feelings with entertainment or substances.
Thrill seeking: This trait involves jumping to try risky behaviors such as experimental drugs, driving at high speeds or other dangerous behaviors.
Difficulty in emotional self-regulation: Self-regulation involves the ability to be aware of and manage emotions such as anger, sadness or frustration, according to Harvard Health. The inability to accept and move through challenging emotions can lead to higher levels of stress and anxiety.
Poor coping skills: Life is full of challenges, problems and frustrations that require you to solve problems and adapt. Those who struggle to manage those challenges and react with anger, denial, panic or numbing may turn to alcohol, drugs or shopping to cope, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
These traits alone are not signs of addiction. If you find yourself unable to not have a drink after work, put your phone down or stop buying clothes to the point where it’s interfering with your daily life, relationships, work or finances, talk to your primary care provider or a mental health professional.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network can help members find an in-network mental health professional by calling behavioral health access lines listed below:
PPO: Behavioral Health Access Line | 1-800-762-2382
A free and confidential resource that’s just a call away when you need immediate support. Behavioral health professionals answer, 24/7.
HMO: Behavioral Health Access Line | 1-800-482-5982
Connect with a behavioral health clinician if you need help finding a mental health or substance use provider.
Behavioral health clinicians are available for routine assistance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For urgent concerns after hours, clinicians are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Image: Getty Images
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