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Typical Behaviors Common to Addicts

Typical Behaviors Common to Addicts. Delaware Council on Gambling Problems, Inc. www.dcgp.org (302) 655-3261. What sort of behaviors are common to all addictions? How would someone act that might lead you to believe that they have become addicted to a substance or an activity? .

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Typical Behaviors Common to Addicts

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  1. Typical BehaviorsCommon to Addicts Delaware Council on Gambling Problems, Inc. www.dcgp.org (302) 655-3261

  2. What sort of behaviors are common to all addictions? How would someone act that might lead you to believe that they have become addicted to a substance or an activity?

  3. Excessive Risk-TakingEngaging in activities without considering the possibility of serious harm

  4. Using an Addictive Substance or Behavior to “Escape” Trying to avoid/erase emotional or physical pain

  5. Social IsolationNot being able to “fit in” with others; acting like a loner

  6. ToleranceNeeding to do more and more of an activity or ingest more and more of a substance trying to achieve the same high as was felt the first time

  7. Inability to Stop or Control the Addictive BehaviorCompelled to continue no matter what the consequences have been thus far

  8. Reduced or Lost ValuesSense of right and wrong is blurred or missing

  9. Lying, Stealing, Hiding ThingsDoing dishonest things to “feed” the addiction and keep others from knowing about it

  10. Breaking RulesNo longer caring about rules or laws because the addiction dictates their course of behavior

  11. Withdrawal from Family and FriendsAddict feels alone and misunderstood

  12. Mood SwingsDramatic changes in mood from mania (high–highs) to depression (low-lows)

  13. Abnormal Eating or Sleeping HabitsSleeping or eating too much or too little – or at inappropriate times

  14. Change in Activity LevelExamples: going from an active life to sitting around, or from a normal pace to a frenzied pace

  15. Weight Loss or Weight GainInfluenced by changes in eating or sleeping habits and changes in activity

  16. Lack of MotivationLosing interest in normal activities like school or sports because they take too much effort

  17. Inability to ConcentrateThe brain is not working the way it used to work

  18. Preoccupation with Substance or BehaviorCraving is so strong that they can think of little else; thoughts dwell on the next “fix”

  19. Need for Immediate GratificationGot to have it NOW

  20. Low Self-Esteemand False BravadoTryingto mask feelings of inadequacy by acting tough

  21. Chasing the HighThe high is never as good as the first time, but the addict keeps tryingto get there again

  22. Use of RitualsExamples: using drug paraphernalia in a certain sequence every time; wearing the same “lucky” hat when gambling

  23. DenialAddicts make excuses for their problem behavior in an effort to convince themselves and others that they really do not have a problem

  24. Tendency to Acquire Other AddictionsAn addicted brain will look for additional ways to get high; a brain in recovery will look to replace the old high with a new one

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