Addictive behavior: what is inherent in it? The last post was devoted to the concept of addictive behavior. Today we’ll talk about the symptoms of dependent (addictive) behavior. So, addictive behavior is characterized by the following features: Constant obsessive thoughts Constant and obsessive! One way or another, a person constantly returns to the object of his addiction. These thoughts seem to be constantly in the focus of his attention. Inability to receive the same degree of pleasure from other areas of life A person suppresses thoughts about emerging problems of a social or personal nature, while exaggerating the significance of the object of addiction. The inability to say “STOP” even if a person realizes that this causes irreparable harm to him. For example, warnings from the Ministry of Health on cigarette packs in the form of frightening pictures are not perceived by a person as a potential threat. And gaining excess weight does not make you think about the question of how to prevent further gain of extra pounds, but simply leads to changing your wardrobe to a higher size. Increasing anxiety and irritability when trying to stop this behavior on the part of close people. Moral teaching, demonstration of useful Internet content, or simply advice from close circles are useless here. Any attempts are perceived aggressively, at the level of an encroachment into privacy. Anxiety and irritability when this behavior stops for a while. A person cannot find a place for himself, calm down, thoughts always return to the desired object. If it’s a phone, there are constant obsessive thoughts that someone might call or write; if it’s a leftover tasty piece of dessert, there’s anxiety that someone else in the family will eat it. Using dependency to avoid responsibility. There will be a separate post here about ways to avoid responsibility. There are many options. Everyone will find something they “like.” Reducing the significance of the problem! Psychological defense mechanisms can help here! The person argues very logically and correctly (from his point of view) that the problem does not exist, that in a given period of time this behavior is almost the norm in society, that everyone lives this way. This happens in order to relieve oneself of mental stress, and at the same time responsibility. Potential harm to health (including mental health). Here I would like to recall the etymology of the word “addiction (dependence)” (given into slavery for debts). I think comments will be unnecessary. Intense mood swings - from euphoria to complete depression. A person is “stormed” in the sea of ​​his own emotions. Clarifications of consciousness (“this is wrong and this is harmful”) are replaced by thoughts about the norm and correctness of the chosen behavior. And you recognize yourself in these traits as someone close or familiar