What is Addict Mentality?

In recovery, certain terms and affiliations can get thrown around quite loosely. You will hear people say phrases like, " I have an addictive personality," or, "it't addict mentality." But, what do these phrases actually mean?

Let me go on a limb and clarify that I am not a doctor. I do not have a psychology degree nor do I want one. This article is written purely through the knowledge and conclusions I have developed through my own experience. Here goes...

What is an Addict Mentality?

For me it is simple. An addict has a mentality of extremes. Addicts generally (although this could be an unfair generalization) have unusual abilities to get what it is that they want. This desire can come in many forms. Addicts control relationships, they are manipulative, and also very obsessive. Once an addict decides that he or she needs something, they will take very drastic measures to achieve their goal.

Moral of the story is, watch out! Many times family members and friends of addicts are amazed and even baffled at the lengths addicts are willing to go to get what it is that they want.

What Does This Mean Psychologically?

For years the debate has risen whether addiction is a disease or a disorder or a lack of will power. It is true that addiction has many characteristics of a disease, however the disease is unique in the respect that it is effecting the mind and behaviors of a person. Does that in term make addiction a behavior issue? In some respects it does. Regardless of what your belief system is, one thing is not debatable. Addicts have a chemical imbalance of the mind.

This can often be see through increased or decreased serotonin or dopamine levels. Addicts often have very high creative thinking and deductive reasoning skills. Many times there are other psychological disorders that accompany the addictive tendencies of a person such as depression, ADHD, mood disorder, etc. All of these play a role in the way an addict thinks and acts.

Too often, a family member of friend will ask an addict why it is that he or she did what he did, and too often, the addict will simply reply with an "I don't know." Usually, this is one of the few times the addict is telling the truth. For whatever reason, the chemical imbalances and behavioral modifications we suffer from, control our actions.

How Can We Cope With An Addict Mentality?

Again, I am no doctor. My experience however tells me that there are lots of ways to cope with an addict mentality. Too often we forget that a mentality is just that. They are just thoughts. Although they do have some power and measure, what is most important is our actions. There are lots of ways to find recovery. Many chose to work the 12 steps, others use the SMART system. Some find a rehab and begin sobriety that way. Others use Behavior Modification Therapy. All of these approaches essentially have the same idea behind them. We use these therapies to change our behavior. We use these therapies to change how we react to our thoughts.

What is really important is not what you think, what is important is what you do.