Addictive Personality: Who is at Risk, and Why.
By Lisa-Dawn Sheridan, MAOM
You have heard the phrase, “addictive
personality”, but what exactly is it
and why are certain people labeled with this type of a personality? It is
estimated that between 10-15% of the population [1] fall into this category,
with an even higher incidence of up to 50%, in twins and adopted children.[2]
This discovery and what it means to
this person (or personality), can be very revealing in a recovery setting. For
instance, some people have no problem with drinking alcohol socially, or even
taking a prescribed pain medication like morphine. Yet, a person with addictive
personality is at risk of becoming an alcoholic, or morphine abuser. It is like,
for instance, a water faucet that cannot shut off; once their brain feels the effects of a drug, food, or any substance that
triggers a certain feeling, they want more.
According to Harvard researchers,
this can be a good thing. The addictive personality may have good addictions. Exercise,
spirituality, as well as other positive habits can be readily seen in addicts
that do not practice a harmful addiction. It is when the addict’s brain is
subjected to a substance or habit, that it initiates a reward system (and
craving), for the positive or negative addiction.
The specific part of the brain that
is associated with the addictive personality is centered in the hippocampus, in
a region called the nucleus accumbens. This site is where the powerful dopamine
effect is demonstrated. Nearly 2 million heroin and
cocaine addicts, perhaps 15 million alcoholics, and tens of millions of
cigarette smokers in the United States alone [3], suffer with addictive personality.
“The new brain research suggests that addiction is not
just a property of certain drugs but an aspect of certain human activities and
relationships.” When one has a grasp that they are genetically different with a
clear pre-disposition to certain behaviors or cravings, it is much easier to
tackle change and recovery.
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