Process addiction can look different for each person, especially since there are many behaviors that one can be addicted to. If you are unfamiliar with a process addiction, it is an impulsive addiction to a specific behavior, like gambling, shopping, or even sex. Unlike many addictions, drugs and alcohol are not involved. The high created by this type of addiction is achieved by the behavior itself. The addiction becomes so compulsive that they cannot disengage from the behavior. Like many addictions, process addiction treatment is effectively addressed through a combination of therapies in a process addiction treatment program, like the one at The Arbor’s rehab center in Georgetown, Texas—forty minutes north of Austin.
What Is Process Addiction Treatment?
Process addiction is when someone is compulsive about a specific behavior, even when the behavior results in negative consequences. The person gets a high from engaging in the behavior and cannot control their actions over time. It’s a compulsion to excess. This leads to feelings of guilt for engaging in the behavior, but unfortunately, at that point, they cannot stop themselves. This is true of most addictions in that it is very difficult to stop once the addiction sets in.
Process addiction treatment programs are more readily available than ever. Most rehab centers offer a program, along with mental health and substance use disorder programs.
Common process addictions include:
- Gambling addiction
- Shopping addiction
- Food addiction
- Exercise addiction
- Porn addiction
- Sex addiction
- Video game addiction
It may be hard to understand when a harmless activity has turned into a process addiction. There are signs that you can look out for, so you know when it is time to seek help for yourself or a loved one.
Signs of a process addiction include:
- A noticeable obsession with a specific activity or behavior
- Engaging in the behavior as a way to cope with something else
- Avoiding work, life, or family commitments to engage in the behavior
- Experiencing negative consequences because of the behavior but engaging in it anyway
- The person has no control to stop engaging in the behavior
- The person goes through withdrawal when not engaging in the behavior
What To Expect at a Process Addiction Treatment Center
Treatment can look different for each person and their unique needs. However, the goal of any treatment program is the same—to help you overcome your addiction and progress to a healthy and productive life free from unhealthy behaviors. Through a combination of evidence-based and experiential therapies, you will receive a personalized treatment experience customized just for you.
Treatment works to help each person learn ways to manage triggers in their everyday life. Developing tools and skills for coping and avoiding bad habits will help to create a healthier lifestyle with a more positive outlook. Behavioral therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help manage and overcome the negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with the addiction. Individual therapy helps clients get to the root of their addiction, recognize what the triggers to their addiction are, and work with therapeutic professionals to craft a treatment plan that keeps them in recovery for life without the risk of a relapse.
Lean On The Arbor for Process Addiction in Georgetown, Texas
An addiction affects every part of your life, and a process addiction is no different. Even with negative consequences, the addicted individual cannot control themselves and will continue to engage in the behavior unless they get help for their addiction. Finding a process addiction treatment center is critical to a successful recovery from a process addiction. At The Arbor, we provide complete residential and outpatient treatment programs for various addictions and co-occurring mental health disorders, including process addiction.
The Arbor offers a number of programs and services in both our residential and outpatient settings, including:
- Substance use disorder treatment
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Experiential therapies
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Family program
- Sober living program
- Relapse prevention
- Alumni programs
Contact The Arbor at 844.413.2690 today or reach out online to learn more about our Georgetown, Texas, rehab programs.