The Addictive Personality

Addictive Personality is a term used to define the personality of an
individual who may be prone to addiction. It can be an aspect of a
person's personality or character. No single addictive personality for
the addict or alcoholic exists. There is no cookie-cutter template to
find out if an individual is prone to addiction or not.

A person can become addicted because specific factors in their life
contribute to the addictive process. As with most emotional disorders
and diseases, personality has an influence on the development of an
addiction. Those who exhibit aggression, lack of self-control, and a
socially difficult outlook in childhood are at risk to develop
addictions later. It is possible for an individual to shift from one
addiction to another or sustain multiple addictions at different
times.

Individuals who experience anxiety and depression are likely to
develop addictions as a way of managing their emotions. Addicts tend
to be people who are very sensitive to stress, have difficulty
delaying gratification, and find it difficult to tolerate frustrating
events or situations for even short periods of time. Perfectionism,
low self-esteem, and anger management issues may also drive many
addictions.

Although there are many different factors that can contribute to drug
abuse, some researchers believe that certain people have an "addictive
personality" that makes them more vulnerable to addiction than other
people. Anyone can develop a problem with drugs or alcohol, but
someone who has an addictive personality is more than likely to be
described as:

o Aggressive

o Impulsive

o Sensitive

o Emotional

o Anxious

o Lonely

The addictive personality is sometimes described as an anti-social
personality but not always. A person with anti-social personality
traits may live life in search of continuous gratification. They may
engage in reckless behavior, neglect to consider the effects of their
actions on themselves or others, and are sometimes accused of being
unable to learn from past mistakes. Overeating, gambling, and risky
sexual behavior are also common problems among people with this type
of personality.

People who are receiving treatment for other mental health conditions,
such as depression, attention deficit disorder, and post-traumatic
stress disorder, may be at a greater risk for problems with drug or
alcohol addiction; though this may be due to underlying factors that
were already occurring alongside the influence of their addictive
personality. Since many different factors contribute to addiction,
it's not easy to isolate the direct effect of personality on drug
abuse.

While understanding the link between drug addiction and personality
can be useful, it is dangerous to assume that having an addictive
personality means that someone is destined to develop a problem with
drugs or alcohol. People with these personality traits still have the
ability to make positive life choices but they must become more aware
of the potential dangers of addiction.

For more information on alcohol and drug addiction, please visit:
Alcohol and Drug Rehab. For information on intervention, please visit:
Intervention. For testamonials on how rehab worked for them, please
visit: Testamonials.

Patrick McLemore has been a recovering alcoholic and drug addict since
June 6, 2005. Patrick widely known as an expert in the field of
addictions, he has not only studied the topic extensively, but has
lived it. Patrick has worked with the Manor House Recovery Center for
over two years. During that time he has been instrumental in the
recovery and continued sobriety of numerous recovering alcoholic and
drug addicts.

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