Habit, Compulsion or Addiction?
Understanding just how deeply entrenched a habit is, is a key step in knowing how to address it. Some habits are formed through conditioning, or repeat behavior. Others may be more ingrained and fulfill a physical or emotional need, or be the result of a chemical element. As the terms habit, compulsion and addiction have entered our vocabulary, they are often used inaccurately.
We define a habit, addiction and compulsion and explore the differences between these similar, but different conditions.
Habit
Habits are the result of repeated behaviors or actions. A habit is a learned association between a stimulus of some sort (e.g. red wine) and a response (drinking it) to achieve an outcome. (getting drunk or feeling good). Habits can be helpful or unhelpful. Knowing the nature of your habits is the first step in developing an effective habit strategy.
Addiction
Addiction is a broad term used to describe the process by which a person becomes dependent on a behavior or substance to survive. Over time, the behavior or substance becomes so crucial to the individual that they will continue with it, even when it becomes clear that it is harmful to themselves or their relationships with their family and loved ones.
Compulsion
Compulsions are an overwhelming urge to perform a specific action. While it is possible for compulsions to lead to the development of long-term behaviors, this isn’t always the case. Typically, compulsions come into play when an individual has the strong urge to perform an action or use a substance.
What’s the difference?
When differentiating between a habit, an addiction and a compulsion, there are a number of factors to consider.
Withdrawal symptoms
One of the key factors distinguishing an addiction from a habit or compulsion is withdrawal symptoms. Individuals that are in the habit of doing something would not typically experience withdrawals like depression or anxiety when they stopped engaging in the behavior or using a substance. Those that were addicted on the other hand would.
Risky situations
Addicts will go to great lengths to perform a behavior or consume a substance. They put themselves and those around them in danger by taking risks to satisfy their addictions. Willingly putting oneself in risky situations is telling and if an individual engages in this behavior, it’s likely that their habit has progressed into an addiction.
Feelings of pleasure
Unlike addiction, there is no element of pleasure in a compulsion. Those affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder, even when they are driven by compulsion, do not typically experience pleasure. To compare, individuals in the grips of an addiction usually experience a rush of pleasure when they perform the behavior or consume the substance that is the focus of their addiction.
There often comes a time for addicted individuals where they no longer gain a sense of pleasure from a substance or behavior, continuing to do it only to satisfy their addiction.
Awareness
Awareness of reality also comes into play when differentiating between a habit, addiction and compulsion. While those with strong compulsions are typically in touch with reality and are aware of the bizarre nature of their compulsions, those entrenched in habit or in the grips of an addiction are often unattached and care about little other than getting their next fix.
As we mentioned previously, habits, addictions and compulsions do have considerable overlap so proper diagnosis should only be performed by a trained healthcare professional. No two individuals are alike, and the specific diagnosis of an individual takes into account many factors specific to that person.
While the information above is accurate, it should be taken as a guide only and not in place of a proper medical opinion.
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-difference-between-an-addiction-and-a-compulsion-22240
Habit vs. Addiction: 4 Questions To Determine The Difference
