How does self-deception affect Behavioral Addictions?

The person who is immersed in an addiction is not capable of getting out of the vicious circle that it entails. For this reason, in order to overcome it, the person affected must go to a specialist who will set some guidelines to follow and who will guide the entire process. One of the most difficult steps is taking the plunge and agreeing to go to therapy; however, this is not the main difficulty that these people have to face.

One of the main characteristics of addictions is the mixed feelings that those affected feel towards their problem. If they have decided to go to therapy, it is because they know that their behavior is not beneficial and that they need help; however, they can often feel at the same time a kind of "longing" towards their addiction and can promote, through justifications and excuses, the return to their old way of life.

There are two types of addictions: those that occur towards specific substances, such as drugs, alcohol or tobacco, and behavioral addictions. In this article we will focus on the latter and on

What are the main self-deceptions that those who have developed a behavioral addiction may suffer, and how they affect them.

What are behavioral addictions?

As we have advanced in the previous section, behavioral addictions are those that manifest a dependence on a behavior and not on a substance. They would be behavioral addictions, for example, constant and uncontrolled participation in games of chance, or the need to always be playing online video games, for example.

It's important to put attention on For these behaviors to be considered addictions, they must constitute a repetitive pattern that deteriorates the person's quality of life. and cause a series of damages, both physical and mental (greater impulsiveness, low tolerance for frustration, aggressiveness...). Addictions in general can cause great economic damage and a considerable deterioration in the affective and social relationships of the affected person.

Furthermore, it is interesting to note that, very often, behavioral addictions go hand in hand with substance addictions, since the framework in which they develop (the pathological gambling, for example) are usually linked to alcohol, drugs and other addictive substances.

• Related article: "Cognitive dissonance: the theory that explains self-deception"

The effects of self-deception on behavioral addictions

For the addicted person, spending a specific time without performing the act that is the basis of their addiction is a perspective that generates large doses of anxiety and stress. In this way, the affected person develops a series of thoughts whose sole mission is to relieve the pressure that this entails. We know these types of thoughts as self-deception thoughts. Next, we present 5 of the most frequent self-deceptions in this type of addictions:

1. Failing to identify relapses or downplaying them

Usually, the affected person is aware that he is falling back into an episode of addictive behavior; however, sometimes she doesn't accept it or tries to believe that what she is doing has nothing to do with her addiction.

• You may be interested in: "The 14 most important types of addictions"

2. Disguising addiction as something “morally” acceptable

Some people who are victims of behavioral addictions distance themselves, often unconsciously, between your problem and other types of addictions that are more evident or less socially accepted, such as drug addiction. So, a person who is addicted to gambling may not see the problem compared to someone who uses cocaine on a daily basis.

3. Not recognizing what can cause a relapse

When an addiction is based on substances, it is much easier to recognize the act that leads us to suffer a relapse. For example, in the case of tobacco addiction, it would clearly be lighting a cigarette.

However, what happens when the addiction is based on behaviors? That it will be much more difficult for the affected person recognize that she is about to fall back on that urge, which can lead to excusing behaviors and hinder the healing process.

4. Thinking that she can "control"

This is one of the most common self-deceptions. The affected person considers that he has already advanced enough to "control" her behavior, so he lowers his guard in terms of "dangerous" situations.

5. Excusing addiction with the idea of ​​“learning”

Although it may seem strange or contradictory, it is a frequent self-deception. The addicted person performs the compulsive behavior under the excuse of training or improving their learning in this regard, experimenting with the different facets of the addiction. In reality, the only thing that is achieved is to return again to the addictive vicious circle.

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