Question

review substance use disorders and process addictions. How do process addictions differ from substance use disorders? What are three ways in which the treatment approach will vary from process addiction to substance use disorders?

Answer 1

Substance Use Disorder

A person can suffers from mental disorders or mental illness for taking high amounts of drug and alcohol. According to psychologists, Substance disorder is physiological addiction and psychological dependency. The main symptoms of substance disorder are taking high amount of drugs on regular basis and if a drug addicted person refuse to take drugs some physiological changes can occur such as sweating, high body reaction. These symptoms are known as Withdrawal symptoms. So we can say that, drug addiction is the major cause of substance use disorder. This disorder can highly affect our normal regular life and can hamper our normal lifestyle.

Process addictions –

Process addiction is an addiction in which a person becomes addictive in some specific behaviors. It is not any drugs related addiction. Process addiction is basically associated with some specific compulsive behaviors. This behavior becomes the addiction because a person can constantly do these behaviors so it becomes compulsiveness.

Symptoms

• Irritability in feeling while the addicted person stops doing these addictive behaviors
• Lack of interest in regular or normal activities.
• Cravings
• Impulsiveness
• Compulsiveness

Examples

Gambling, shopping are the perfect examples of Process addiction.

Difference

1) Substance Use Disorder involves with drug uses.

In other hand, Process addiction involves with some specific behaviors

2) Substance Use disorder is related to some physiological changes and the changes of Neurotransmitters.

In other hand, Process addiction can affect the brain indirectly.

3) Substance Use Disorder can give a shortcut to the brain’s system by its involvement with the neurotransmitter Dopamine

In other hand, Process addiction does not affect any neurotransmitter of the brain.

Treatments

There are some different treatments in which, Treatment methods will vary from process addiction to Substance use Disorder. These treatments are

Psychotherapy

This treatment approach can be used for treating any kind of addiction. The forms of the treatment will vary from process addiction to Substance Use Disorder.

This is basically a one to one session with the psychologist. Here the psychologist can help the addicted person to cope with cravings and also the addiction. A addicted person can adopt some positive changes after this treatment.

Self-Help Therapy

This is another treatment approach which will vary from process addiction to Substance Use Disorder. The aim of this therapy is helping an addicted to meet another person who is also suffering from similar kind of problem. This kind of therapy can increase the motivation of addicted person and can boost the confidence also for changing their compulsive and addictive behaviors.

Rehabilitation Treatment

This treatment is most popular treatment for recovering the addictive phase. This addiction method has three different types of Methods such as Detox, Inpatient Rehabilitation and Outpatient Rehabilitation. The uses of these methods are depending on the situation and condition of the addictive person. This treatment approach also will vary from process addiction to Substance Use Disorder.