Understanding what they are and their impact
People with ADHD are more susceptible to engage in what I call ‘Addictive habits’ or full on Addictions because of their personality traits of impulsivity, lack of inhibition, risk taking tendencies, poor self awareness, poor self control and the hyper-focus or ‘obsessiveness’ that are all a part of our condition.
Some Scary Statistics
- · If you are ADHD you are up to 5 times more likely to become an addict
- · 22% of girls with ADHD have an eating disorder vs. 6% of the regular population
- · 70% of meth-amphetamine users are found to be ADHD
- What are Addictive Habits?
“Anything you do habitually do to change the way you feel, and which over time you need to do more or more often to get the same effect. You can’t or don’t want to stop and the behavior/habit and it is having a negative impact on your life and relationships.”
The reason I like to label this tendency Addictive Habits, as opposed to just plain old Addictions is primarily for relate ability and understanding. Which when combined, can open a path or foundation for healing.
Most people (understandably) don’t want to identify themselves as having an “Addiction” as that term is way too extreme, as is the cure! This aversion to the label prevents a lot of people from being open to talk about the issue or to change it. Conversely I’ve noticed that people will quite readily admit to having ‘Addictive tendencies’ or Addictive habits, sometimes even joking about their need for a daily glass of wine, coffee, chocolate, or a carb binge or maybe a shopping trip to deal with their stress.
Some examples of the stuff that can be used for addictive habits:
- · Shopping/hoarding
- TV
- Internet
- · Work
- · Busy-ness
- · Sex
- · Porn
- · Drugs & Alcohol
- · Caffeine
- · Nicotine
- · Food
- · Gaming
- · Exercise
Scientific Proof of Habits As Addiction
In actuality the definition I just gave for Addictive habits is practically the same definition for Addiction.
Interestingly in the debate about how to define Addiction, British scientists have found that Habit and Addiction occupy the same place in the brain. In other words habits can and do become addictions!
High functioning ‘Addictive Habits’
High functioning is a term often used in addiction recovery circles to describe the type of person who has a high degree of self-control or management of their addictions or Addictive habits does not seem to suffer badly from their addictive habits too much; though they can be just as addicted as someone who does. They seem to manage a high degree of self-control or management of their addiction or Addictive habits.
They go to work, earn a wage, show up for almost everything they are supposed to. On the outside they look like they have it ‘all together’ and they’re pretty responsible in a lot of ways. Or as they say in recovery circles “All the holes in their panty hose are above the hem line”.
But for all this seeming outward success; they are still frequently and harmfully ‘Numbing out’.
In my opinion, these people can be in even more danger from theirAddictive habits than some of the low functioning addicts. Why? Because they haven’t lost enough, or may never lose enough for their Addictive habits to be considered a ‘problem’.
For a fantastic example of this phenomena look no further than our very own, Rob Ford. Here’s a guy that is seemingly at the very low end of his High Functioning Addiction(s), yet manages to continue working, keep a family, keep his loyal tribe and his Mayoral position. Which only goes to support his illusion of self-control and normalcy. When this happens, denial flourishes and the motivation to change any addictive habits or full on addictions are low.
But having ‘bad things happen to them’, like losing something, such as a job or a relationship, or in Rob Ford’s case his ‘Mayoral Powers’ which would actually be a wonderful wake up call! Though many High functioning Addicts sadly don’t always get one.
The Hidden negative Impact of Addictive habits or ‘Numbing out’
That being said, it’s tough to argue for abstinence or change if you don’t seem to be harming yourself…. But what if you are and you just don’t know it? One way to measure the Hidden Negative Impacts of Addictive habits is by asking yourself what Benefitsdo they give me?
Maybe they act as a mild analgesic, perhaps helping you cope with stress, easing your mind, helping you to relax? Maybe they just allow you to chill out and have fun, or ease social situations? Perhaps they allow you to forget or ‘Numb out’ from a tough day/week/situation? Intermittently the benefits from those habits would be OK, but used persistently in the long run these ‘Benefits’ are sidestepping your natural coping mechanisms, and even stunting your emotional growth.
The Numbing effect’ also removes the need for you to change something in your life. Perhaps a situation, or circumstance you’re enduring which is hurting you & actually needs changing! Or as an old friend of mine used to say “Every time I smoke a cigarette it’s like I am telling my inner-child to shut up and just get on with it!”Finally, one of the saddest negative impacts is that when you anaesthetize the negative emotions you anaesthetize the positive ones too… As Brene Brown says in her book “The Gifts of Imperfection” There’s no such thing as selective, emotional numbing, when we numb the dark, we numb the light. (pg. 72)
So how do I know if I am being harmed by my Addictive habits?
Maybe you’re trying to figure out the answer to that question on your own, with the self same thinking that created the problem? If you are, lets face it, there’s an inherent conflict in your commitment to the truth or at least a unfair bias?
In my experience the truth about whether you are harming yourself is inside yourself, but it may be deeply buried. From time to time you may get inkling, a small nagging doubt or a full-blown ‘moment of clarity’ that your Addictive habits are actually costing you something. Perhaps this happens when you are not actively engaging in them as much. At those times you may feel yourself inexplicably empty, lonely, disconnected, lost or anxious, and *restless, irritable or discontent.
Those inner intuitions and moments of clarity are to be seized & acted upon, because they may not come back again any time soon…
The best advice I can give you about those moments or intuitions is to talk to someone as soon as you have them. Crucially someone you know will be honest with you. Not someone who engages in those habits with you.
My Own Addiction story
I had my own ‘moment of clarity’ one cold and sunny afternoon in February of 1991, in a bar in downtown Toronto. After which I grabbed myself one more final disappointing farewell binge, and then I got sober the next day.
By some miracle and with the help of 12 step programs, I’m still in active recovery today. Along the way I was also diagnosed with ADHD, which then gave me much more clarity about the addictive /compulsive side of my personality.
Being treated for my ADHD has really helped me with cravings & the compulsion to use any and all of that ‘stuff’ I mentioned earlier to ‘feel better’. I consider myself one of the very fortunate ones.
Accepting my addiction and getting help was the biggest blessing of my life. It helped me to grow emotionally and spiritually, and get real with life. And believe me, it’s certainly very real at times! But the recovery process has taught me how to live life on life’s terms with new coping tools to deal with those feeling used to have to numb out from.
My addictive habits haven’t disappeared altogether, they are still waiting on the side lines, ‘doing press-ups’, as they say in recovery. It’s definitely not as extreme today, but I do still need to guard against being busy, using sugar & TV or internet as my go-to numbing agents.
If you think you or someone you know with ADHD may be engaging in addictive habits, here are some more resources for you.
When too Much isn’t enough. ( A book on ADHD & Addictive behaviours) By Wendy Richardson
*Restless, irritable & discontent is a quote from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous