The Science of Behavioral Addictions: Why They Can Feel Just as Powerful as Substance Addiction
When most people hear the word addiction, they think of substance use—alcohol, drugs, nicotine, or even prescription medications. But addiction doesn’t always involve chemicals. Some behaviors, such as gambling, gaming, social media use, shopping, and even sex, can create compulsive patterns that feel just as powerful and difficult to break. Behavioral addictions, also known as process addictions, occur when a...