avatarAnnie Tanasugarn, PhD

Summary

Unprocessed trauma, particularly from early childhood, is linked to an increased risk of developing process addictions, which include non-substance-related behaviors like workaholism, technology addiction, and gaming.

Abstract

The article discusses the concept of process addictions, which are compulsive behaviors not involving drugs or alcohol but can be as detrimental to one's life. These behaviors, such as excessive work, smartphone use, gaming, and others, often serve as coping mechanisms for individuals with unresolved attachment or developmental trauma. The article explains that such trauma can lead to emotional difficulties like alexithymia, insecure attachment styles, depression, or anxiety. These conditions may drive individuals to seek temporary relief or escapism through process addictions, which provide a dopamine-induced emotional "high" and a way to avoid negative moods or unresolved trauma. The piece underscores the importance of recognizing these behaviors as addictive and the need for interventions that include mindfulness, emotional regulation skills, and

Unprocessed Trauma and the Increased Risk of Process Addiction

Distractions that are commonly turned to if we have unresolved attachment trauma

nomadsoul/shutterstock

Most people are familiar with the word addiction regarding substances such as drugs or alcohol. There is a large body of research supporting those with histories of chronic early childhood trauma as being at increased risks for both adult relational trauma and substance abuse.

However, what isn’t as widely known are process addictions, which can include: workaholism, smartphone or other technology addiction, gaming, food, exercise, shopping/compulsive buying, sex, porn, or other behaviors that can become self-defeating.

These addictions are just as problematic for a person, but because they don’t surround illicit drug or alcohol use, some don’t realize that these types of addictive behaviors can impact the quality of a person’s relationships, their behavior, and their unresolved trauma as much as drug or alcohol addiction.

Many addictive behaviors begin in our adolescence as a result of attachment trauma, developmental trauma, abuse, or neglect. If we’ve experienced adverse childhood conditions, they can affect how we see ourselves, how we engage with others, and how we look at relationships in general.

Many who have histories of significant attachment or developmental trauma develop alexithymia, an insecure attachment style, depression, or anxiety.

If feeling disconnected or “numb”, this can create problems in a person’s ability to regulate their negative moods, which can lead to developing process addictions as a way of tuning out environmental stressors, overcompensating for not feeling good enough, allowing for a momentary “high” in order to feel, or to self-numb.

For example, three common process addictions include: smartphone/technology addiction, workaholism, and gaming addiction in which people who engage in these patterns of addiction gain an emotional “high” similarly as the person who engages in drug or alcohol abuse. Common psychological factors involved in process addictions include low self-worth, low self-esteem, shame, guilt, depressed mood, and social anxiety or other anxiety disorders.

Unprocessed Trauma and Process Addiction & Our Behavior

Because there are various pathways to addictive behavior, both genetic predisposition and environmental contingencies play key roles. Research supports neurotransmitters such as dopamine as critical to the development of addictive behavior.

The “dopamine rush” is what is felt when pulling a 50-hour work week, when repetitively reaching for our smartphone, or when highly engaged in a video game. Neurologically, our brain becomes differently wired to seek out another “hit” of dopamine, increasing the risk of re-engaging in the behavior that can lead to a process addiction.

While we cannot get “hooked” on dopamine as we can with drugs or alcohol, when dopamine is released, it acts as a motivator in the reward center of our brain, which, over time is paired with the addictive behavior, giving the illusion that is rewarding.

Patterns of addiction are negatively reinforced and strengthened each time we reach for our smartphone or turn on a video game when vulnerable feelings or unprocessed trauma begin surfacing.

Many feel ashamed for struggling with their emotions and feelings, where they may push others away or refuse help. Others may find themselves in a pattern of toxic relationships that can re-trigger their unprocessed trauma, and increase the risk of “numbing” with addictive behavior.

Process addictions can be challenging to address and work through because many behaviors that potentially become addictive such as working, using a smartphone, or shopping, often can’t be avoided. Self-awareness is critical in recognizing whether self-defeating behaviors are being used to avoid deeper pain.

Working through unprocessed trauma is also necessary in order to understand the links between early trauma, adult relational trauma, emotional dysregulation, and risks for addictive behaviors. Research supports mindfulness as one way to help process addiction. However, mindfulness alone is often not enough.

Teaching skills for emotional regulation, the use of apps that can monitor, track, or restrict some addictive behaviors, and building healthy coping skills are necessary for repair and empowerment.

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Psychology
Mental Health
Philosophy
Relationships
Life
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