what is the root cause of addictive behavior?

Answer 1

Addictive behaviour, better known as obsessive-compulsive behaviours and disorders can be caused by genetics, depression, illness, abuse or the ever-common life changes (which we all experience).

Here's a great breakdown that should bring clarity:

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_ocd.htm

Answer 2

Addiction is hereditary and controlling that behavior takes a conscious decision to do so by the person exhibiting the behavior. Support is important but I believe we have to have a "do right" spirit to do right.

Answer 3

Yep. gotta go with genetics, but knowledge is the root answer. If you know you have addictive behavior, you will be better armed to control it.

Answer 4

Truthfully, the indivual's genetic which bleeds down through the family, a disease that requires long term care with narcotics (Howard Highes after a plane wreck), or issues stemming from personality. For example, they be a follower and someone says hey crack is great. Then they get hooked.

Answer 5

Toxic shame - the emotional state of being frozen in the extremes self hatred, low self esteem, and have no confidence or trust in one's own feelings and thoughts.

To hate one's self to the point of substance abuse to 'numb' the pain is to be in the worst pain of all; To wit, the human body produces pain killers called endrophins, which are 240 times more potent than the strongest pain killer, morphine. If one needs additional medications to end the pain, then how much pain are they in?

In the Eastern medicine they teach:
Addiction to cigarettes = suppressed anger
Addiction to alcohol = suppressed fear
Addiction to drugs = suppressed sadness

To hold that much anger, fear and sadness in one's self comes only from toxic shame.

Answer 6

Chemicals in the brain. Substances like alcohol, nicotene, and heroin release endorphins which make you happy. Eventually, without these drugs, your body can't release endorphins even when it has a legitimate reason to be happy, thats when you're addicted.

Answer 7

Depends on the addiction.

Answer 8

I think it varies. Sometimes it's an actual physical addiction. Heroine and cigarettes and Crystal meth are all physically addictive.

Sometimes its just compulsive.

Sometimes it's genetic.

It varies

Answer 9

There can be many reasons:
- support ( like a crutch)
- hurt/pain something that had happened in the past
- seen it done by family members
- social

Answer 10

Stupidity and a basic lack of willingness to exert reasonable self control