I would definitely consider myself in the camp that views process addictions as full-blown addictions. I believe this view results, in part, from my personal biases, which stem from my own struggles with overeating. I do not, however, feel that process addictions always hold the same power as substance addictions in terms of both the highs and withdrawal an individual experiences.

I would readily accept all of the process addictions our text identifies as the five most prominent to date: sex, gambling, working, compulsive buying, and food (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2012, p. 42); although, I think I would more easily accept sex and eating as more powerful addictions because they are more deeply rooted as basic human drives and I also believe they would more potently affect the limbic system.

They are many influences that shape my views of these processes, including family, religion, mainstream society, and ultimately my own values. However, I feel I am rather open-minded when it comes to addiction — I see both substances and processes as having the potential to become habit-forming in individuals to the point that they lose their freedom.

If I am honest with myself, I may be a little more likely to call something an addiction if I am uncomfortable with the behavior or view it as undesirable or unhealthy, but I would hope not by by such a degree that would feel repelled by a client for exhibiting such a behavior. I would also hope that I would remain objective in my clients’ cases and focus on how their behavior is interfering with their “ability to truly know themselves, their spirituality and the world around them” (Schaef, 1990, as cited in Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2012, p. 42).

A quote by May (1988), a psychiatrist and spiritual counselor who studied addictions, sums up my own attitude when it comes to the way I hope my own sense of morality will shape how I approach my clients’ issues. May states: “Finally, I realized that for myself and other people, addictions are not limited to substances. I was also addicted to work, performance, responsibility, intimacy, being liked, helping others, and an almost endless list of other behaviors … I also learned that all people are addicts, and that addictions to alcohol and other drugs are simply more obvious and tragic addictions than others have. To be alive is to be addicted, and to be alive and addicted is to stand in need of grace” (p. 9-11).

References:

Capuzzi, D. & Stauffer, M. D. (2012). Foundations of addictions counseling. (2^nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

May, G. (1988). Addiction & grace: Love and spirituality in the healing of addictions. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishing.