Addictive Behaviors and Eating Disorders

Addiction has become a major societal threat comparable to terrorism and climate change. Current treatments for addiction are often inadequate, as evidenced by high relapse rates, with many individuals reverting to their addictive behaviors. Additionally, new forms of addiction are being recognized with each update of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.

The traditional view of addiction as primarily pleasure-seeking behavior is increasingly seen as limited. Our research indicates that social factors often overshadow the pursuit of pleasure. People endure significant physical discomfort and pain for social benefits, which may seem marginal.

Message-Based Psychology introduces novel approaches to addiction. We view addiction as a mix of escapism – an attempt to flee from the harsh realities of life – and dissociation, where willpower becomes ineffective. The physical aspect of substance addiction is usually secondary and addressed separately.

Our findings suggest that it’s not just hardship that drives escapist behavior but rather a perceived helplessness and lack of control over one’s life. Our treatments, therefore, focus on these underlying perceptions, aiming to restore patients’ control over their lives. We view addictive behavior as a symptom and strive to address its root cause. Our definition of recovery shifts from ‘learning to control urges’ to ‘eliminating the urges altogether.’

Addictive behaviors often serve as compensation for a perceived loss of control in real life, providing an escape to a realm under the patient’s control. For example, in alcoholism, the act of drinking becomes a form of exerting control, as in computer gaming, the player dominates the virtual world. Eating disorders exhibit a similar pattern of control over food intake or purging.

To outsiders, someone with an addiction may seem ‘out of control.’ However, psychologically, addiction can be about gaining control, even though control over the urge to escape is lost.

Our treatments have shown success in several patients with alcohol dependency and Internet addiction. Further research is essential to enhance the effectiveness of our treatments and broaden their applicability.