The Addictive Personality: What is it? Part 1

Addiction.  It is a huge issue that surrounds the entire globe.  Whether it is gambling, alcohol, drugs, co-dependency addictions, video games, the internet....you name it, and there is more than likely someone addicted to it.  But, why? Why are we so addicted?  How do we get addicted?  How do we free ourselves from these addictions?  Why are we so compulsive in our behavior?  Well, the answer is not simple.... yet there is an understanding of the Addictive Personality.  I have taken some excerpts from the book: "The Addictive Personality: Understanding the addictive process and compulsive behavior", by Craig Nakken (available at Barnes and Noble as well as other sources) and incorporated it into this topic. 
Okay, so where to begin?  We begin by looking at how we view addiction. Many say that addiction is "no will power", "weakness" and many other terms used to describe addiction.  However, asddiction is a PROCESS.  A Progressive process, an ILLNESS "that undergoes continuous development from a definite, though often unclear, beginning toward an endpoint." (TAP,Page 1and 2)
People who are addicted are attracted to specific types of changes in moods and/or highs.  As far as arousal, things like cocaine, gambling, spending, etc., cause intense sensations and feelings of power.  Arousal causes the addict to " believe they can achieve happiness, safety and fulfillment." (TAP)  A "satiation" high, (supplying to excess, to satisfy to the full), gives someone who is addicted a feeling of felling complete, possibly even beyond pain.  Things such as alcohol and valium, and behaviors such as gambling, overeating, playing video games, etc., give this type of high.  This may be attractive to the addict because it gives a numbing sensation to pain or stress/distress.  "Addiction starts out as an emotional illusion that is entrenched in the addict before others around the addict or even the addict himself realizes that the addictive relationship has been formed."(TAP)
Addiction follows an emotional logic, and talk therapy is generally ineffective for people with addictions, as it does not usually end the destructive and addictive relationship the addict has with his/her addiction(s).  Addiction is "cunning, baffling, powerful" (TAP) and addicts are seduced into addiction because the addict begins to trust the addictive mood change they experience when using/doing a particular thing or action.
The wants of an addict become all-important.  "A practicing addict comes to trust the addiction, not people.  Addiction is a relationship problem: it is a destructive but committed relationship.
(Please see The addictive Personality Part 2 for more information....Also, please get the book: The Addictive Personality by Craig Nakken.  It is an amazing, eye-opening read and will surely give a full, well rounded understanding of the addiction process and the Addictive Personality!)