Psych Series #7

Psych Series #7: Addiction - Drama

Do you find yourself drawn to crises, panic, worry? Do you find yourself getting caught up in other people's drama over and over? Do you ever feel like you need to rescue others involved in dramatic situations? You may be addicted to drama.

We most often hear about addiction when talking about substances such as alcohol or illicit drugs. Other common addictions include gambling, sex, work, exercise, or eating disorders. Not as commonly discussed is the "high" some people get from being involved in dramatic situations. That's right, people can be addicted to just about anything, even drama!

What is addiction or addictive behavior?
"Any activity, substance, or behavior that has become the major focus of a person's life to the exclusion of other activities, or that has begun to harm the individual or others physically, mentally, or socially is considered an addictive behavior."

Addictive behaviors often bring about a sense of euphoria and may produce beta-endorphins, giving a person that sense of "high". A person involved in addictive behaviors may actually develop an addiction to his or her own brain chemicals.

So, how can you tell if a behavior is just a bad habit or an addiction? Here are some common characteristics of addictive behaviors:

• Obsession (constantly thinking about) with an object, activity, or substance.
• Engaging in the behavior even when it causes harm
• Compulsively engaging in the activity or behavior
• Withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of the activity (irritability, craving, restlessness, or depression).
• Loss of control over when, how long, or how much he/she will continue the behavior.
• Denial that problems are resulting from he/her engagement in the behavior.
• Hiding the behavior from family and close friends
• "Blackouts" while engaging in behavior
• Depression
• Low self esteem
• Anxiety if he/she does not feel in control of his/her environment
• Family history of psychological or physical abuse

Now that we have defined the general characteristics of addictive behaviors...let's look specifically at addiction to drama!

Signs & Symptoms

• Experiencing one crisis or challenging situation after another, year after year
• Overreacting to stressful situations - panic, worry, anger
• Feeling powerless over life circumstances
• Blaming others/ not taking responsibility for his/her own life choices
• Retelling a story over and over to anyone who will listen
• Feeling the need to take care of or "rescue" others in dramatic situations
• Excessively gossiping about others' misfortunes

Why do people create drama? With any unhealthy behavior, there is a payoff. This is the sense of "high" previously noted. Common payoffs from creating drama include a sense of love, attention, safety, and security. Yet, these payoffs are often fleeting and short-lived. Once the drama stops, those feelings decrease. This promotes the vicious cycle of creating more and more drama to sustain that overall sense of well-being.

Tired of the cycle? Ready to make some healthy changes? Well, here are some ways to change your beliefs and behaviors to develop a healthier way to gain love, attention, safety & security. First, try to identify what the underlying need is....insight into what drives the behavior will help identify ways to change that behavior pattern. Other options include:

• Remember your strengths and skills
• Focus on solutions, not the problem
• Breathe and process your emotions instead of overreacting
• Take responsibility for your actions instead of blaming others
• Look for lessons/gifts in each situation
• Avoid retelling a story over and over again
• Find ways to keep a positive attitude during difficult times
• Move beyond the "victim" mentality
• Live in the present, let go of the past
• Enjoy the richness of peace and stillness
• Participate in calming mind/body practices such as yoga
• Avoid gossiping
• Stay out of others' business

Hope this helps you drama kings and queens out there to take a new approach to getting your needs met!

Peace, Love, and Happiness!