Behavioral Addiction. The Illusion of Freedom

– I think you need to see a doctor; you have an addiction to the computer.

– Darling, it's not an addiction, it's my job!

From a real-life story

I suggest an experiment.

Before you read this book, put away your phone and laptop, and see how long you can last without a mobile device and the internet.

If you managed to go for more than twenty-four hours without a mobile device and the World Wide Web, and you had no desire to pick up your phone to check social networks and messaging apps – you are fine.

If you thought about your phone and social networks a few times, you may have some degree of addiction to social media and the internet, but you can overcome it on your own.

If you put away your phone and are experiencing irritability, aggression, and are trying to switch to alcohol, drugs, exercise, or if you are stress-eating with sweets – you are addicted, and you need to seek professional help.

If you cannot put your phone away and are certain that there is no life outside the internet, or that it is dull and dreary, congratulations: you have truly serious issues with a behavioral addiction, and you must take action because you will not overcome it on your own.

One of the paradoxical aspects of behavioral addictions is that they are often perceived by individuals as an expression of their personal freedom. A person believes that they themselves choose how much time to spend on the computer, what purchases to make, or how intensively to work. However, in reality, these actions become compulsive and uncontrollable, leading to a loss of true freedom of choice.

Furthermore, behavioral addictions can create a false sense of control over one's life. For example, a person suffering from compulsive shopping may think that buying a new item will help them cope with stress or improve their mood. In reality, this provides only temporary relief, after which the problem returns with renewed intensity.

Behavioral addictions pose a serious threat to an individual's mental and physical health. They create an illusion of freedom, which is in fact a form of enslavement. Addressing this problem requires comprehensive measures, including both individual work with psychologists and changes in the social environment. Only in this way can genuine freedom and control over one's life be restored.

The concept of behavioral addiction is one of the most pressing issues in modern psychology and sociology. In the context of rapid technological development and the expansion of the information environment, behavioral addictions are becoming increasingly widespread.

The purpose of this book is to analyze the phenomenon of modern behavioral addictions. A behavioral addiction, much like a substance use disorder, is associated with a loss of self-control. This addiction consists of irresistible cravings and the motivation to experience intense positive emotions. And who among us does not enjoy positive emotions?

People are dependent on many things that seem natural to them. For instance, we enjoy scrolling through pictures and short entertaining videos on our gadgets, chatting in messengers, engaging in sports for pleasure, eating sweets or oranges, or watching several episodes of a favorite series in a row. It is difficult for modern individuals to give up various harmful, or not-so-harmful, habits. Any addiction is driven by the goal of obtaining immediate pleasure, a short-term reward. But we all know that for such a short-term reward, a person ultimately incurs long-term costs and negative consequences.