Other Addictions & Disorders
Gambling, Eating Disorders, Sex Addiction,
Chronic Pain and Compulsive Behaviors
There are a number of other issues that may require intervention. They may be combined with alcohol or drug addiction, or they may be combined with a mental health problem or dual diagnosis. Here is a listing of some of our other specialties…
Gambling Addiction
Gambling Addiction or pathological gambling can be recognized by an inability to stop gambling despite negative consequences. In it’s most extreme form, it can lead to financial ruin and incarceration.
Warning signs include: Increasing preoccupation with gambling, inability to stop playing regardless of winning or losing, and despite constant vows to abstain, lying to family members or others to hide the amount of gambling, gambling another day to win back money lost gambling, and more.
There are several programs that specialize in treating compulsive gambling. Our interventions work with the family to find the best treatment program for gambling issues.
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders are most common among teenage girls and women, and frequently occur along with other disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders. The poor nutrition associated with eating disorders can damage vital organs and in some cases cause death. The three most common types of eating disorder are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and compulsive overeating.
Symptoms of anorexia nervosa include: abnormal weight loss of 25% or more with no know medical illness, prolonged exercising despite fatigue and weakness, reduction in food intake, denial of hunger, peculiar patterns of handling food, and more.
Symptoms of bulimia nervosa include: attempts to control weight by diet, vomiting or laxative and diuretic abuse, depression following a binge, switching between binging and fasting, high-calorie binges, and more. Most people suffering from bulimia nervosa are within normal weight limits, although they may also be above or below the normal range.
The incidence of eating disorders in males is growing, so it is important to consider the possibility of these problems occurring in adolescent boys and young men.
Sex Addiction
Sex Addiction may manifest itself in several ways, including compulsive sexual activity with other individuals, the compulsive use of pornography, or compulsive use of sexually-related internet sites and chat rooms. There are a wide variety of symptoms. The goal of our intervention in these cases is to match the individual with the appropriate facility and to admit them to treatment.
Online Gaming Addiction
Online Gaming Addiction manifests much of the obsessive-compulsive behavior found in chemical dependency (alcohol and/or drug addiction). This burgeoning field has grown exponentially in the last few years, and we have been involved in numerous interventions to get people into appropriate treatment for these compulsive behaviors.
