Why Can't I Stop? ; Reclaiming Your Life from a Behavioral Addiction

231 Pages·2016·2.551 MB·English

by  Samuel R. Chamberlain, Jon E. Grant, Brian L. Odlaug ;b

WHY CAN’T I STOP?
• A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book
RECLAIMING YOUR LIFE FROM A BEHAVIORAL ADDICTION
WHY
CAN’T
I
STOP
?
JON E. GRANT, JD, MD, MPH, BRIAN L. ODLAUG, PhD, MPH,
AND SAMUEL R. CHAMBERLAIN, MD, PhD
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY PRESS • Baltimore
Notes to the reader: This book is not meant to substitute for medical care of
people with behavioral addictions, and treatment should not be based solely on
its contents. Instead, treatment must be developed in a dialogue between the
individual and his or her health care provider. Our book has been written to
help with that dialogue.
Drug dosage: The author and publisher have made reasonable efforts to determine
that the se lection of drugs discussed in this text conform to the practices
of the general medical community. The medications described do not necessarily
have specific approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use
in the diseases for which they are recommended. In view of ongoing research,
changes in governmental regulation, and the constant flow of information
relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the
package insert of each drug for any change in indications and dosage and for
warnings and precautions. This is particularly impor tant when the recommended
agent is a new and/or infrequently used drug.
© 2016 Johns Hopkins University Press
All rights reserved. Published 2016
Printed in the United States of Amer i ca on acid- free paper
2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21218-4363
www . press . jhu . edu
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Grant, Jon E., author. | Odlaug, Brian L., author. | Chamberlain,
Samuel, author.
Title: Why can’t I stop? : reclaiming your life from a behavioral addiction /
Jon E. Grant, JD, MD, MPH, Brian L. Odlaug, PhD, MPH, and Samuel R.
Chamberlain, MD, PhD.
Description: Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016. | Series:
A Johns Hopkins Press health book | Includes bibliographical references and
index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015030253| ISBN 9781421419657 (hardback) |
ISBN 9781421419664 (paperback) | ISBN 9781421419671 (electronic)
Subjects: LCSH: Compulsive behavior. | Psychology, Pathological. | BISAC:
HEALTH & FITNESS / General. | SELF-HELP / Substance Abuse & Addictions /
General. | PSYCHOLOGY / Psychopathology / Addiction.
Classification: LCC RC533 .G723 2016 | DDC 616.85/84—dc23 LC record
available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015030253
A cata log rec ord for this book is available from the British Library.
Special discounts are available for bulk purchases of this book. For more information,
please contact Special Sales at 410-516-6936 or specialsales@press . jhu . edu .
Johns Hopkins University Press uses environmentally friendly book materials,
including recycled text paper that is composed of at least 30  percent post-
consumer waste, whenever pos si ble.
CONTENTS
Preface vii
1.
Introduction 1
2.
What Does Behavioral Addiction Mean? 7
3.
Gambling 28
4.
Stealing 56
5.
Sex 79
6.
Internet 102
7.
Food 118
8.
Shopping and Buying 131
9.
Hair Pulling and Skin Picking 149
10.
Causes of Behavioral Addictions 168
11.
How Can Family Members and Friends Help? 185
Resources 209
Index 215
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PREFACE
This book is for people who have behavioral addictions and for their
families and friends. While drug and alcohol addictions may be difficult
to miss, behavioral addictions commonly go unnoticed, and many p eople
with t hese problems suffer in the shadows. A person with a behavioral ad-
diction may be addicted to shopping, gambling, stealing, or playing games
on the Internet. The be hav ior is one that becomes time consuming and,
often, life disrupting.
We wrote this book to help p eople who have t hese problems and to
help the family and friends of those with these problems. The informa-
tion and guidance provided h ere is designed to bring readers closer to
dealing with the often complicated issues surrounding t hese addictions.
We hope readers w ill find the information useful as a first step in learn-
ing about behavioral addictions and in helping themselves or a loved
one gain control over behaviors that are distressing to them.
Please note that all the cases in this book are fictionalized. Cases do
not portray real patients or families but rather are based on our clinical
experience with t hese conditions.
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WHY CAN’T I STOP?