Emotional Addiction - It’s a Thing.

Do you suffer from emotional addiction?

Emotional addiction occurs when there is a reliance on certain emotions, particularly on the brain chemicals released when specific emotions are triggered, often known as "hit emotions." This chemical response to particular emotions gives the brain a similar sense of "reward" as it experiences when using drugs.

Do you tend to disrupt a stable life by watching the news, instigating conflicts in relationships, or engaging in gossip?

During calmer times, do you seek ways to induce spikes in cortisol and adrenaline within your system, even if these spikes don't necessarily feel pleasant? (Stress, anger, and frustration are examples of emotions that one can become addicted to.)

If you constantly find yourself in, or seeking out, drama and chaos, it could indicate struggles with some form of emotional addiction.

Growing up in environments marked by instability, chaos, or consistently being in fight-or-flight mode can make safe, healthy, and connected relationships seem dull or even frightening. Our bodies and minds may become accustomed to crisis and chaos, learning to thrive in those conditions.

Subconsciously, we may learn to crave intense emotions to feel alive, even if these emotions are negative or cause suffering and discomfort.

Individuals who develop emotional addiction may become attached to feeling a certain way or reacting strongly to their deep-seated emotions. The brain releases chemicals in response to these emotions, similar to the way it reacts to other addictive behaviors or substances. People with emotional addiction may depend on a particular emotion for various reasons such as comfort, relief, distraction, or escape, turning that emotion into an obsession, compulsion, or addiction.

Breaking free from emotional addiction involves developing resilience to your feelings, including awareness of and control over them. By doing so, you give your body a break from the chemical dependencies created by these emotional responses, fostering natural healing.

Here are seven practices to help regulate and address emotional responses:

- Reflect on the impact of your emotions.

- Aim for emotional regulation, not suppression.

- Recognize and name your emotions.

- Embrace all your emotions without judgment.

- Keep a mood journal.

- Know when and how to express your emotions.

- Explore meditation, movement, and seek support for emotional regulation and self-care.

It's essential to understand that being emotionally sensitive is not a disorder, but it may lead to mental health challenges.

Emotions wield immense power. Addiction to negative emotions creates a reward mechanism in the brain, leading to unconscious patterns of seeking relief from self-pity and pain. This can result in an obsessive need to feel better momentarily.

Common "feel-good" responses triggered by the brain include consumption of alcohol, drugs, shopping, gambling, overeating, excessive screen time, and engaging in sex or pornography.

The body constantly seeks to regulate and respond to perceived threats. If our emotions are viewed as threatening, our bodies enter survival mode, releasing chemicals to shift from pain to pleasure.