Emotions and Addictions

We all have emotional reactions to events in our lives, but some of us experience much more intense feelings than others when an emotion, especially a negative emotion, is triggered. And we all have skills in regulating these emotions, although some of us are much better at handling them than others. For example, with high emotional reactivity, a person might feel intense distress verging on suicidal thoughts in response to a breakup, to being stood up, or feel rageful when given a grade that was undeserved on a class project. With high emotional regulation abilities, that same person could self-soothe appropriately, and could avoid, reduce or quickly change from catastrophic thinking to a more balanced outlook. But a person with high reactivity and low regulation abilities is in for a much rougher ride for a much longer period.

So, what does this have to do with negative habits that stubburnly refuse to be broken? Plenty. Think for a minute that you might be a person who is high in reactivity and low in regulation ability. Or, you might be a person moderate in both of these categories. Depending upon the combination of emotional reactivity and emotional regulation you possess, your life is going to be either easier or more challenging. With increasing challenge comes the risk of looking for external assistance, such as addictive substances or behavior, to help you cope with your emotions.

Researchers such as Edward J. Khantzian have maintained for many years that we’ve misunderstood addictions by thinking that it is all about wanting to get high. He maintains, and we agree, that while true in some cases, for many people, the addictive substance or behavior serves as a way to cope with emotional distress, to feel more normal and centered. This is what is meant by “self-medicating” when talking about the abuse of drugs or alcohol under stressful circumstances. The thing is, the connection between an emotion and an urge to engage in a negative habit isn't always obvious to the person having the distressing feeling. In fact, it can be entirely out of conscious awareness for some people. Of course the addicted individual digs herself into a terrible hole by using addictive substances or addictive behavior to counter distressed feelings. Not only does the addiction take over his/her life and become a major obstacle in its own right, but turning to the addiction as a coping strategy eliminates the opportunity to learn better ways to manage the distress he/she feels.

The connection between emotional reactivity, emotional regulation skills, and addictions is why our apps start getting “nosey” after using them for a week or two. First they start asking users to consider that an emotional event might have been a trigger for the urge the user is experiencing at that moment. Later, they start asking questions about emotions and reactions to them. We believe the questions increase a user's awareness about what is going on and help to make the connection between emotional issues and the addiction. The app then uses the information provided by the user to construct a profile of emotionality and makes specific suggestions about what to do, including seeking professional help when indicated. For example, both emotional reactivity and emotional regulation can be modified using techniques such as meditation and “CBT” (cognitive-behavioral therapy). Practice and rehearsal are key to gaining the skills necessary to make real progress.

Focusing on the person rather than the substance or the behavior is often the way to end what feels like a never-ending series of relapses associated with a negative habit. We try our best to make sure that tools are available to our users to identify and remedy the role emotions are playing in triggering and maintaining an addiction. Whether it is food, sex, gambling, or a substance abuse, it’s extremely likely that emotional regulation is a puzzle piece that needs to be recognized and resolved.