Contrary to popular belief, compulsion and addiction are not the same. However, a small portion of those with a substance use disorder (SUD) have a compulsion to use alcohol or drugs. The distinction between the two and how they overlap in some cases can be confusing. To understand the difference between the two, you need to compare and contrast their symptoms, causes, and effects.
The Difference Between the Two
Compulsion
A compulsion is an extreme urge to perform an act that can lead to a pattern of behavior. For example, if you wash your hands incessantly out of fear of germs, you have a compulsion. When you feel the need to wash your hands, knock on a door, or check door locks, you can use these behaviors to try and reduce anxiety. Behaviors like these are considered symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental health condition expressed by obsessions and compulsions that disrupt daily routine. This disorder was previously classified as an anxiety disorder.
Addiction
On the other hand, addiction is a general description of a person who is or is becoming dependent on alcohol or drugs. If you have an addiction, you will continue to engage in the behavior regardless of the harm it does to you, your loved ones, or other aspects of your life. For example, you drink or use a drug despite losing friendships or engaging in risky behavior. Ultimately, the substance is more important than anything else in your life.
Seeking Gratification or Seeking Relief
Relief
The difference between relief and gratification lies in how the person feels and why they seek the specific feeling. A crucial aspect of OCD is the feeling of relief when engaging in these behaviors. Checking the door locks, for example, decreases your fear or anxiety about potential intruders. While checking the locks, you may feel immediate comfort, but you may also feel distressed while completing this task. A compulsion is not an act of trying to find pleasure.
Gratification
In comparison, addiction is a behavior where pleasure occurs. Due to the effects alcohol and drugs have on the brain's pleasure center, you feel bliss and contentment when using them. The belief that a drink or the use of a drug will bring enjoyment bolsters your use despite any negative consequences, such as:
Financial hardship
Physical or mental health issues
Lack of approval from friends, family, or employers
Involvement in the criminal justice system
A lack of self-love
Perhaps you are at the point where you no longer enjoy the effects of your substance of choice, but you continue to use it to curb cravings. Maybe your continued use is an effort to decrease or avoid the ill effects of withdrawal. Consider entering a detoxification (detox) treatment center if this is the case. In a center equipped with medical staff experienced in withdrawal from various substances, you can receive the care you need while safely detoxing.
Facing Reality or Hiding From It
Whether you struggle with compulsion or addiction, you must uncover why you can or cannot face reality.
When you have a compulsion to perform a particular behavior, you know your obsession is not rational, reasonable, or logical. You can experience distress regarding your thoughts and urges to engage in this behavior, but you engage in the behavior because your anxiety can decrease afterward.
Logic is not a part of addiction. So, when you are actively drinking or using a substance, you may not be able to spot the harmful consequences. Denying your problem makes it easier to continue your use, but admitting you have a problem is the first step towards recovery.
Compulsion as a Symptom of Addiction
For some, compulsion is a symptom of a SUD. However, for many, compulsion is not a factor. If compulsion is a factor in your substance addiction, there are two types. Researchers explain the two types in the paper The Transition to Compulsion in Addiction:
Compulsive drug-taking behavior: Despite the severe consequences of your substance use, you cannot stop using alcohol or drugs. This compulsion may mark an imbalance in the circuits in your brain that communicate reward and aversion.
Compulsive drug-seeking behavior: When you continue to seek drugs regardless of negative consequences, you act on habitual behavior. Habitual behavior dominates your goal-directed systems, diminishing your ability to control and decrease dangerous behaviors like substance addiction.
Treatment
You can treat OCD by engaging in psychotherapy. Discussions with your therapist can help you identify and address the underlying causes of your compulsive behaviors. In time you will learn healthy coping skills that can decrease the need to perform actions that disrupt your daily routine.
Addiction is also treatable. The first step in treating a SUD is contacting a substance addiction treatment center. Once you have discussed and scheduled a day to begin treatment, you can start to face your reality.
The distinction between compulsion and addiction is distinct. Behaviors that negatively impact your daily routine—like excessive hand washing or counting steps—are obsessive responses performed to decrease anxiety. You may not control your actions, but you know they are not realistic. At the same time, you continue to engage in these behaviors to provide relief, not pleasure. Addiction, however, is a harmful behavior that you may not or refuse to recognize as dangerous. Unlike compulsion, you engage in drinking or using a drug because you're seeking pleasure, not relief. Maybe you are using not because you feel joy, but to avoid withdrawal symptoms. If this is the case, Monte Cristo Recovery can guide you safely through the withdrawal process. Our center, located in Orange County, California, provides you with an ideal space to begin healing your body and mind. To take the first step to recovery, call us today at (714) 824-9896.