Helping a Teen With Addictive Personality Traits

Approaching Adolescent Addictive Personality Issues Proactively

We understand how difficult it can be when adolescents show signs of addictive traits. Helping a teen with addictive personality traits can feel like a struggle for their parents and caregivers.

When a young adult is developing an addiction, family members and educators who interact with them daily are usually the first ones to spot the behaviors. These can include impulsivity, difficulty managing anger or stress, or engaging in risky behaviors.

At Artemis Adolescent Healing Center, we also understand how important early intervention is. Teens who exhibit signs of addiction are at a higher risk for myriad negative consequences as they mature into adulthood. From disordered personal relationships to an increased risk for health or legal consequences, it’s time to intervene.

Please continue to read for information on how to recognize the characteristics of addictive personality disorders and how our Joint Commission-Accredited teenage mental health treatment center in Tucson, Arizona, can help.

Understanding Addictive Personality Traits in Adolescents

Certain behaviors can leave a teenager more vulnerable to addiction:

• Impulsive behaviors or overreacting to minor inconveniences
• Taking risks, such as driving while impaired or visiting dangerous places
• Engaging in unsafe online behaviors, including buying drugs or posing inappropriate photos
• Uncontrolled anger or emotional outbursts that isolate them from a healthy support network

While not every troubled child with these traits will develop problems, these can be red flags that parents can identify early. In many cases, awareness supports the prevention of bigger problems in adult life.

NOTE: If your teen expresses thoughts of suicide at any point, take it seriously and seek immediate support.

What Addictive Personality Disorders Can A Teen Develop?

Below is a short list of some of the DSM-5 diagnoses or categories a teenager may be developing:

• Substance use disorders (SUDs)
• Gambling disorder or internet gaming disorder (a topic of ongoing research)
• Impulse control disorders, including kleptomania, intermittent explosive disorder, or pyromania

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), early treatment is the key to swapping unhealthy behaviors for good habits and can stabilize the teenager.

Common Mental Health Risk Factors That Can Lead to Addiction

Addictive personality disorders don’t generally appear out of thin air; symptoms come from a set of distinct risk factors:

Environmental Factors: Family History of Using Addictive Substances

A family history of drug or alcohol use or addiction may contribute to a teen developing an addictive personality disorder. When parents or loved ones struggle with substance use, they normalize it as a coping method.

Dual Diagnosis: Other Mental Health Issues Present

These can occur alone or be dual diagnosis conditions along with ADHD, depression, or anxiety. Each can influence the other, creating additional risk factors. It’s imperative to seek professional help asap to overcome this type of addiction, as mental health specialists must address both issues at the same time.

Certain Addictive Personality Traits in Teens Can Be a Predisposition

Teens have personality traits that can make them more prone to addictive behaviors – impulsivity, sensation-seeking, poor self-image, or an inability to manage emotions. For example, an adolescent with low self-esteem may experiment with drugs or alcohol to fit in with friends, sometimes leading to an addiction.

Unmanaged Stress or Trauma in Adolescents Facing Addiction

Teens with unmanaged trauma or stress may lack emotional regulation, turning instead to unhealthy coping methods. They may have physical symptoms, like headaches, stomachaches, or muscle pain. Risky or addictive behaviors become their “escape” when they lack healthy ways to manage emotional pain.

Recognizing Early Addictive Behaviors in Your Teen

Is our teen developing addictive personality traits? Take our quick assessment if you suspect some of the signs are present. This test looks at the general signs of addictive personality disorder, giving you a better sense of the different aspects of an addictive personality disorder:

After you have finished your quiz, keep reading to learn more about different addictions that impact teens – drug/alcohol use, gambling addiction, and eating disorders. If you want to talk to a person in our admissions department about treatment, feel free to call us anytime; it’s free and confidential.

What are the Symptoms of a Teen Using Drugs or Alcohol?

Besides the signs identified on our quiz, teens who struggle with drinking or drug use may also have:

• Red eyes or nose
• Poor hygiene
• Unexplained weight loss/gain
• Slurred words
• Depression, anxiety, or cravings when stopping substance use
• Poor hygiene (an easy-to-spot physical sign of addiction)

If you see these signs in addition to the addictive behaviors on our quiz, it’s time to get your loved one professional help.

Warning Signs of a Gambling Addiction in Teenagers

Teens with an addictive personality may also gamble as a coping tool. Online gambling has made engaging in this behavior more available to minors than ever. Look for these behaviors:

• Stealing money
• Lying about online activities
• Low and high moods
• Inability to stop
• Can’t/won’t explain how they spend their time
• Spending time alone in their room; no longer interested in friends

These are especially concerning if they also have several of the addictive behaviors on the quiz.

Compulsive Behaviors and Overeating in Adolescents

Stress and emotional struggles can cause emotional eating, which can lead to an eating disorder. Examples of the behaviors and signs include:

• Eating large amounts of food even when not hungry
• Hiding food
• Eating secretly
• Expressing guilt or loss of control after eating
• Measuring and counting food

These continue and go beyond occasional overeating or loss of appetite and may indicate an addictive personality or eating disorder.

Professional Support Options for Teens at Risk

A person with addictive personality traits can get help. Recovery options at Artemis include:

• Talk therapy individually, with peer groups, and in a family setting
• Behavioral therapy, including CBT and DBT
• Learning life skills to overcome substance addiction and others issues
• Holistic therapies, such as nutritional counseling and stress management

Our addiction programs provide a full continuum of care to support lasting recovery for every person who entrusts our team with their treatment.

Get Proven Support Today to Protect Your Teen’s Future

Helping a teen with addictive personality traits is essential for their well-being. If you believe your teen struggles with addiction, today is the day to get the help they need. Some past parents have explained that calling for help feels like defeat – but it’s not!

Instead, it shows that you are wise enough to seek the necessary resources. You’re doing the right thing – prevention and early treatment provide the best hope for overcoming addiction, so time is of the essence.

Call our mental health and addiction treatment center today; we’ll start treating your teen as early as today if needed. All calls are confidential, so please don’t hesitate to seek out support options now.