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©Arlene Taylor, PhD Realizations Inc
All human brains are at risk for addictive behaviors because they involve a natural brain phenomenon (a habit) that has run away with itself or been taken hostage. In consequence the individual’s easy conscious control over the habit has been reduced. In general, addictive behaviors are utilized as a coping mechanism, and coping is not thriving. Although most, if not all, human beings can be at some risk, those who are exhausted from excessive or prolonged adaption may be at higher risk. The underlying reason for addictive behaviors is to alter one’s neurochemistry through self-medication: directly or indirectly, consciously or subconsciously.
In order to resolve addictive behaviors successfully, it is important to identify reasons that prompted the individual to attempt to alter his/her neurochemistry. The reasons frequently revolve around a desire to proactively create pleasure or to obtain relief from some type of pain (e.g., physical, emotional, spiritual, sexual, intellectual).
 Left Frontal Lobe |
 Right Frontal Lobe |
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May become involved with addictive behaviors that are perceived to help him/her to:
• Achieve goals and/or win
• Cope with woundedness or compensate for perceived past hurts or injuries due to:
- Being shamed or punished for a need to set/achieve goals, make decisions, be in charge, direct others
- A lack of opportunity to set goals, develop functional structures, solve problems logically, make logical decisions, or find similar role models.
- Loss of the “self” through adaption (e.g., utilizing left posterior lobes for long periods of time, trying to cope with altered physiology due to adaption) |
May become involved with addictive behaviors that are perceived to help him/her to:
• Achieve contextual forecasting (e.g., financial markets, global environmental or health issues) when they aren’t able to get others on board or don’t observe results even after years of effort.
• Cope with woundedness or to compensate for perceived past hurts or injuries due to:
- Being shamed or punished for a nontraditional thinking style (may be labeled a misfit), for natural risk-taking, for futuristic views, for a need to envision and make change, for some actual/implied level of dyslexia in reading and writing, and a desire to engage in entrepreneurial endeavors (extrovert), or artistically creative activities (introvert)
- A lack of opportunity to use their big picture/trend perceiving abilities, or entrepreneurial (extroverted) or artistic (introverted) abilities
- Loss of the “self” through excessive or prolonged adaption |
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Ways in which addictive behaviors may be displayed can include:
• Socially acceptable addictive behaviors with food, nicotine, caffeine, or alcohol
- Nicotine to help steady nerves and to increase ability to thinking quickly and/or concentrate
- Caffeine to relieve fatigue and increase ability to think quickly and/or pay attention
- Alcohol to get in touch with emotions, or to loosen up oneself and/or clients
• Taking uppers to boost energy levels
• Using anger to obtain an adrenaline rush
• Playing video games,
• Watching television, videos, and movies |
Ways in which addictive behaviors may be displayed can include:
• Socially acceptable addictive behaviors with nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, or food
• Taking prescription or high-risk drugs
• Engaging in dangerous and/or thrilling sports
• Breaking the rules
• Engaging in promiscuous behaviors
• Gambling
• Playing video games
• Watching television, videos, movies
• Reading Sci-Fi or adventure novels
• Listening to or performing stimulating music
• Exotic dancing |
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 Left Posterior Lobes
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 Right Posterior Lobes
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May become involved with addictive behaviors that are perceived to help him/her to:
• Achieve standard production levels when these have been threatened (e.g., quota increased with resources, same quota with decreased time/resources).
• Cope with woundedness or compensate for perceived past hurts or injuries due to:
- Being shamed or punished for a need for routine, especially in the face of rapidly changing environments or rules.
- A lack of opportunity to “do” or produce effectively using their routines, with resulting anxiety and frustration, or lack of ability to participate in team/group activities such as sports (extrovert).
- Loss of the “self” through adaption or falsification (e.g., trying to live and work as a frontal thinker, excessive need for affirmation in order to achieve a sense of belonging) |
May become involved with addictive behaviors that are perceived to help him/her to:
• Achieve harmony in human relationships (especially when things aren’t going smoothly) or in the environment.
• Cope with woundedness or compensate for perceived past hurts or injuries due to:
- Being shamed or punished for a need to connect and/or for their reluctance to confront or say “no,” or to handle conflict
- A lack of opportunity to develop rewarding relationships with resulting anxiety, or to use their innate skills related to building harmony, trust, and conversation in relationship building, or a failure to achieve a personal connection with a Higher Power and they perceive it (introvert).
- Loss of the “self” through adaption or falsification (e.g., trying to function from one of the other three divisions) |
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Ways in which addictive behaviors may be displayed can include:
• Socially acceptable addictive behaviors with food, nicotine, caffeine, or alcohol
• Taking prescription drugs (e.g., for anxiety)
• Maintaining rigidity and control (often in an attempt to maintain the status quo)
• Following habitual activities, rules, or regulations (often in an attempt to develop a sense of safety)
• Watching television, videos, and movies |
Ways in which addictive behaviors may be displayed can include:
• Socially acceptable addictive behaviors with food, nicotine, caffeine, or alcohol
• Taking prescription drugs to manage anxiety and/or depression
• Pursuing romantic relationships, romance novels/movies, or sexual activity
• Shopping (e. g., trying on and/or purchasing clothes, furnishings or knick-knacks for the home, movies/CD’s)
• Music (e.g., emotional, story songs)
• Dancing (as an escape)
• Watching television, videos, and movies |
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Personal Challenges 
