When people think of addiction, they often think of substance abuse. However, there is another type of addiction that many teens today are battling: process addiction. Process addictions are compulsions to engage in activities or behaviors despite their negative impacts on their lives. These often are behaviors that are common in everyday life, such as gambling or eating. To learn about the treatment options available for one of many examples of process addictions, please contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® today at 866.300.5275. Our process addiction treatment center can help your teen live a more fulfilling life.

What Are Process Addictions?

Adolescents struggling with alcohol and drug use can also have other issues called process addictions. They need treatment for all the problems simultaneously for adequate recovery. Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® is a process addiction treatment center in North Carolina process addiction treatment center in North Carolina that helps adolescents recover from all types of addictions.

Examples of process addictions include:

• Sex
• Shopping
• Food
• Gambling
• Television
• Gaming
• Internet
• Texting
• Exercise

These process addictions are similar and different from substance use addictions.

How Are Process Addictions Similar and Different from Substance Use Disorders?

Addiction can take many different forms. Substance use disorder (SUD) comes along with the compulsive use of substances and the negative consequences it causes. Another type of addiction is behavioral. Behavioral addiction also has adverse effects that impact an adolescent’s life. Behavioral addictions don’t have the physical issues accompanying drug and alcohol abuse.

One of many examples of process addictions is internet addiction, which can be similar to drug addiction. The person isn’t addicted to a substance, but the behavior or feeling that comes from surfing the internet. The individual finds surfing the web rewarding psychologically or gets a “high” while surfing. Later on, guilt, remorse, or consequences of that continued choice affect them. Also, the person doesn’t have the physical signs of drug addiction.

Does My Teen Need Treatment for a Process Addiction?

People with behavioral addictions have specific symptoms. If you suspect your teen has a problem, first understand what process addictions are. Then, watch for these examples of process addiction signs:

• Your teen spends a lot of time on the particular behavior, often at the expense of other activities.
• Responsibilities such as homework, chores, or family commitments are neglected in favor of the specific activity.
• Basic self-care habits suffer, such as sleeping, eating, or bathing, leading to noticeable deterioration in health.
• The activity of choice is used to cope with emotions, acting as a form of escapism from stress or anxiety.
• Lying about the extent of their involvement in the activity or hiding it from others.
• Spending large amounts of money on the activity of choice, which may lead to financial strain or debt.
• Isolation from friends and family, preferring to engage in the activity alone rather than socializing.

If you start to see these symptoms in your teen, think about a teen process addiction treatment center for help.

Process Addiction Treatment at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®

If you believe that your teen is struggling with a behavioral addiction, there is good news. Treatment for process addictions is a valuable tool for recovery. Integrated treatment helps male teens learn how to manage their behaviors and address issues caused by these behaviors.

Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® treats males between the ages of 14 and 17. Our adolescent treatment program provides therapy services to teens. Besides the teen process addiction treatment center, Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® also has treatment programs for:

• Dual diagnosis (co-occurring disorders) – Comprehensive care addressing both mental health issues and substance abuse.
• Trauma-focused treatment – Specialized therapies aimed at healing the effects of trauma.
• Disordered eating treatment – Support and strategies for managing and overcoming eating disorders.
• Drug and alcohol abuse treatment – Programs designed to help individuals recover from substance addiction and maintain sobriety.

Please contact our team today if you believe your child could benefit from one or more of our treatment programs.

Seek Treatment at Foothills at Red Oak

When your child comes to Foothills at Red Oak, our first step is to perform an evaluation. Through this step, we diagnose any substance use, mental health, and behavioral disorders that may exist.

Then, medical professionals create a treatment plan that combines a unique mix of therapies based on the teen’s evaluation and diagnosis, circumstances, and short- and long-term recovery goals. We offer a range of holistic and evidence-based treatment options, including:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Equine-assisted therapy
• Group therapy

Also, we provide family support. When the family is dealing with a person with a behavioral addiction, they also need healing. We offer family members opportunities to participate in their loved one’s recovery. We also provide support groups for family members, individual therapy sessions, and family therapy sessions with the person in treatment.

Get the Help You Need Today

If your teen needs our process addiction services, reach out for help. We can evaluate your teen and determine if they could benefit from our teen process addiction treatment program. Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery® today to learn more about how we can help your child. Call 866.300.5275 to talk with an enrollment specialist for more information or use our online contact form.