Question 1

What is the best treatment for compulsive behavior?

Accepted Answer

Compulsive behaviors are actions that someone engages in repeatedly and consistently, despite the harm and distress they cause to them.

There are several treatment methods for compulsive behavior, including:

Therapy. Helpful therapies for compulsive behavior are cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), mindfulness practices, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In more severe cases, therapy may be combined with an antidepressant or anxiety medication.
Assessment. In cases where compulsive behavior is related to impulse control disorder or obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, having an assessment done can help identify the cause of the problem to determine the best treatment.
Medication. Medication has been proven effective in managing compulsive behavior and related mental health problems.
Support groups. Support groups offer an avenue where people dealing with compulsive behaviors can share their struggles and experiences while learning from people who have received treatment for the same.

Question 2

What are examples of compulsive behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Compulsive behaviors come in many forms, all of which can have adverse effects if not addressed promptly. Here are some of the common examples of compulsive behaviors:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD is where an individual experiences recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, and images that often cause distress. It may also include repetitive behaviors like handwashing. These obsessions and behaviors are difficult to ignore, hence being harmful to the person.
Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). These are a set of disorders that cause people to repeatedly groom themselves in a way that is damaging. For instance, they might pull their hair (trichotillomania), pick their skin (dermatillomania), or bite their nails (onychophagia).
Hoarding. Hoarding is a compulsive behavior that makes a person feel distressed about disposing of possessions, which often leads to clutter and accumulation of items in the house and environment.
Gambling. A person dealing with a gambling problem may find it challenging to stop the behavior. They also tend to suffer financial losses, jeopardize careers and relationships with families due to excessive gambling.
Sex. A person with compulsive sexual behavior tends to lack control over the ability to act on sexual impulses like sending explicit texts or touching others without their consent.
Eating. Eating compulsively (binge eating disorder) is characterized by eating large amounts of food within a short period of time. The person usually eats until they feel uncomfortably full and often prefers to eat alone due to embarrassment and disgust.
Exercise. Exercising becomes a compulsive behavior when it begins to threaten your physical and mental health, or becomes a priority over more important things like family and professional work.

What is the best treatment for compulsive behavior?

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