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.