Addiction is the inability to discontinue reckless or harmful behavior. Addicts can’t stop themselves from self-destruction, whatever their choice of poison may be. We don’t fully understand addiction yet, but we do know that there are genetic components, as well as social factors, that can contribute to addiction. When people think about addictions, the most common ones are usually drugs and alcohol. We know that physical addictions to alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes can literally change a person’s brain chemistry, shutting down certain areas of functioning. Physical addictions also alter nerve pathways to the brain’s pleasure centers, causing horrible withdrawal symptoms if people try to quit. Mental health experts realize that many people struggle with these issues, so they classify them as impulse control disorders, a category that also contains pyromania,compulsive stealing, pathological gambling, and shopping. Impulse control disorders are considered to be part of the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorders, and they are marked by sufferers seeking a short-term gain, even at the expense of a long-term loss. For example, pathological gamblers and compulsive shoppers are psychologically attached to the endorphin rush of rolling the dice or making a big purchase, and even though they know that their actions have negative consequences, they can’t help themselves.
Based on interpretation from readings in the American Psychology Association, it seems for some mental health professionals, it’s hard to think of cheating as a true addiction, and as a result, it can be hard to find any reputable information on the subject. Some professionals are reluctant to call it an addiction because it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what serial cheaters are addicted to. Some cheaters are lured by sex, while some others just seek the thrill of breaking rules. Some serial cheaters are bored by their current partners or have difficulty making a commitment to a relationship. Doctors speculate that some serial cheaters can be psychologically addicted to the “high” that accompanies new love—that flood of dopamine and norepinephrine that makes being in love feel so warm and fuzzy, yet thrilling and exhilarating.The attraction of labeling a behavior as an addiction is that it can partially absolve people of personal responsibility, and implies that people have no choice about their behavior. Social psychologists and cultural critics lament the rise of new addictions because it allows people to blame their bad behavior on an external cause, instead of taking responsibility for their actions. Normally, infidelity is a shameful act, but when you’re an addict, it’s the disorder’s fault, not yours. A culture in which everything is excused and rationalized as a disease or “syndrome” is a culture in which free will takes a back seat. Having free will means the ability to make choices, but some people inevitably make poor ones. The people who don’t make bad choices, and who manage to control their temptations, can take offense to the idea that giving in to every whim is a disorder that can’t be helped. They look at pseudo-addictions as a cowardly rationalization of bad behavior. Even though psychiatry doesn’t recognize sex or cheating as legitimate addictions, there’s no question that for some people, these behaviors are destructive and detrimental to their lives.
In terms of having a healthy relationship, trust is a big factor that two people must have in order for the relationship to continue to flourish. In a relation, both people need to help each other with their struggles and grow together as people. For example, if a man has an anger or depression issue, it will be rudimentary for the woman to be the helper of the man and give him happiness and vice versa.
