The Problem with Swapping One Addiction for Another
For many addicts an addiction is more than a physical compulsion to do something, there is an emotional fulfillment happening. When a person is in recovery and they are no longer fulfilling that emotional need they often develop a void making it much easier for another addiction to develop. Common addiction substitutions involve those suffering from Alcohol Use Disorder replacing alcohol with nicotine or prescription drugs, such as benzodiazepines.
Trading one addiction for another can have serious consequences. It can be hard to recognize the potential harm in starting a seemingly innocuous behavior to replace substance abuse. For instance, some people in treatment may start exercising compulsively in order to make up for the void created by stopping alcohol. The problem is any continued compulsive behavior means that the underlying addiction has not really been treated. Living a healthy lifestyle is important which means finding a balance and not relying on a behavior or substance to fill an underlying need.
Recovery begins with understanding how to fill the emotional need without a substance or obsessive behavior. It is important to recognize that those dealing with addiction have a disease not simply a reliance on drugs or alcohol. There is a deeper problem that must be addressed and treated.