6.2 BEHAVIORAL REPLIES

RESPONSE TO PEERS WITH A REFRENCE EACH

CLEOLA

Gambling addiction stands out as a behavioral addiction; kind of like substance use but without any drugs involved. It basically means people keep gambling even when it wrecks their money situation, emotions, and relationships. That harm adds up fast, and it really cuts into how well someone functions day to day.

In the abstinence model, they treat it like a chronic disease, so the main goal is to quit gambling entirely. You avoid all gambling stuff and get into groups like Gamblers Anonymous that follow those twelve step rules. The idea is to build accountability through peers and accept that you lost control somehow. For folks with really bad problems and lots of relapses, this sets firm lines and keeps triggers away. Still, it feels rigid to me, and it might skip over the thinking patterns or feelings that push the behavior in the first place.

Harm reduction takes a different angle, aiming to cut down the bad effects without forcing a full stop right away. Someone could just gamble less often, stick to a tight budget on spending, steer clear of risky spots, or even ban themselves from casinos for a bit. It seems flexible, more about where the person is at, like if they are not sure about quitting or not prepared for total abstinence. Some research backs this up, showing it helps ambivalent people manage better. The downside is it relies on watching yourself closely and following those rules, which gets tough when impulses are strong.

Treatments for this often pull from both sides anyway. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy comes up a lot, since it tackles those twisted ideas about gambling, works on controlling urges, and spots emotional triggers. Pair it with abstinence or harm limits, and it builds better ways to cope over time. I think that makes sense, not everything fits one box.

BREONA

The use of problematic pornography is a behavioral addiction which can have a considerable impact on emotional wellbeing, relationship and everyday functioning. Both the harm reduction model and the abstinence-based models can be effectively used on this addiction with regard to specific needs, severity and willingness to change.

The harm reduction model lays emphasis on diminishing negative effects as opposed to enforcing total abstinence. In the case of pornography addiction, it can involve reduction of frequency or duration use, avoiding certain triggering content and establishing more valuable coping mechanisms of stress or loneliness (Fernandez et al., 2021). Harm reduction may be particularly effective with those who do not consider abstinence to be realistic or become overwhelmed when considering complete cessation. Harm reduction will help facilitate treatment and shield against shame, which is commonly a barrier to the help seeking in pornography addiction because it promotes gradual change and personal autonomy. Although abstinence is not realized, reduction of compulsive engagement can enhance emotional balance and functioning overall.

Abstinence based models on the contrary focus on total avoidance of pornography. It can be the right method of treatment in case the use among individuals has resulted in a severe impairment, including relationship disruption, work problems, or comorbid mental health issues. Abstinence based treatment frequently includes cognitive behavioral therapy, accountability plans and relapse prevention plans to deal with the underlying thoughts, urges and behaviors. To others, total abstinence is used to break the cycle of compulsions and lower levels of exposure to stimuli that perpetuate addictive behavior.

Both models are consistent with the disease perspective, as they understand the issue of pornography addiction as a chronic disease that may depend on neurobiological and psychosocial factors. Long term recovery can be improved by a client centered dynamic approach, which takes into account individual objectives and the severity of harm.

References