Addiction has an ability to manifest itself in many different facets and ways. It is very cunning, baffling and powerful. When the bottle or substance is removed from the equation, there are many things that many addicts and alcoholics utilize to fill that void in an addictive manner, which are commonly known as cross addictions.

There are an abundance of factors as to why alcoholics turn to cross-addictions and engage in unhealthy behaviors when they first get sober. One of these is that alcoholics begin to formulate codependent relationships. Codependency is an emotional and behavioral condition. It is mostly characterized as the reliance on other people for approval. Codependent relationships are very unhealthy. 

There are other behaviors that people who are newly in recovery engage in.  Sober alcoholics start chain smoking, overeating, developing sex addictions, and so on. From personal experience, I remember when I first arrived to treatment and we received a carton of cigarettes a week. During my active addiction, I would only smoke socially or when I was out. However, when I entered treatment I began to chain smoke and it was my newfound addiction that I replaced alcohol with. 

A very important cross addiction to address is sex addiction. For some people, sex addiction can be highly dangerous and result in considerable difficulties with relationships. Like drug or alcohol dependence, it has the potential to negatively impact a person’s physical and mental health, personal relationships, quality of life, and safety.

The Keys to it ALL is here to help you through the entire process. Adam is knowledgeable about the many addictive tendencies that are co-occurring with substance use and can implement solutions to prevent cross addictions from perpetuating.