We all exhibit habitual behavior, for instance, looking left and right when crossing the street, but if such behavior is irrational and repetitive and upsets our day to day existence and ability to function, it is compulsive behavior.

What is compulsive behavior?

Compulsive behavior gives respite from anxiety. The compulsive action is the payoff. The need to relieve and avoid anxiety, fear or distress is the root cause of the compulsive action. The anxiety can be due to an obsession: for example, a constant dread of dirt and bacteria manifests itself in compulsive, ritual cleaning. Compulsive actions may even come about unknowingly such as when nail biting without being aware of it. Compulsions that are commonplace can be counting, cleaning, arranging and checking things a second time to assure oneself. If these actions get out of hand as when having to ensure the gate is properly closed repeatedly when leaving the house, the behavior wastes time, interferes with proper functioning, and may be a symptom of a compulsive disorder.

What is an obsession?

Obsessive thoughts can appear as doubts and worries that cause distress and anxiety. Obsessions generate the roots of compulsions. Compulsive behaviors relieve the anxiety and distress temporarily until they increase and need to be alleviated yet again.

For instance, people could say I’m obsessed with going to the gym as often as I can, but if the reason is to take part in a tournament, my working out is motivated by a healthy thought process.

If my incentive for going to the gym is for emotional reasons, to ease emotional conflict, and I'm always fretting over exercising and feel anxious and distressed if I can't work out, then it has become an obsession. The obsessive thought has to be alleviated by going to the gym, which is now a compulsion. The compulsion is the expression of the obsessive thoughts, resulting in a brief respite from the feelings of fear and anxiety.

What is an addiction?

Addiction usually is thought of as drug dependence demonstrated by inability to stop in spite of physiological damage. Tolerance and withdrawal symptoms are two of the criteria for addiction. Addiction is regarded as a compulsion typically motivated by pleasurable effects. In fact, neurobiologists have said that any process that works on the brain's pleasure centers can be said to be addictive. In this respect, addiction embraces compulsive overeating and overexercising. Though not addictions in the traditional sense, and also defined as impulse disorders, withdrawal effects can arise if the compulsive behavior cannot be carried out.

Compulsions and addictions show similarities as they all comprise misuse of certain pathways in the brain. The compulsions serve as a temporary means of relieving the buildup of tension. Every human being is susceptible to addictive habits that may be set off by behavioral and social circumstances. Treatment providers approach cases differently, but to produce results any approach has to take into account the underlying roots of the anxiety that is behind the impulsive behavior.

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