Characteristics of the addictive process

• Dishonesty (denial, projection, delusion) 
• Not dealing with feelings in a healthy way (frozen feelings; being out of touch with feelings; distorted feelings; holding onto feelings, like resentment) 
• Control 
• Confusion 
• Thinking disorders (ego-oriented; confused thinking; obsessive thinking; overreliance on linear, logical, analytic thinking; dualistic—either/ or—thinking) 
• Perfectionism 
• External referenting—being ‘other-directed’ (low self-worth, ‘impression management,’ shame-based existence) 
• Dependency issues 
• Fear 
• Rigidity 
• Judgementalism 
• Depression 
• Inferiority/grandiosity 
• Self-centeredness 
• Loss of personal morality (compromised value system, loss of a spiritual base) 
• Stasis 
• Negativism