Addictive Behaviors And Addiction: Do Any Of These 7 Signs Look Familiar?

To think of addiction as meaning only drugs and alcohol is a disservice, it is a broader subject than that alone.

In addition to substance use addictions such as alcoholism, prescription pill, and controlled substances, there are process addictions. Addictions such as shopping, gambling, and disordered eating are related to compulsive behavior. Being active in addiction not only hurts the user, but also those associated with them such as friends and family. This raises questions. What actually is addiction? How does all this get started? Crossing the line from a behavior into addiction is a difficult point to ascertain?

It is a fact that some people can engage in a behavior or use alcohol and chemicals and not become addicted. Those engaged in addiction have lost the ability to control or stop their use. Who you are or your social standing does not matter when it comes to addiction.

All addicts are not alike. There is no poster child. Despite a lot of study researchers cannot agree on the causes or cures for addiction. The part of addiction and that is the most difficult to quantify and evaluate is the emotional part of it. Often addiction is fed by the seeming relief it can bring from uncomfortable emotions. It is strange that the more one indulges in addiction the worse the negative consequences and the greater the need to soothe the negative effects.

While addiction manifests itself in different people in different ways, here are the most common signs and symptoms of addiction:

Symptom 1 - Unable to meet responsibilities of relationships or at home, school or work.

Symptom 2 - Compulsive preoccupation, meaning one spends a great deal of time thinking about the substance or behavior

Symptom 3 - Has tried but failed to stop using the substance or end the behavior. Control is sacrificed.

Symptom 4 - Engages in the behavior or substance use knowing it is dangerous or in dangerous situations such as driving.

Symptom 5 - Because of the addiction, one stops activities or hobbies that were fun or enjoyable.

Symptom 6 - There is a need to increase the amount and frequency of the behavior or substance to achieve the desired felling or affect.

Symptom 7 - Ones life has become centered around the addiction, isolation from others occurs.

The time has come to seek some help if any of the above signs and symptoms are prone in your life. Everyone agrees that addiction is a progressive disease. If you do nothing, the disease will progress toward the worse.

There is more information available here on addiction treatment.