Addiction is a need for something that you can’t control. Some people are more addictive in nature than other people. Plus, addiction is a mental condition, something in a person’s brain that makes them unable to stop doing the thing that they are addicted to.
Addiction is about far more than a need for drugs and alcohol. Smokers are addicts, and sometimes the addiction is the need for nicotine but it can also be the habit that keeps them smoking. There are also things that trigger the need for a person’s addiction.
Signs You Might Be Addicted
Even the addict can’t always see they have an addiction. Some addictions, like a shopping addiction, can be hard to spot until you’re drowning in a mountain of clothing. Some symptoms are only ever noticed by the people in your life.
Signs of addiction include:
- Pulling away from friends and loved ones
- Changing habits
- Changing friends
- Stop doing things once loved
- Changes in bathing habits
These are just some of the things that show an addiction is present, but it also depends on the type of addictions. Addicts will lie about their addictions and they will hide things. Someone with a shopping addiction might hide their purchases, try to get to credit card bills before anyone else sees them, and might even lie about whether something they have was newly bought or just had been packed away.
Other types of addicts hide things and lie as well. They may hide drugs, sneak away to smoke cigarettes, or starts a new bank account for their gambling addiction. A little snooping for a family member and your addictions could be exposed.
Figuring Out Your Triggers
Once you do realize and understand that you have an addiction you need to figure out what it is that is triggering your need. There is always something underlying when it comes to addiction, always something that makes you need. Once you know what causes your need you can work to cut that out of your life.
Sometimes a toxic person in your life can be a trigger. When you get in a fight with your spouse or significant other it may cause you to go on a shopping binge, eat a whole package of cookies, or go do a line of coke. If it’s a family member or significant other that is causing your addictive behavior you may want to seek therapy to find out if your problems with one another can be resolved.
Triggers can be stress from life or work, they can be certain words or actions, or it could be an underlying mental illness. Sometimes in order to cure the addiction, your underlying illness must be dealt with first. Take the time to seek help and through doctors, therapy, and rehab you can treat your addiction and live a healthier and safer life.
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