7 Signs You Are Addicted to Something (or Someone)

Almost anything can be a drug. How do you know when you cross the line from enjoyment, hobby, or pleasure into compulsion and addiction?

1. It is damaging to you, your reputation, your relationships, your career, or your financial situation. 

There are a lot of things you could be pursuing regularly and eagerly that are not damaging to you, your relationships, your career, or your financial situation. If they become damaging, yet you continue to pursue them it is a big red flag. Some addicts will manipulate their work environment in order to avoid work and pursue their addiction--big red flag. Others pour energy into their addiction while they watch their marriage and friendship wither away. Some addictions are pursued for the short term pleasure with full knowledge it will likely mean long term health conditions. 

2. You have tried to stop before, and now are back at it. 

This doesn't have to be present since many addictions take years to hit 'bottom' before the addict even wants to try to stop. But you can test your addiction. Fast from it for a month. See what happens. Can you do it?

3. You cannot seem to help yourself...it's compulsive. 

Something drives you to do it that feels as if it is out of your control. You may even be talking to yourself out loud saying 'Don't do this' as you go in auto pilot to do the very thing you are telling yourself not to do. 

4. You go through a cycle of 'It's worth it' to 'I am worthless'.

Some don't try to talk themselves out of it. If they are deep in the addiction, they instead pursue it eagerly saying 'It's worth it' when their mind warns them of possible consequences. During the hunt or the ritual for the addiction it seems that it will be worth any consequences. After the ritual is over, many addicts are flooded with shame and hate themselves for doing it. 

5. You deny the above even if people around you do not. 

Has someone been telling you they think you are doing it too much, pursuing something too often, too attached to someone? Have others told you "You won't stop" or "I don't think you will ever quit" or suggested your potential addiction is more important than it should be? If so, you may have an addiction especially if you want to argue about why it is not an addiction. 

6. It feels like a good (even best) friend. 

If you imagined your potential addiction was a person that you had to say goodbye to forever would it feel like saying goodbye to a close friend? Would you feel a deep sadness? Would there be a major hole in your life you wouldn't know how to feel? Many addicts during recovery actually have a goodbye conversation with their addiction when they are finally ready to part ways. It is usually a very painful and tearful conversation. 

7. You lie to cover it up. 

When you reach this level you are in deep and thick. When you start lying to cover over something you have started a cycle that many can never break. If you haven't reached this level of your addiction yet, determine not to. It can be the most difficult part of addictions to overcome-after all, if you always lie, you can't get help. If you don't get help, you won't stop the addiction--ever. 

So, do you have an addiction? Of course, don't answer that in the comments section, answer it in your heart and in your close relationships. 

Are you addicted to food, work, internet, tv, exercise, a person, an abusive relationship, a drug, drink, sex, lust, money, adrenaline, or something else? 

What other signs of addictions would you add to this list? You can answer that in the comments section. 

© 2009 David B. Ward All Rights Reserved.