Recognizing the Signs of Addictive Behavior

Our bodies and minds are designed wonderfully, and when they work well, they do so beautifully. It’s possible to damage our minds and bodies by what we expose them to, and the behaviors we engage in can also be detrimental to our mental and relational health. The various experiences we encounter are all inscribed into our bodies, and they can form powerful habits including addictive behavior that are hard to shake. These habits, when they are harmful, are typically called addictions.

What is addictive behavior?

The term addiction is typically used to refer to substance abuse, but it can also refer to behaviors such as working or gambling that can also be destructive and costly for one’s physical and mental health.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a chronic disease that affects the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory functions. A person with an addiction will crave a substance or other behavioral habits, often ignoring other areas of their life to fulfill or support their desires. When people have an addiction, they are unable to consistently abstain from certain behaviors or substances, even if it’s detrimental to their well-being.

From this definition, it should be apparent that many things can be the focus of an addiction. Being able to recognize an addiction problem in yourself or in someone you know can be harder than it seems. It may be rooted in a habit that seems innocuous, or even commendable, but the dependency it forms can have serious negative consequences.

An addiction can form over any one of the following substances:

• Nicotine, or tobacco.
• Inhalants such as oven cleaners, spray paints, or other aerosol products.
• Illicit or non-illicit drugs .
• Medication such as painkillers.

In addition to these, behavioral addictions also result in dependency, and these can be centered around the following:

• Using the internet or social media.
• Shopping.
• Gambling.
• Working.
• Sex.
• Video games and television.

There are different types of addictions, but regardless of the type of addiction, it’s important to recognize any warning signs and seek help.

Signs of addictive behavior.

As there are many different behaviors and substances around which one may form dependencies, there are different signs that attend these addictions. What follows is a broad description of general signs that are associated with addictive behavior.

Pay close attention to yourself and your loved one. Often, we and our loved ones are in denial about addictive behavior, and that denial allows the behavior to continue and become more deeply entrenched. You ought to be cautious about jumping to conclusions, but if you or someone that you care about has shown signs of addiction, don’t hesitate to speak to someone who can give you guidance about effective next steps.

Signs of substance addiction:

• Feeling intense urges and the need to use the drug regularly.
• Making certain to have supplies of the substance/drug available and spending money on it even if you can’t afford it.
• Failing to meet your obligations because of your use of the substance.
• Using it even though it’s causing you problems in your life.
• Doing uncharacteristic or illegal things to obtain supplies of the substance/drug.
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms if you stop using the substance.
• Failing to stop using the substance.
• Using more and more of the substance over time to obtain the same effect.

Other general signs of substance addiction: 

Singular focus.

You or your loved one will have a singular focus on using the substance or performing certain behaviors, spending a lot of time thinking about it or performing it.

Other things in life will fall away as time and energy are directed toward the addiction, and the person will take greater and greater risks to meet their need. This focus will also lead to the deterioration of relationships as these become less important than feeding their habit.

Being secretive.

This may include having long, unexplained disappearances, lying or getting defensive about where they’ve been, and hiding their calls or text messages.

Their appearance changes.

They may look disheveled, have significant weight gain or loss, have poor hygiene, rotting teeth, needle marks, and sores, and have bloodshot or sunken eyes.

Legal problems. Due to the focus on getting high/drunk to the exclusion of other pursuits, and because intoxication affects how a person thinks and behaves, you or your loved one may have increasing run-ins with the law.

Sometimes, drug-seeking behavior will lead to dysfunctional behaviors such as theft or assault to pay for the habit, domestic abuse may result due to intoxication, or one may be publicly intoxicated, be caught in possession of illicit substances, or be found driving under the influence.

Unpredictable and divergent mood swings. They may experience a whirlwind of emotions, from confusion, paranoia, being irritable, or anxiety, having boundless energy one moment, then collapsing from fatigue the next. One’s mood is determined by behavior or substance.

Possession of paraphernalia related to substance use. These may be hidden away in drawers or cabinets in the house or car. They include syringes, metal or glass pipes, burnt spoons, empty bottles or cans, rolling papers and lighters, pill bottles, steel wool, and small plastic bags.

Loss of pleasure. You or your loved one may find yourselves losing interest in previously enjoyable activities like hanging out with family or playing sports. These are replaced by a singular focus on getting high or drunk. There’s a loss of interest in these things, or they can only be enjoyed when under the influence of a drug or substance.

How does addictive behavior affect a person?

There are many short- and long-term life consequences of addiction, and these affect a person physically as well as in other ways. Addiction fuels poor decision-making, and it strains relationships as well as one’s health.

Our bodies, minds, and relationships are a curious mix and balance of being delicate as well as resilient. Addiction strains these to breaking point as they fuel uncharacteristic and unhealthy behavior.

For instance, the use of substances or certain addictive behaviors may result in the following:

• Damaged relationships with the Lord, colleagues, neighbors, friends, and family.
• Losing a job or getting poor grades and dropping out of school altogether.
• Getting an infectious disease, whether through risky and unprotected sexual intercourse or shared needles.
• Poor health, including emotional and mental burnout.
• Losing your car or being evicted from your home because of failed mortgage and car payments.
• A tarnished reputation, and the loss of one’s good standing in their community.
• Being arrested or doing jail time. This can result in the loss of future jobs and economic prospects.
• Getting divorced, and possibly losing parental rights.

Treatment for addiction.

Addictions will often affect many areas of a person’s life, including their relationships, work, and personal health. The most effective treatments are comprehensive, and these have several steps that vary from person to person. These steps will include detoxification, rehabilitation, behavioral counseling, long-term follow-up, support groups, and 12-step programs.

Additionally, medications that can help reduce cravings for certain substances and minimize the uncomfortable effects of withdrawal can be prescribed. These effective treatment options can help people break free of addiction, but one important caveat is that the person with the addiction must want to break free of the addiction for the treatment and recovery to be effective.

People struggling with addiction will often not see and deny that they have a problem. This is one major reason why they hesitate to seek treatment, and why treatment sometimes isn’t as effective as it could be.

One way to address this is through a carefully planned intervention, which may be directed by an intervention professional or in consultation with a licensed drug and alcohol counselor. An intervention urges one to consider how addiction is affecting them, and it presents a loved one with a structured opportunity to make changes before things worsen, thereby motivating them to seek or accept help.

If your loved one has an addiction, there are some things you can do to support their recovery, and these include:

• Doing what you can to learn more about the substance or behavior dependency and what the treatment involves.
• Being involved as part of their treatment plan by helping them get to meetings or supporting their recovery through providing a sober and trigger-free environment.
• Expressing concern if there’s a relapse into the addictive behaviors.

Addiction is a destructive trap that affects every area of a person’s life. neither you nor your loved one need to walk alone in battling addiction and addictive behaviors. Reach out today and speak with a licensed counselor who can help you regain the peace and tranquility God desires for us.