Addictive Personality

Instead of focusing on personality traits to determine addiction risk, observing and examining your daily behaviors might be more useful. This is particularly true for people who tend to be at a higher risk of acquiring an addiction due to some of the factors mentioned above.

Some common behaviors and habits that directly increase the risk of adopting an addiction include:

Comfort Eating

Comfort eating is a common habit that people use to make themselves feel better when they are stressed, disappointed, or overwhelmed. While comfort eating may not be harmful if done now and then, it may become a habit and contribute to binge eating or food addiction.

Using Alcohol to Socialize

Socializing is one of the biggest reasons that heavy drinkers use to justify their overconsumption of alcohol. A glass of wine is one of the best and easiest ways to lower inhibitions and have a good time with friends. However, alcohol can also become the only way to socialize, leaving people anxious or bored in situations where others are sober.  

Hyperconnection

Checking your social media accounts every hour, surfing the internet the minute you have extra time, or never letting your cell phone out of your reach may seem like normal activities in today’s life. However, they can quickly worsen to the point of acquiring internet addiction. Such people who are hyperconnected to the internet may also risk developing shopping and gambling addictions.

Replacing Intimacy with Sex

Constantly seeking sexual gratification and arousal easily distances a person from their partners. The repetitive indulgences force them to lose themselves in the sensations of the sexual experience instead of paying attention to their partner’s feelings.

Buying Things to Feel Better

There can be multiple reasons why a person may overshop. However, for compulsive shoppers, the thrill lies in the boost they get when they think about purchasing new shoes, new clothes, and new gadgets and in the belief that these things will make them better people. In reality, however, the object becomes worthless as soon as they purchase them.

Self-Medicating With Drugs

Trauma, pain, and difficulties with sleep are some of the reasons why people may resort to using drugs. Some of these medications seem to provide temporary relief; however, in the long run, they may also significantly increase the risk of getting addicted.

Using Marijuana to Relax

Anxiety or increased tensions are two major reasons why people may smoke a joint at the end of a stressful day. The problem with this habit is that weed or marijuana possesses a rebound effect that adds to the underlying anxiety once its temporary relaxation wears off. Moreover, the effects of marijuana may also interfere with their motivation to do things while putting them at risk of acquiring severe psychological issues.