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In speaking of addiction most people think of alcoholism and drug addiction, but the reality is that addiction is far broader than that.

Process addictions can occur in addition to chemical dependency. Addictions such as shopping, gambling, and disordered eating are related to compulsive behavior. Being active in addiction hurts not only yourself but everyone who comes in contact with you. Questions occur. What is addiction? How does it start in when? A pattern of behavior can become an addiction when you cross the line?

It is hard to understand, but none the less it is a fact that while the majority of people can engage in behavior or use drugs and alcohol with no difficulties, addicts simply cannot. Victims of addiction have lost the ability to control or stop their user behaviors. Addiction is possible for everyone despite ethnic, social or economic status.

There is no standard definition of an addict. There is no poster child. Although there a lot of research has been done on addiction scientists and researchers cannot agree on you the cure or cause. The part of addiction and that is the most confusing and confounding 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. Loss of control has set in.

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.

If one or more of the above symptoms are occurring, it is time to talk to someone. Everyone agrees that addiction is a progressive disease. Left untreated, it will get worse.

There is more information available here on addiction treatment.