Three people talking in group therapy

Addictive Behaviors

In addition to drugs and alcohol, we can also become addicted to behaviors. These resources will help you understand and manage your addictive personality.

Explore Addictive Behaviors

All Caffeine Internet Shopping Sex
Woman yelling at slot machine
How Gambling Disorder Is Defined According to the DSM-5
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Rear View Of Woman Playing Game On Computer At Home
Are Addictive Behaviors or Activities Real Addictions?
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Woman with handful of drugs
The Self Medication Theory of Addiction
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Paranoia can make you overly suspicious.
Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments for Paranoia
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
A man drinking water close up
Dilutional Hyponatremia or Water Intoxication
Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD
woman leaning on barbell on weight rack
What Is Exercise Addiction and Are You at Risk?
Reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS
Excitement
How to Tell if You Are an Adrenaline Junkie
Reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS
wooden spoon with cacao powder
The Risks of Snorting Cacao Powder
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Woman reaching into fridge
How a Food Addiction Develops
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
A woman shopping in a store
Is Compulsive Shopping Really an Addiction?
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Sugar
Is Sugar Actually Addictive?
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Woman relaxing on bed
How Does Addiction Change Homeostasis?
Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE
Man in bar with a beer
Does Stress Cause Addiction?
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
A female tattoo artist working on a customer
Are Tattoos Addictive if You Can't Stop at One?
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
man surrounded by 6 different screens of online poker
The Psychological Process of Addiction
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Girls dancing at a party
Socially Acceptable vs. Deviant Behavior
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Hamburger, close-up, waitress in background (wide angle)
The Excessive Appetites Theory of Addiction
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
woman with belt around neck autoerotic asphyxiation
Asphyxiation and the Addiction Connection
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Depressed young man
10 Cognitive Distortions Identified in CBT
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
couple jogging up steps on outdoor hillside trail
Exercise Euphoria and Exercise Addiction
Reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS
Woman looking through window in a train
Psychosis Symptoms and Causes
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Pyromaniacs are obsessed with watching and setting fires.
What Exactly Is a Pyromaniac?
Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD
Rear view of a couple watching TV
The Symptoms and Risks of Television Addiction
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Troubled youth
Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
a young couple fighting in an alley
Why Is My Addicted Loved One Always Telling Lies?
By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD
Drug addiction crisis
What Does It Feel Like to Be Addicted to Something?
Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD
Peer Pressure
What Is Peer Pressure and Does It Lead to Addiction?
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
Teacher preparing pencils for school day
The Difference Between an Addiction and a Compulsion
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Model poses as chemist looking in a test tube
Symptoms of Being High on Mephedrone
Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD
stacks of chips at gambling table
Addictive Gambling vs. Professional and Social Gambling
Fact checked by Adah Chung
Two people dealing drugs in alley
What Is a Drug Dealer?
By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD
Woman using slot machine
Signs of Pathological Gambling and Gambling Addiction
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Female looking out of window, with her reflection looking back at her
What Is Dissociation?
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
Woman throwing dice at craps table in casino, friends watching
An Overview of Behavioral Addiction
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
Contemplating her next move
How Emotional Pain Affects Your Body
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Man taking notes
How Does Denial Affect Addiction?
Reviewed by David Susman, PhD
Sugar
Sugar Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
A woman drinks a cup of coffee with her co-workers
Effects of Caffeine on the Body
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Coffee for three
Side Effects of Caffeine and Caffeinated Drinks
Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE
man drinking an energy drink
Is It Possible to Overdose on Caffeine?
Medically reviewed by John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE
Close-up of a businesswoman suffering from caffeine withdrawal syndrome
Caffeine Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, & Treatment
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Coffee
How Much Caffeine Is in Foods and Drinks?
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Woman drinking energy drink by the computer
Are Energy Drinks Addictive?
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
coffee, black cup, man, woollen hat, beard
Caffeine, Stress and Your Health
Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD
Closeup coffee beans which contain caffeine
Where Caffeine Comes From and Various Uses
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
How Caffeine Addiction Can Affect Your Health
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
hand of person using social media
Excessive Social Media Use Comparable to Drug Addiction
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Close-up of woman wearing jeans from behind with cell phone in her back pocket
How to Quit Cell Phone Addiction and Be More Present
By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD
Woman checking her phone
The Stress of Constantly Checking Your Phone
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
Girl being excluded by peers
5 Types of Internet Abuse Used to Cyberbully
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
boy enjoying video game console at home
What to Know About Video Game Addiction
Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD
Woman ignores companion while she looks at her phone
10 Basic Rules of Netiquette or Internet Etiquette
Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW
Man playing video game in living room
Is Video Game Addiction Really an Addiction?
Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD
man smiling while looking at cell phone
When Sexting Becomes Addictive
Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD
Woman looking at computer in dark room
An Overview of Internet Addiction
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
Couple laying on bed playing video games
Characteristics of Addicted Gamers
By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD
Woman wasting time on Facebook
How to Control Your Facebook Addiction
By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD
Couple shopping in Singapore
Advertising Tricks That Trigger Impulse Buying
By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD
A picture of a child holding up shopping bags
How to Stop Overspending and Avoid Debt
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
woman holding up dress in mirror in store
Differences Between Compulsive and Impulsive Shopping
Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD