Addiction is a compulsive behavior towards a substance or activity that induces pleasure and enjoyment. It’s easy to confine addiction to just drugs and alcohol, but people also compulsively engage in activities such as sex, video gaming and shopping, amongst others. Addiction is classed as a medical condition – not a habit – and calls for treatment, just like any other disease or illness.

Those addicted to a substance or activity often place more priority on their addiction than any other responsibilities. For drug and alcohol users, giving up can be relatively difficult, as they’ll experience withdrawal symptoms that can force them to take the substance again.

Quitting is also challenging for people who engage in addictive activities. For instance, when refraining, they become uneasy and exhibit an irresistible urge to go back to them again.

It’s important to understand that you’ve become addicted to an activity or substance, so that you can get help, before your addiction causes serious damage to your health and life in general. Here, we’ll cover the ten most common addictions – including their symptoms and associated dangers – so that you can spot yours (or those of a loved one) in time and seek appropriate help.

Drug addiction

Drugs are one of the most commonly abused substances in the world. An estimate puts the number of drug abusers and addicts in the UK at more than 440,000 – and that number continues to grow. There are many drugs that a person can become addicted to; from prescription medications to illicit synthesized substances, the prevalence of drug misuse has always been a societal issue.

Gambling addiction

Gambling is a pastime – a recreational engagement that can turn into a serious addiction for some people. Research has found that the excitement of gambling triggers an increased release of dopamine in the brain. This chemical is known to induce pleasure and extreme euphoria. As a result, you will naturally want to enjoy this feeling repeatedly and return to gambling as a means to feel happy.

If you find yourself or a loved one gambling uncontrollably, borrowing and spending all you have on placing bets and feeling uneasy and uncomfortable when you aren’t engaged in this activity, then you’re most likely addicted to gambling.

Gambling compulsively without control can have serious consequences; you could lose a lot of money and be in serious debt as a result of this behavior. Your relationship with others will suffer strain, as all you focus on and look forward to is placing bets. Gambling can also affect your professional career and education badly because you’ll have less time for your studies and work.

Food addiction

Food addiction can be referred to as a kind of eating disorder. For instance, people who are addicted to food can’t help themselves around certain food types. Highly palatable foods (which are rich in sugar, fat and/or salt) can affect the brain’s chemistry and induce intense feelings of satisfaction and pleasure, causing the person to repeatedly eat them.

Video game addiction

Video game addiction is a disturbing disorder, marked by an uncontrollable urge to constantly play computer games.

If you’re addicted to video games, you’ll exhibit signs of irritation, frustration and misery when you’re unable to partake in this activity. You’ll also be unable to focus on other engagements aside from gaming when you’re addicted to this particular activity.

Internet addiction

The internet has penetrated many cultures and an overreliance on the world wide web has become something of a disorder. Research puts the number of internet addicts in the USA and Europe at 8.2% of the entire population. A person is said to be addicted to internet activities such as social media, texting, online gaming, search engines and online shopping.

Sex addiction

Sex addiction is a disorder whereby a person cannot control their sexual behavior. Uncontrollable sexual thoughts and actions affect their ability to maintain relationships, hold down jobs and undertake important responsibilities.

Sexual dependency, compulsive sexual behavior, and hypersexuality are other terms used for sex addiction. The condition is also known as satyriasis in men, and nymphomania in women.

While there is still debate as to whether sex addiction is an actual addiction, ample damage can occur from a compulsive need to always engage in sexual activities.

Alcohol addiction

Alcohol addiction accounts for most cases of substance dependence. People mostly abuse alcohol and become addicted to it because they see it as a means to escape their worries. Addiction to alcohol is mostly reinforced by withdrawal. When you refrain from consumption after becoming dependent on it, you’ll experience harsh physical and psychological health symptoms that will compel you to drink excessively again.

Smoking addiction

Nicotine is an ingredient found in cigarettes, known to be highly addictive. If you’re addicted to smoking, you’ll find it difficult to quit – even if you want to. Tobacco is known to be one of the most dangerous substances to human health and many life-threatening diseases have been linked to the substance