Addictive Personality Disorder Symptoms

Someone with an addictive personality is characterized as one who is more prone to addiction than another person. Addiction develops once a person forms a dependence on any number of habit-forming behaviors. Allina Hospitals and Clinics explains that one develops an addictive personality after an addiction takes over. Generally, those with this disorder will exhibit mood swings, they'll be secretive and choose to isolate themselves, feelings of guilt will keep them from getting close to others, and their actions may cause harm to themselves or others.

Mood Swings

• A person will become irritable or defensive when a family member or friend wants to discuss a perceived addictive behavior. In the book "Addiction Recovery Tools," author Robert H. Coombs argues that consequences of addiction affect everything in a user's life. They become suspicious of people's motives and believe they are being persecuted.

Guilt

• Feelings of guilt are common characteristics in an addict. They feel guilty about lying to friends and family, ashamed of their problem and lack of control, guilty knowing that their money and time was wasted on their addiction and that they didn't spend that time with kids or people who are no longer around.

Secrecy

• Secrecy is motivated by fear. When people become addicted, they inevitably lose control. Shame for what they're doing and fear of the addiction being taken from them (by a parent, jail or rehab, for instance) can force people to hide their addiction from friends and family.

Loss of Control

• Once an individual has lost all ability to stop gambling, quit drugs or give up playing computer games obsessively, the people around them may start noticing erratic behaviors like car accidents, absence from work or disappearing for days at a time.

Isolation

• Fearful of their addiction being found out, many addicts find it easier to avoid the people who know them. It starts by refusing invitations to go out or meet with friends. Progressively people will limit their contact with people as much as possible. Isolating themselves is a way for those with an addiction to keep others from knowing about their habits.