How to Identify a Psychological Addiction

The signals of an addiction can come in several different forms. The signs can come in the physical form of shakes or nervous bodily movements, but it is more difficult to identify a psychological addiction. However, if you understand what to look for, you can learn to identify a psychological addiction.

Instructions

• 1

  Check to see if the addict needs the addictive substance or behavior to relax. For instance, if the addiction is drugs, see if drugs are the only method by which they can relax and nothing else will seem to help them relax. This could be an indication of a psychological addiction.

• 2

  Verify that the potential addict experiences dramatic upsets in the patterns of his or her personal life. Dactivities or hobbies that the potential addict enjoyed in the past no longer hold any interest?

• 3

  Determine if the person experiences rapid changes in his mood. Significant and quick changes in the mood of the suspected addict can be an indication of a psychological addiction.

• 4

  Try to establish if the person lies or steals in order to feed the addiction. If the addiction is psychological, an addict will resort to any dishonest and deceitful activity to ensure that she meets the psychologically addictive needs.

• 5

  Ascertain if the person spends a majority of his time around others with a similar addiction. People that have a psychological addiction find comfort and acceptance in the company of other people with same problem. This makes it easier for this person to justify the psychological addiction.

• 6

  Confirm that the addictive behavior occurs every time the person is in a given situation. Psychological addiction will sometimes only manifest itself if the addict is in a situation that forces him to ingest the addictive substance or perform the addictive behavior. People who suffer from situational psychological addiction will not show any identifiable signs of the addiction otherwise.