Recognizing the Warning Signs of Behavioral Addiction Before It Escalates

Do you think you would know if someone in your life developed an addiction?

When most people think of addiction, substances like drugs and alcohol come to mind. However, addictions can also take the form of behaviors. These things, like gambling addictions, tend to creep up on you before you know it.

The problem is…

The sooner you spot these warning signs, the sooner you can avoid trouble. The longer you let behavior go unchecked, the more painful the road to recovery can be. Financial stress, broken relationships, and mental anguish are just a few things that can occur.

In this article, we cover:

• What Is Behavioral Addiction?
• The Warning Signs Of Behavioral Addiction
• Why You Should Seek Help Early
• How To Seek Professional Help

What Is Behavioral Addiction?

Basically, behavioral addiction occurs when a person becomes dependent on a rewarding behavior instead of a substance.

Gambling addiction is the most common type of behavioral addiction. In fact, it’s the only one officially recognized in the DSM-5. However, just about any rewarding behavior has the potential to become addictive. Think things like shopping, playing video games, or surfing the internet.

Your brain doesn’t discriminate where the reward comes from.

Whether you’re slamming poker chips or screaming at the slots, your brain is getting hit with the same dopamine rush. Eventually that person will have to do more and more of that behavior to get the same rush they once did. Sound familiar?

That, my friend, is called tolerance. And it’s one of the most important gambling addiction warning signs to look out for.

Recently it was found that nearly 20 million American adults have experienced at least one symptom of problem gambling in the past year. We’re talking about a huge population of gamblers that may require professional gambling addiction treatment, but don’t realize it yet.

The Warning Signs Of Behavioral Addiction

Being able to spot behavioral addiction early can save years of heartache. But you have to know what you’re looking for first.

Below are the behavioral addiction warning signs you should watch out for:

• Are Always Thinking About It: You spend all your time thinking about engaging in the behavior and talking about it.
• Need More and More: You have to do more of that behavior to feel satisfied.
• Try to Cut Back But Can’t: You’ve attempted to cut down on the behavior but have failed time after time.
• Get Moody When You Can’t…: If you are unable to do that behavior you experience feelings of irritability, restlessness, or anxiety.
• Do It to Escape Problems: You’ve used the behavior to escape from problems or relieve negative feelings.
• Trying to Chase Your Losses: You often try to win back money you lost.
• Lie About How Often You Do It: You’ve lied to family members or friends about your behavior.
• Lose Things That Are Important to You: You risked or lost a job, school, significant other, or relationships because of that behavior.

Yep. If you said gambling, that’s because these are all gambling addiction signs. But remember, any rewarding behavior has the potential to become addictive.

Pretty scary stuff.

The thing about addiction is these signs don’t just develop overnight. They gradually progress over the years. That’s what makes behavioral addiction so scary.

You may not think twice about someone missing dinner to play poker once. But what about when it becomes routine? That’s when you should be concerned.

Why Do People Miss These Signs?

Behavioral addiction is often referred to as the “invisible addiction.”

There are no needles, bottles, or white powder to give it away. Someone can gamble away $50,000 without their loved ones even knowing about it.

What’s worse…

A recent study by UC San Diego reported that there has been a 23% increase in Google searches from Americans looking up “gambling addiction help” since sports betting became legalized. People are struggling to get help, but many are suffering in silence.

Part of the issue is shame. Most people don’t want to believe that they can lose control over something as harmless as placing a bet.

In fact, studies show that only around 8% of gamblers with a gambling problem will seek help. That means millions of Americans are suffering from behavioral addictions and don’t know where to turn.

Why Seeking Help Early Is So Important

Intervening in a behavioral addiction early is more than picking it early. It can mean the difference between life and death.

Let’s look at what happens when someone’s behavior gets out of control:

• They incur heavy debt or bankruptcy
• They destroy relationships with spouses, kids, friends, and family
• They can lose their jobs
• They experience severe depression and anxiety
• They become suicidal

The list goes on and on. Fortunately, these consequences can be avoided by catching behavioral addiction early.

Treatment can work. But the sooner it starts, the better. Someone who catches their gambling addiction signs early will have a much better outcome than someone who waits till they lose everything.

How to Talk to Someone About Behavioral Addiction

Approaching a loved one about a possible addiction is never easy. You don’t want to come off too strong and blow the conversation away.

A good rule of thumb is to never accuse. Nobody likes to feel as though they’re being attacked. Instead, tell that person that you’re worried and identify the specific behaviors that you’re concerned about.

For example:

• “I’ve noticed you seem really stressed about money lately.”
• “Hey, you seem really distracted these days. Is everything okay?”
• “I care about you and want to help.”

You get the point. Also, be sure to time your conversation carefully. Don’t approach someone when they’re emotional or right after they’ve gambled. Find a relaxed time to talk and plan out what you want to say.

Don’t be discouraged if they deny their problem. Most addicts and alcoholics will lie or downplay the situation when confronted. It’s normal, just continue to plant that seed.

How To Seek Professional Help

Seeking professional help can give you the structure and support you need to beat behavioral addiction.

Addiction treatment comes in many different forms, but most programs utilize a few key methods.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: helps you identify harmful thought patterns
• Group therapy: encourages you to lean on others for support
• Family counseling: repair your relationships with your loved ones
• Financial counseling: helps you repair your debt or manage money
• Medication: just for off case stuff. Mostly behavioral addictions don’t require this.

Keep in mind that no two treatment programs are exactly the same. What works for your best friend might not work for you. Your treatment plan will be tailored to your individual needs.

It won’t happen overnight, but with time your life can recover from a behavioral addiction. Millions of people have been in your shoes and came out successful on the other end.

How You Can Help Yourself

The best way to recover from a behavioral addiction is to never allow one to occur in the first place.

Here are a few tips to help yourself avoid behavioral addiction:

• Set spending limits before you gamble
• Take frequent breaks from video games and internet usage
• Pay attention to your emotions when gambling or placing bets
• Communicate with your family about your finances

Once again, knowledge is power. Understanding these gambling addiction signs can help you spot these problems in yourself or your loved ones before it’s too late.

Wrapping Up

Behavioral addiction isn’t always obvious. In fact, you probably don’t know someone who suffers from a behavioral addiction.

But that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there. Millions of people suffer from behavioral addictions and you probably know someone.

Just remember…

• Someone who is preoccupied with a behavior, has built up a tolerance, and has lost control is most likely struggling with a behavioral addiction.
• Catching behavioral addiction signs early can save that person years of hardship.
• Recovery from behavioral addiction is possible with help from professional treatment centers.
• Family support is crucial to that person’s recovery.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to say something. If you notice someone displaying any of these behaviors now is the time to step in before things get worse.

Someone’s life could depend on it.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. Behavioral addiction is a complex health condition that varies from person to person. Reading this content should not be used to self-diagnose, delay seeking care, or substitute assessment and treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.

Open MedScience does not provide medical diagnosis or treatment services. Any actions you take based on the content of this article are taken at your own risk. Always consult a GP, licensed therapist, psychiatrist, or accredited addiction specialist if you believe you or someone else may be experiencing symptoms of behavioural addiction.

References to statistics, treatment approaches, or recovery outcomes are provided for context and awareness only. Results can differ widely depending on individual circumstances, access to care, and personal health factors.

By reading this article, you acknowledge that Open MedScience and its contributors are not liable for any losses, damages, or harm arising from the use or interpretation of this information.