Everyone is addicted.

Here's how to notice your own addictive behaviours.

Addictions are a lot more common than you might think.

Trying to look for statistics on addictions online, you immediately stumble onto drug use and alcohol statistics.

The WHO estimates that over 400 million people worldwide have alcohol use disorders.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that 316 million people used drugs in 2023.

And this is just the data that is officially available. Imagine how many more unreported people have struggled with this?

But sadly, that is just the tip of the iceberg. Most people's definition of addiction is very limited.

They think that addicts are the homeless people who are using drugs outside. They think addicts are the alcoholics who have been drinking for 30 years.

But they are completely oblivious to their own addictive behaviours.

Let me tell you something.

Addictions are so much more widespread than you can imagine.

Every single person faces an addiction at some point in their lives. Some addictions may be less serious, while others can have the potential to absolutely ruin your entire life, as well as impact the lives of your offspring for multiple GENERATIONS.

People don't just get addicted to drugs and alcohol. You can be addicted to:

• Gaming

• Pornography

• Eating

• Gambling

• Smoking

• Sex

• Shopping

• Work

• Exercise

• Tv shows, online media

• Social media

• Your goddamn phone!

The list goes on. People are really damn good at getting addicted to things.

As a rule of thumb, if something can make you feel good immediately, you can get addicted to it.

How do you recognise addiction?

Addiction is defined by compulsive engagement in actions, even when they have negative consequences.

This means that you do something - it makes you feel good immediately - but then it leaves you feeling worse than before - which leads to wanting to engage with it again.

Addictions can cause violent and uncontrollable urges to engage in them. They can cause a person to disregard everything else in their life only to satisfy their urges.

So what should I do?

For now, just be aware that addictions are everywhere.

Try to honestly analyse your own daily behaviours and ask yourself -

Why am I doing this? Does this lead to long term good, or only short term gratification?

Just think about your daily decisions for a while.

If you want to find out more about recognising and overcoming addictions and how to improve your life in small but meaningful ways, stay tuned.