Addiction

Addiction is when you feel like you can’t stop doing something to the point where it’s taking over your life or causing you problems. Some behaviours can quickly become unbreakable habits and young people (and adults!) can become addicted to lots of different things. Drugs and alcohol are the obvious ones, but people can develop addictions around gaming, gambling, phone use, porn and even exercising and food.

Most of these behaviours usually start off feeling great. They help your brain produce feel good chemicals and this can mean you want to go back to them again and again. This can be especially true for a developing teenage brain.

It can be easy for this to sneak up on you as a problem. Lots of people with addictions don’t realise how involved they are until they try to stop, cut down or can’t access the thing they want to do. Some people fall into addictions because they use behaviours to help with things like stress or boredom, so they become reliant on them to feel good. Signs of addiction can be lying or being secretive about what you’re doing and for how long, using the behaviour as a way to escape or spending so much time focusing on something that it’s causing fall outs or making you miss work, school and other activities.

There is lots of help available if you’re struggling around this topic, no matter what you think you’re addicted to.

Both Childline and Young Minds have some great information and ideas for support. The tips can help you cut down on behaviours you’re worried about, even if you don’t think you’re addicted. A trusted adult can help you to put some of these things in place if you feel able to open up. You can also ask us a question or contact Childline for support.

If you’re 18 and over BeGambleAware can provide information around gambling addiction and GAMSTOP can help you to remove yourself from gambling sites.