Addiction is often a response to stress.

Addiction is often a response to stress.

Stress often triggers negative behaviors like smoking, drinking, overeating, shopping, and gambling. When a person develops or continues a negative habit in response to a stressful situation, it is harmful to the individual and often the individual’s family.

Though these coping strategies seem to provide short-term relief for a person, they can cause long-term damage in a person’s life -- often spiraling out of control into addictive behaviors.

Could it be addiction? Recognize the signs.

Physical Signs

• Changes in eating habits, unexplained weight loss or gain
• Smell of substance on breath, body, or clothes
• Shaking, sweating, tremors
• Needle marks or bruises on lower arm, legs, or bottom of feet
• Increased incidents of injury or accident
• Possession of drug paraphernalia

Behavioral Signs

• Extreme hyperactivity or lethargy
• Changes in attitude or personality: defensiveness, temper tantrums, resentful behavior, unexplained moodiness, irritability, paranoia, or nervousness
• Changes in activities or friends
• Drop in school or work performance
• Loss of interest in family and family activities
• Difficulty paying attention; forgetfulness
• Lack of motivation, energy, self-esteem, discipline
• Violent bizarre behavior or unexplained silliness or giddiness
• Excessive need for privacy; secretive or suspicious behavior
• Chronic dishonesty; trouble with police
• Unexplained need for money