Addiction is a widespread problem with serious impacts on health, finances, and relationships. Despite the harm all addictions can cause, society tends to overlook certain types while focusing heavily on others. This article highlights some of the real addictions that often go unnoticed or are not taken as seriously as they should be.
Work Addiction (Workaholism)
A strong work ethic is glorified in today’s society, so you may not initially think of workaholism as being a big issue. However, failing to strike a good balance between work and rest can cause you to become stressed and burnt out and potentially even lead to physical health issues later down the line.
Exercise Addiction
Similarly, you may think that it’s impossible to do too much exercise. But in reality, an obsession with physical fitness and exercise can increase your risk of overexertion and physical injuries and distract you from other important aspects of life. Exercise addiction is also frequently accompanied by disordered eating.
Food Addiction
Food is more convenient and accessible than it ever has been. While this is a great thing on its own, it has the unfortunate side effect of causing increased rates of obesity and food addiction. Food addiction can also increase your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and feelings of shame and guilt.
Gambling Addiction
While some people are aware of the dangers of some forms of gambling, others, such as online gambling, video game microtransactions, and lottery gambling, often go unnoticed. However, all of these gambling types can have significant financial, social, and legal repercussions for you and your family.
Cosmetic Surgery Addiction
A fairly new form of addiction is the compulsion to get more and more cosmetic surgery. This constant desire to “improve” one’s appearance can pose many health risks and financial costs and exacerbate existing body image issues. If you’re considering plastic surgery, it’s a good idea to try out therapy first to address any underlying mental health issues, such as body dysmorphia.
News Addiction
Many of us may think that watching the news every day is a good way to stay informed about what’s going on in the world. However, obsessively following the news, especially when it’s negative in nature, can lead to a significant amount of unnecessary stress and anxiety.
Caffeine Addiction
A lot of people feel like they simply can’t function without their daily dose of caffeine every morning. However, becoming too reliant on caffeine can lead to addiction, increasing your risk of headaches and withdrawal symptoms. You may also struggle with a lack of sleep quality and duration.
Tanning Addiction
Many people have a strange aversion to appearing “too pale” or pasty. This is why a lot of us feel compelled to visit tanning salons regularly to achieve our desired skin tone. However, frequent use of tanning beds can put you at risk of premature aging, skin damage, and even skin cancer.
Hoarding Addiction
A lot of us mistake hoarding behavior for a wise choice to hang on to objects for their sentimental value or their potential usefulness. However, the compulsion to acquire and keep items can turn into a serious addiction that can lead to social isolation, mental health issues, and an inhabitable, disorganized living space.
Reality TV Addiction
Reality TV may be entertaining, but if you get too drawn in, you may start to neglect your daily responsibilities and relationships. As noted by Nicole Webb Henry from LSU, an addiction to reality TV can also cause you to develop parasocial relationships with exaggerated characters whom you’ll never meet in real life.
Celebrity Gossip Addiction
Similarly, an obsession with the lives and relationships of celebrities can also cause you to neglect your own life. There are also many ethical concerns around the privacy violations involved in delving into the personal lives of others, especially when they don’t want the information to be public.
Smartphone and Social Media Addiction
The last few decades have seen a huge surge in our use of phones and other devices. While this has come with many benefits, such as convenience, connectivity, and entertainment value, it has also caused some of us to become much too reliant on our smartphones and social media. According to Healthline, social media addiction has become surprisingly common and can pose significant risks to your mental and physical well-being.
Video Game Addiction
Video games have significantly risen in popularity over the past few years. However, while this form of entertainment can be healthy in moderation, it’s common for gamers to spend many hours gaming at a time, often at the expense of relationships, school, and work.
Internet Addiction
Another side effect of technology’s increasing prevalence in our world is our rising internet usage. The internet can be a very useful and powerful tool that enhances our personal and professional lives. However, becoming addicted to browsing and scrolling can have a significant detrimental impact on these same areas.
Shopping Addiction
Shopping is an essential part of life that allows us to meet our nutritional, clothing, and entertainment needs. But when you start using shopping as a way to cope with emotional distress or seek a euphoric feeling, this can become a problem. Shopping addiction can lead to overspending, feelings of guilt, and strained relationships.
Plastic Use Addiction
While plastic use may not typically be an addiction in itself, an over-dependence on products made of single-use plastic can cause serious damage to our environment. While many of us consciously know this, we still find it difficult not to rationalize the problem away and forget about it.
Perfectionism Addiction
While it’s good and healthy to hold yourself to reasonably high standards and strive for improvement, this can become problematic when perfectionism becomes a compulsion. According to Anxiety Canada, perfectionism can cause you to feel anxious, depressed, frustrated, and angry.