What is a behavioral addiction?
It usually sneaks up on people. One minute it feels harmless, even fun, and the next it is running the show. A behavioral addiction forms when someone gets locked into a particular action or habit and keeps doing it, even as the fallout piles up around them. Bills stack. Relationships strain. Sleep disappears. Still, the behavior sticks.
Take shopping, for instance. I have seen people swipe cards they know are maxed out, fully aware they are digging a deeper hole, yet somehow convinced that one more purchase will calm the noise in their head. It rarely does.
Right now, the American Psychiatric Association officially recognizes just one behavioral addiction: gambling disorder. That is it. Everything else sits in a kind of clinical waiting room.
Why? According to the APA, most non-substance addictions have not yet earned a spot in the DSM-5 because researchers are still hammering out what truly separates a strong habit from a diagnosable disorder. The science is ongoing, slow, and honestly a bit messy.
What is going on in the brain?
Here is where it gets interesting. And a little unsettling.
Whether someone is hooked on alcohol, drugs, or a behavior like gaming or gambling, the same brain circuitry lights up. The reward system. The part that whispers, “That felt good. Do it again.”
Activities and substances both trigger neurotransmitters, especially dopamine. Dopamine is the brain’s internal high-five. It rewards us. It teaches us. It nudges us to repeat whatever just happened.
Over time, repetition rewires expectations. The person needs more of the behavior, more often, just to feel normal. Not even great. Just okay.
Eventually, the obsession takes over. Logic taps out. Consequences become background noise. Even when jobs, finances, or relationships start burning, stopping feels impossible.
Clinically speaking, alcohol and drug addictions fall under substance use disorders. Behavioral addictions, on the other hand, usually get grouped into impulse control disorders. Different labels. Same grip.
Common behavioral addictions people struggle with
Gambling is the only one officially listed in the DSM-5, but that does not mean the others are imaginary. Anyone paying attention knows better.
The good news, and there is some, is that we understand these patterns well enough to treat them. Recovery is absolutely possible.
Some of the more common behavioral addictions include:
- Gambling
- Video game addiction, sometimes called compulsive gaming
- Social media addiction
- Sex addiction
- Porn addiction
- Food addiction
- Shopping addiction
- Exercise addiction
Who is more at risk?
There is no single cause. That would be too tidy.
Research shows behavioral addictions and substance addictions share similar roots. Genetics matter. Mental health matters. Life circumstances matter. And then there are factors unique to each behavior.
For example, data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions shows gambling disorder shows up more often in lower-income households and among certain racial and ethnic minority groups, including Black and Native or Asian American populations.
That does not mean destiny. It means vulnerability.
Mental health and behavioral addiction often overlap
This connection shows up again and again in studies. People who already live with conditions tied to impulsivity or emotional regulation tend to face a higher risk.
Research published in Frontiers in Psychiatry points to several common co-occurring conditions, including:
- Major depressive disorder
- ADHD
- Bipolar disorder
- PTSD
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Insomnia
- Eating disorders, including binge eating disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Other impulse control disorders, such as hair-pulling, skin picking, and kleptomania
To be clear, having one of these diagnoses does not guarantee addiction. Not at all. But the compulsive loops many people experience can make it easier for an addiction to take hold.
Substance use disorders raise the risk even further. When drugs or alcohol are unavailable, the brain sometimes looks for another way to get that familiar rush. A different outlet. Same craving.
Family history plays a role too
Addiction often runs in families. Genes can load the gun, as the saying goes.
But environment pulls the trigger.
Children absorb what they see. If problematic behaviors are normalized, or worse, glamorized, they can quietly become part of a child’s blueprint for adulthood.
Imagine growing up watching a parent gamble, hearing only the stories of big wins, never the losses, the stress, the debt. That silence speaks volumes.
Warning signs that something is wrong
Behavioral addictions can cause cravings and withdrawal, much like drugs do. When the behavior stops, the brain protests. Loudly. Emotional distress, agitation, even physical symptoms can follow.
Signs vary, but certain red flags tend to show up again and again.
Physical signs may include:
- Neglecting appearance or hygiene
- Pulling away from social commitments
- Money problems that do not add up
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
- Stomach issues
- Diarrhea
- Muscle pain or cramps
- Racing heart
- Chills or feverish feelings
Emotional and behavioral signs may include:
- Intense cravings
- Constant mental fixation on the behavior
- Asking for money repeatedly, with vague explanations
- Anxiety
- Disrupted sleep or eating
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Irritability
None of these alone proves addiction. Together, though, they paint a picture worth paying attention to.
The real-world consequences
Left unchecked, behavioral addictions can quietly dismantle a life. No substances involved, yet the damage can be just as severe.
Common consequences include:
- Financial chaos: Gambling or shopping addictions can drain savings, create debt, and lead to legal trouble.
- Health risks: Food addiction may contribute to diabetes or heart disease, while sex addiction can raise the risk of infections.
- Social isolation: Shame pushes people into hiding, cutting them off from friends and family.
- Work and school problems: Gaming or internet addiction can lead to missed deadlines, skipped classes, and lost opportunities.
- Emotional pain: Anxiety, depression, and low self-worth often deepen as control slips away.
- Neglected self-care: Sleep, meals, and hygiene fall by the wayside when everything revolves around the addiction.
Different path. Same wreckage.
A snapshot of the numbers
Behavioral addictions are not rare, and they seem to be growing, especially among younger people.
Here are a few statistics that stand out:
- Gambling: Between 0.1 and 2.7 percent of U.S. adults meet criteria, with college students reporting rates as high as 7.9 percent.
- Shopping addiction: Roughly 5 percent of Americans are affected, often starting in the late teens or early twenties.
- Gaming disorder: Global prevalence sits around 3.05 percent, with cases reported in children as young as eight.
- Pornography addiction: About 11 percent of men and 3 percent of women report feeling addicted, with millions of U.S. adults spending more than 11 hours a week consuming online content.
- Social media addiction: Estimates range widely, from 5 to 25 percent worldwide. Rates climb higher in collectivist cultures. In the U.S., 77 percent of high school students check social media multiple times daily, a habit linked to rising mental health concerns.
These are not abstract figures. They represent real people, often struggling quietly.
How behavioral addictions are treated?
Even though gambling disorder is the only one listed in the DSM-5, most mental health professionals treat behavioral addictions as serious, legitimate conditions.
Hospitalization is rare. Treatment usually happens on an outpatient basis and often includes therapy, medication, or both, depending on individual needs.
Therapy
Talk therapy is usually the starting point. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people spot harmful thinking patterns and replace them with healthier ones. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy focuses on emotional regulation and breaking all-or-nothing thinking.
Different tools. Same goal. Regaining control.
Medication
There is no medication approved specifically for behavioral addictions, but certain prescriptions can ease related issues like anxiety, depression, or obsessive thoughts. Treating those layers often makes recovery feel more doable.
Medications commonly used include:
- Antidepressants
- Anti-anxiety medications
- Antipsychotics
- Mood stabilizers
- Naltrexone, often used for alcohol or opioid use disorders
The power of support groups
Feeling alone makes everything heavier. Support groups remind people they are not broken, not weak, and definitely not alone.
Options include:
- Debtors Anonymous
- Shopaholics Anonymous
- Shopping Addiction Support Groups
- Gam-Anon
- GamTalk
- DailyStrength groups for sex or porn addiction
- Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous
- Porn Addicts Anonymous
- Sex Addicts Anonymous
This list barely scratches the surface. A healthcare provider can often help find local options that fit better.
Finding help, even if it feels hard
Behavioral addiction carries a unique kind of shame. Quiet. Heavy. Isolating.
But help exists. And it works.
If you are unsure where to begin, the SAMHSA online treatment locator offers free, confidential resources and referrals. You can also call 1-866-410-2669 for guidance on behavioral addiction treatment options near you.
Taking that first step is uncomfortable. Maybe scary. But it is also the start of something better.
