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December 4th, 2025
Addiction | Types, Symptoms and Effects
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Addiction, at its core, is a powerful cycle of seeking comfort that eventually takes control of everything in that person’s life.
What is an addiction?
Addiction happens when something that once felt helpful begins to take hold in a way that’s hard to escape. It can begin through relief, distraction or pleasure, but gradually the line between choice and need starts to blur.
As the brain adapts, it learns to crave the same behaviour or substance to feel normal again. Before the person knows it, life slowly starts to centre around that craving, leaving entire lives to fall behind. The person often knows the damage being caused but still feels drawn back to it, no matter how much they want to stop.
Are there different types of addictions?
Addiction awareness in the UK has grown immensely, with many people understanding the basic concept of addiction and even recognising some of its signs. While this is encouraging, it only scratches the surface. Each form of addiction affects people differently and can cause deep damage to both health and everyday stability.
What are the signs of addiction?
Let’s imagine three people standing in front of you: a businesswoman, a doctor and a police officer. If you were asked to guess which one is addicted to something, you probably wouldn’t know where to start.
That’s exactly what makes some addictions so hard to spot; not everyone will show the common signs visibly. But if you spend enough time with someone, you’ll eventually notice small cracks begin to form.
Now imagine one of those three people is someone you love; you’d want to recognise the early signs, to make sure they get the help they need. That’s why, below, we explore the general signs of addiction.
(Note: These don’t apply to every addiction but offer a broad overview of what to look out for.)
Psychological signs of addiction
- Mood swings or irritability
- Denial or minimising the problem
- Obsessive thoughts about the substance or behaviour
- Loss of interest in hobbies or passions
- Emotional numbness or detachment
Behavioural signs of addiction
- Secrecy or lying about activities
- Neglecting work, family or personal responsibilities
- Risk-taking or reckless behaviour
- Financial difficulties or unexplained spending
- Social withdrawal or isolation
- Repeated failed attempts to quit
Physical signs of addiction
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Bloodshot or glassy eyes
- Poor hygiene or personal appearance
- Unexplained health issues or frequent illness
- Withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop
If some of these signs ring true for someone you love or perhaps even yourself, it may be worth taking a closer look at your relationship with the substance or behaviour in question:
Do I have an addiction?
As we’ve shown, it can be difficult to spot an addiction in a person but it can sometimes be just as difficult to spot an addiction in yourself. As strange as it may sound, addictions are sneaky and often only reveal themselves when you’re already caught in their cycle. That’s why, if you’ve been engaging in potentially addictive behaviours or using addictive substances, it’s important to check in with yourself and make sure everything is okay.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I find it hard to go a day without using a particular substance or engaging in a specific behaviour?
- Have I ever lied or hidden my use or behaviour from someone close to me?
- Do I continue even when I know it’s causing problems in my health, work or relationships?
- Have I tried to cut down or stop but found I couldn’t?
- Do I spend a lot of time thinking about when or how I’ll use again?
- Have I stopped doing things I used to enjoy because of my substance use or behaviour?
If you’ve answered “yes” to even one of these questions, it could be worth reaching out to addiction specialists for a deeper evaluation and support.
Are addictions treatable?
At Recovery Lighthouse, we treat addiction by caring for both the body and the mind. Our addiction treatment process for substances will include detox first and foremost. This allows for space for the real work to begin: therapy.
For those with behavioural and substance addictions, therapy and holistic support focus on rebuilding the person beneath the addiction, not just the symptoms on the surface.
Alongside our optional secondary treatment care, our aftercare programme remains a vital part of what we offer, ensuring you continue to receive guidance and support long after leaving our care. This ongoing connection helps give sobriety the strength to last.
Addiction can be treated. Yes, it takes effort and patience but with the right help, people rebuild their entire lives within our walls.
What are the next steps?
If you or someone you love feels trapped by addiction, it’s important to remember that recovery is always possible. At Recovery Lighthouse, we offer specialist treatment programmes for both substance-related and behavioural addictions, helping people rebuild their lives with structured, lasting support.
Our team provides a full pathway to recovery that includes detox, personalised therapy, aftercare planning and a strong alumni community to help you stay connected long after treatment ends.
Reach out to us today, recovery can begin with a single conversation.
Addiction does not need to control your life. Reach out for us today to find out how you can take your life back from Addiction.
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