"I'm addicted to coffee."

"I'm addicted to Facebook."

"I'm addicted to Netflix."

"I'm addicted to this new band."

But are you really? We have all said we are addicted to something, whether it be social media, a new song, a clothing brand, even the latest concoction from your local coffee shop. Yet the actual gravity of addiction has been lost. Addiction is not just really liking something or enjoying a trend that will soon be replaced. It is a serious condition that is often glossed over and seen through rose-colored lenses. It is a daily struggle for many around us.

Addiction versus Habit

This is a vital differentiation that is the basis for addiction. We all have habits, but few of us actually have an addiction. Just because I make a cup of tea every morning does not mean that I am addicted to tea. I can stop drinking tea whenever I want. A habit is a chosen dependence on a substance. It can be broken at any time successfully without ever causing damage. While it may be enjoyable, there is no psychological dependence on the substance.

Addiction is fueled by a psychological dependence. An addict has almost no control over how the addiction affects his or her life. It is because of this mental aspect that an addict often requires outside assistance in the form of counseling or other help. While a habit does not really affect everyday life, an addiction often becomes the focus of it. Addicts will arrange their lives to better accommodate the substance or action on which they have developed a dependence. They will cut out activities such as work and classes as well as friends and family to have the ability to spend more time chasing the high that their addiction provides. It takes center stage and slowly begins to control that life to almost to an unbreakable degree, often without the addict realizing what is happening. They become so focused on chasing what that addiction can give them that they cannot see what is happening to themselves.

Addictions include not only the abuse of substances like drugs and alcohol, which is more commonly known. It can be an action, such as gambling, sex, exercise, or work. Anything can turn into an addiction if someone becomes too dependent on it. An addiction often causes the addict to feel humiliated, anxious, guilty, or even desperate when it comes to thinking about their dependence or even trying to get out of it. A habit can develop into an addiction, because it is the psychological dependence on an action or substance that makes an addiction what it is. However, very little is actually known about what causes this dependency. Some people can spend their whole lives without getting addicted, while others fall after the first hit of a drug. It is not that some people are weaker than others, just that some people are more prone to addictive tendencies than others. But how do you tell if someone, or even yourself, is an addict?

Five Signs of Addiction

1. The person cannot stop taking the substance or performing the activity.

No matter what they may try, the only way to deal with it is with outside support and assistance from a psychologist. They depend so thoroughly on that substance or activity that doing away with it on their own is impossible.

2. The person is obsessive about the substance or activity.

This can mean having a steady supply of a drug, being secretive about it, excessive consumption of it (working out at every free moment or drinking or dosing until a blackout is caused), spending enough money on their addiction to cause financial difficulties, and continuing despite knowing the risks and effects of their actions. The addict will be more than prepared to end relationships that get in the way of that next high, and will reject social activities if they will not be able to smoke or drink, for example.

3. The person will be in denial.

An addict will not see their dependency as a problem. They may even become angry if someone points it out to them. They will try to rationalize their use of a substance, often by saying that it helps them deal with problems. When confronted with it, they will often push away and close themselves off from others, saying that no one really understands what they are going through. This is why the only way for help to be successful is for the addict to admit that there is a problem.

4. Withdrawal symptoms are experienced if the person does stop.

These are often painful, both physically and emotionally. Physical symptoms can range from fever, nausea, and sweating to seizure-like tremors, a racing heart, and difficulty breathing. Normally, a doctor will oversee this detoxing of the body to ensure a safe experience. However, the emotional symptoms are often seen as the worst. A patient can become depressed, anxious, restless, and even paranoid. They may become isolated and suffer from poor concentration. This may cause them to want to go back to the addiction, saying that it will relieve the pain that they are in. This is a crucial point in any addiction, and the help of loved ones, doctors, and psychologists is vital to prevent a relapse.

5. The person is willing to take risks to achieve the high they are seeking.

This can include trading sex or material goods for a substance, engaging in risky behavior while high to cause more of a thrill, or lying extensively to get what they want.

This is not a complete list of symptoms, but a generalization of what to expect when dealing with addiction.

Where can I get help?

Addiction requires help to be conquered. And the beautiful part is you just have to ask. There are counselors who are more than willing to reach out and provide resources to get you back on track. Colorado State University provides a free counseling service to all their students and can be reached at (970) 491-6053. All services are confidential and personalized to fit your specific needs.

If someone you care about is struggling with the beast of addiction, know that it is not your responsibility to save them. You can be supportive, loving, and understanding, but you cannot change their life. That is for them to do. As long as you are not enabling the addiction by providing more opportunities for the addict to pursue it, then you are doing everything you can. It will be hard, but you will make it through this, too. Know that you have a life, too, and their addiction does not have to control you as well.

Addiction is a battle between that internal monster and the life you want. It will be hard, but you can recover. You can do this, and you are not alone.

You are going to be okay. Just take that first step and the battle is already half-won.

You've got this.