Warning Signs of Addiction

Warning Signs of Addiction, The Details

Watching someone you love change and not knowing if it's stress, a rough patch, or something more serious is exhausting. The signs of addiction rarely show up all at once. They build slowly, which is why family members often second-guess what they're seeing.

Here are patterns worth paying attention to:

• Behavioral: pulling away from friends, missing work or school, secrecy about where they go, borrowing money without a clear reason, or new problems with the law.
• Physical: sudden weight changes, bloodshot eyes, trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, shaky hands, or neglecting basic hygiene.
• Emotional: mood swings, irritability that seems out of proportion, anxiety, defensiveness when you ask simple questions, or a flat, checked-out feeling.

If several of these fit, that matters more than any single one.

When you decide to talk, pick a calm moment when neither of you is upset. Say what you've noticed without accusing. Use specific examples instead of labels, and tell them you're worried because you care, not because you're angry. You may not fix it in one conversation. Start it anyway.