6 Most Common Behavioral Addictions In 2025

While the phrase “everything in moderation” has been attributed to many different people throughout the years, we are all familiar with the dangers of too much of a good thing. Even the most banal of behaviors, ones that may seem harmless at first glance, can do more harm than we give them credit for, especially if they become compulsive, habitual, or damaging.

A behavioral addiction, which can also be thought of as a compulsion, is the maladaptive persistence of responding to certain stimuli, despite adverse consequences. Compulsive actions are often regarded as a key feature of substance abuse disorders, as well as obsessive‐compulsive disorders (OCD), but have many important distinctions from both.

As it stands, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) places more emphasis on substance abuse when it comes to addiction. Even so, many therapists, psychiatrists, and other behavioral health professionals believe that future editions of this trusted psychological tool should include more information about the rising rates of behavioral addictions.

What Are Behavioral Addictions?

In layman’s terms, the line between healthy engagement with something and behavioral addiction can be defined as a behavior that has become so habitual and compulsive that it has an outsized, negative impact on other parts of life.

Signs of behavioral addiction include:

• using the behavior to numb feelings or reduce stress
• needing to engage with the behavior for longer and longer to achieve the same level of stress relief
• past attempts to stop or lessen the behavior, often resulting in failure
• spending more and more time engaging in the behavior
• relationship problems as a direct result of the behavior
• spending excessive amounts of money on the behavior, to the detriment of other financial needs
• constant thinking and daydreaming about the behavior when unable to engage with it
• neglect of health or personal hygiene
• neglect of employment, educational, or other personal responsibilities
• lying about or hiding the behavior from others

When the idea of not doing these behaviors causes psychological distress or seems near impossible, it may be time to reach out for help. That psychological distress can take many forms, and looks different for every person.

When enjoying a fun, relaxing game during your downtime spirals into an inability to focus on or think about anything else, know that you are not alone. Compulsive video game playing has been on the rise for many years, especially among young people.

What Causes Behavioral Addictions?

There is not one singular cause of behavioral addictions. For many people, there is a mix of factors that contribute to these habitual patterns developing.

Behavioral addiction has been associated with many risk factors, such as:

• loneliness and lack of social support
• history of trauma
• history of sexual abuse
• history of substance abuse or mental illness
• family history of substance abuse or mental illness

What Is The Difference Between Drug Addiction And Behavioral Addictions?

In substance use disorders, a chemical change is made to a person’s body, resulting most often in an altered mental state. In behavioral addictions, no chemical change is made to the person’s body; they simply find it painful to stop engaging with a certain behavior. Damage to one’s life is possible with both, just in different ways.

Some common substance abuse disorders that can overlap with behavioral addictions are:

• alcohol addiction
• cocaine addiction
• heroin addiction
• meth addiction
• opioid addiction
• prescription drug addiction

How Common Are Behavioral Addictions?

Understanding how common these behavioral addictions are can be difficult to assess. Many counselors, therapists, psychologists, and others in the field are still debating the criteria of these addictions, and in some cases, whether they should be considered addictions at all.

We know that many people battle compulsive behaviors that negatively impact their lives, and more people seem to join their ranks every day.

Types Of Behavioral Addictions On The Rise

Read on to learn about the various types of behavioral addictions that have been increasing in recent years.

1. Internet Addiction

Many people joke that they or someone they know is “addicted to their phone,” but many healthcare professionals are beginning to see this as no laughing matter. Sometimes called screen addiction, cellphone or smartphone addiction, social media addiction, or internet addiction, whatever this phenomenon is eventually called, it can do real harm to many. And with the rates of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the rise in social media, there is even cause to consider AI-content addiction an issue, as well.

2. Gambling Addiction And Online Gambling Addiction

One of the most well-known forms of behavioral addiction, gambling addiction, has touched the lives of so many people. But because it is so well known, it is also well known for being highly treatable. Therapies, support groups, and even medications have all been found to be effective treatments for this type of addiction.

Online gambling addiction can be thought of as somewhat distinct from in-person gambling addictions. This is because, in some ways, it can be even more intense than physical gambling. By nature of being online, online gambling is more accessible, faster, and easier than in-person gambling, which can also make it seem less dangerous. And in recent years, many laws in the US have changed regarding the regulation of online gambling, making it easier than ever to be exposed to this enticing habit.

3. Shopping Addiction

Acquiring new things is, of course, a pleasurable experience, but for some, it becomes compulsive, leading to huge bills, mountains of items, and a host of other problems. First researched in 1915, compulsive shopping or compulsive buying disorder has a significant correlation with depression and substance use disorder, and has been known to run in families. Online shopping has made it incredibly easy to fall prey to this behavior, as well.

4. Exercise Addiction

Exercise addiction can be an extension of disordered eating, self-harm, or be related to body dysmorphia and self-image issues. In some cases, it can develop separately from all of these. Oftentimes, this sort of unhealthy coping mechanism stems from a desire for control over all aspects of life, including one’s physical body. It may manifest in the form of working out to the point of harming one’s, neglecting relationships and responsibilities to work out more, and never feeling like exercising “enough.”

5. Video Game Addiction

When enjoying a fun, relaxing game during your downtime spirals into an inability to focus on or think about anything else, know that you are not alone. Compulsive video game playing has been on the rise for many years, especially among young people.

There are even instances where microtransactions and loot boxes in online video games can have some similarities with gambling mechanics, making this disordered behavior even more potentially dangerous.

6. Sex-Related Addictions

Sex in many cultures around the world is a very private matter, which can unfortunately lead to intense amounts of shame for anyone experiencing any sex-related addictions. These compulsions can take the form of fantasies, urges, or actions, and may go by other names, such as hypersexuality. Compulsive sexual behaviors may or may not have an overlap with compulsive porn use.

Porn Addiction is a behavioral addiction characterized by compulsive viewing of pornographic material. Porn addiction occurs when porn viewing becomes excessive or interferes with daily life. This form of compulsive behavior can have deleterious effects on one’s personal and romantic relationships, and despite cultural stereotypes, it can affect people of any gender, not just men. Similar to how gambling addiction and online gambling addiction can be thought of as somewhat distinct from each other, an OnlyFans Addiction can also be thought of as a bit dissimilar to porn addiction. Here, the relationship with the performer can add a parasocial element, which can make it even more dangerous.

Other Common Behavioral Addictions and Compulsions

Compulsive behaviors of many forms have been around for as long as we have records. Some of these are currently classified as impulse control disorders and are considered similar to but distinct from behavioral addictions. While rates of these are not necessarily rising year over year, it is still good to keep these in mind.

The DSM-5 identifies several impulse control disorders. These include:

• kleptomania, which involves compulsive stealing of items not needed for personal use or monetary value
• pyromania, defined by impulsive fire-setting behavior accompanied by tension and relief.

Intermittent explosive disorder manifests as recurrent episodes of aggressive outbursts that are disproportionate to the situation, while oppositional defiant disorder typically appears in children and adolescents as a pattern of defiant, hostile behavior toward authority figures.

Conduct disorder represents a more severe condition involving persistent violation of social norms and the rights of others, often including aggression toward people or animals and property destruction.

Treatment For Behavioral Addictions

Diagnosis of behavioral addictions can be somewhat challenging. The diagnostic tools used to determine such cases are still hotly debated, and many have not yet been codified. But even so, hope for recovery should never be lost. Addictive behaviors are treated every day, and with tremendous success in so many cases.

Some of the various treatment methods for behavioral addictions include:

• cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• individual counseling
• group therapy and support groups
• family or couples therapy
• medications
• For people with co-occurring mental health disorders, it may be possible to treat both conditions at the same time if the program offers dual diagnosis treatment.

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Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff