How do I know if I have an addiction?
Addiction doesn’t arrive overnight — it builds up gradually. Many people go years without noticing a habit has taken over. A simple way to check yourself online is to take a short screen and compare your answers against the signs described in the DSM-5 and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria.
7 key signs of addictive behavior
- Control slips. Regularly more, or for longer, than you planned.
- You can’t cut down. You decide to stop — and relapse.
- It eats more time. The habit, thinking about it, recovering from it.
- Cravings. An intrusive urge gets in the way of work and people.
- Relationships and health suffer. People close to you notice the change.
- You keep going despite the harm. You see it and don’t stop.
- Discomfort without it. Irritability, anxiety, sleeplessness.
Is it addiction yet, or not?
By DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria, three signs or more already points to a disorder. One or two is a risk factor — and the stage where change is easiest.
Which test should I take?
If you know the habit, take the specific test: AUDIT for alcohol, Fagerström for smoking, SOGS for gambling or SAS-SV for your phone. If you’re unsure, start with the universal screen above.