Many people manage their daily lives seemingly without difficulty and only realise at a later stage that something in their life has fallen out of balance. But why do people become addicted, and what can be done about it? Psychologist Gerald Autengruber provides answers.

It is rarely crises or obvious ruptures that signal when something in a person’s life is no longer coherent. The question of why people develop addiction can seldom be answered clearly. Bad habits and hidden addictions rarely emerge suddenly. They usually develop gradually, embedded in routines that initially even appear helpful, explains Gerald Autengruber, psychologist at the Park Igls Medical Spa Resort. Guests often encounter this topic quite incidentally – in workshops, in exchanges with physicians, or in voluntary psychological consultations.

Many of these behaviours are socially accepted or even encouraged. Work is a good example. Commitment, performance and constant availability are often positively reinforced. An important guiding question is therefore: what is the function of this behaviour? If I notice that I am using it to avoid other areas of life or to evade responsibility, then there is a problem – regardless of how we label it. Someone may work excessively, for example, because family or relationship life feels overwhelming. In that case, the behaviour is problematic, but the underlying issue lies deeper.

A key warning sign is loss of control. If it becomes difficult to decide when to start an activity, how long to continue, and when to stop, it should be examined more closely. Behaviour outside of an appropriate context is another indicator, for example constantly being on the phone in social situations. Another important signal is feedback from others – relatives often report increasing social withdrawal. Many affected individuals also experience growing distress when the behaviour is interrupted. Rest is no longer perceived as recovery but as something threatening. All these signs indicate that a person is trying to cope with internal pressure. The earlier they are recognised, the greater the chance of returning to a healthy, self-determined way of living.