Addictive patterns are commonly described in the scientific literature as persisting, hard-to-stop behaviors that continue despite negative consequences, often involving changes in reward learning, motivation, and self-control processes. These patterns can affect health, relationships, work capacity, finances, and overall life structure, and they often develop gradually—starting as coping, relief-seeking, or habit, and becoming increasingly rigid over time.

How “addiction” is defined in major classification systems

In formal diagnostic classification, addictive conditions are not defined by one single behavior, but by clusters of features such as impaired control, prioritization, and continued engagement despite harm.

• In the DSM-5 framework, Gambling Disorder is included as a diagnosable behavioral addiction; other proposed behavioral addictions (such as Internet Gaming Disorder) have historically been placed in sections requiring further research rather than full diagnostic status.

• In the ICD-11, Gaming Disorder is recognized under “disorders due to addictive behaviours,” with defining features that include impaired control and continuation despite negative consequences.

This distinction matters because many “everyday” labels (e.g., “internet addiction”) are widely used in public discussion, while formal recognition varies across systems and over time.

Main types discussed in the research literature

1) Substance-related addictive patterns

These involve repeated use of psychoactive substances where behavior becomes increasingly difficult to regulate. Substances most often discussed include alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, stimulants, opioids, and sedatives. Across research and public health sources, addiction is commonly framed as a chronic condition characterized by compulsive seeking/using despite harm.

Commonly studied maintaining mechanisms include:

• reward sensitivity and reinforcement learning

• stress reactivity and relief-seeking cycles

• cue-triggered craving and habitual responding

2) Behavioral addictions formally recognized

Gambling-related problems have substantial evidence supporting similarity to substance-related disorders, and gambling is the clearest behavioral addiction in DSM classification.

Gaming-related problems are recognized in ICD-11, with emphasis on impaired control, prioritization over other activities, and continuation despite negative consequences.

3) Other “compulsive behavior” presentations often discussed (with more debate)

Scientific publications frequently explore patterns such as:

• problematic internet use / social media overuse

• compulsive buying/shopping

• compulsive exercise

• compulsive sexual behavior

However, these areas can be more heterogeneous (different motivations, different contexts), and classification/threshold questions remain actively debated in the field—meaning that “addiction-like” language may be used in research, while formal diagnostic categories may not match popular labels.

A Health Psychology lens on why these patterns become self-reinforcing

From a Health Psychology perspective, addictive and compulsive patterns are often maintained by an interaction of:

• learning and reinforcement (short-term relief or reward strengthens repetition)

• stress and emotion regulation (behavior functions as a coping strategy)

• environmental cues (places, routines, people, devices, or emotions that trigger automatic responding)

• beliefs and expectancies (“this is the only thing that helps,” “I can’t cope without it”)

Because these processes can be shaped by lifestyle, sleep, relationships, workload, and meaning/purpose, change is often supported by improving the broader health context—not only the behavior itself.

Important note on scope 

Educational guidance and coaching-based support can be offered for individuals and loved ones in relation to habit change, self-regulation, motivation, stress management, boundary-setting, and supportive communication around substance use or compulsive behavioural patterns. Where difficulties are severe, escalating, associated with withdrawal, involve safety concerns, or require clinical evaluation, assessment, diagnosis and medical/psychological treatment should be sought ONLY through authorised healthcare services in Norway, with emergency support accessed when needed.

In Norway
Services provided are educational and coaching-based and do not constitute psychological treatment or healthcare services under Norwegian law. All services are provided strictly as  education, seminars and training  in mental well-being and psychological skills. No psychotherapy, diagnosis, clinical assessment or regulated healthcare services are offered under Norwegian law.

Internationally
Outside Norway, services may include  psychological support counselling and health coaching, delivered online and in accordance with local regulations, based on my qualifications as a licensed psychologist in Greece and a registered health coach in Norway.