It is important to make a distinction between addiction and habit.

Addictions are considered more powerful and an advancement from a habit

A habit is described as a behavioural pattern that:

•   is automatic in response

•   has developed due to frequent repetition to become second

   nature

•   is not usually damaging.

Habitual behaviour is natural and a part of our everyday lives. In fact they can help us to conserve mental energy and move more fluidly through our day to day lives.

Habits include all sorts of actions and behaviours, from the way we brush our teeth in the morning, to changing gears as you drive

But of course just as we can form good habits which help us to live our daily lives, we can also form less helpful habits too.

We commonly see habits such as biting our nails as a 'bad habit'

These bad habits can be broken because they are, more often than not, unconscious or passive actions. Once we get a hold on them on a more conscious level, we can stop them

Addictions on the other hand, are impulses that can be a lot more difficult to control and often a lot more damaging both physicaly and emotionaly

Addictions can be activity based, such as gambling, shopping, eating or sexual activities, or can be chemical such as nicotine from smoking, alcohol or drugs

These all trigger a neuro-chemical response which we all know as ‘pleasure’, or a 'buzz