It’s all too easy to dismiss addiction, as if simply like something a lot qualifies you as an addict. The answer is no. However, social perceptions of how an addict looks and behaves continue to resemble something out of a Dickens novel, despite the fact that the truth is more hazy, less visible, and more frequent. But how can you tell if you’re becoming hooked to something or if you’re just having fun?

Drug and alcohol abuse is the most widely mentioned area of addiction; the rehab group Addiction Center believes that 20 million Americans over the age of 12 have an addiction to alcohol or both legal and illegal drugs. When it comes to behavioral addictions, the lines are a little blurrier; nonetheless, from psychologically acknowledged problems like gambling to more contentious categories like sex addiction, it’s no longer simply drug misuse that’s on the table when we talk about addicts.

If you have a family history of addiction, you are more likely to become hooked to something. There is no such thing as a “addiction gene;” it turns out that the issue of inheriting vulnerability to addiction is a highly complex one, with numerous genes and their expressions potentially contributing to your genetic propensity. The genes can also be quite specific: the University of Utah has compiled a list of genes that influence various addiction behaviors in mice, ranging from alcohol consumption to morphine sensitivity.

Even if you do have genetic predispositions, it doesn’t mean you’ll be an addict because they only account for around half of addictive behavior. If you’re concerned that you might be addicted to something — whether it’s drugs, alcohol, sex, or something else — here are nine frequent symptoms that you might be.

1. You continue to do it despite obvious negative consequences. 2. You avoid social situations in which you are unable to participate. 3. If you try to stop, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. 4. You make an effort to conceal your use. 5. Your Tolerance Level Is Rising