Many people find themselves having to cope with addiction at some point in their lives - if not their own, then perhaps that of a friend, family member, or work colleague. Addiction is an illness, and can take many forms, from alcohol or drug abuse to compulsive shopping. Some addictions, while they may place constraints on a person's way of living, can be relatively harmless. But the majority of addictive behaviours can be dramatically damaging to the addict's mental and physical health, relationships and lifestyle. In far too many tragic cases, a person's addiction will eventually kill them.

Addicts are frequently in denial about their habits, telling people they are in control of their behaviour and can stop at any time, and usually believing this. It is not until an addict can look at the way they are behaving and recognise it for what it is that they can begin a process of recovery, a process which is slow and which will last the rest of their life.

Addicts are very good at hiding their behaviour from friends and family. Formerly honest people can become practised liars when affected by an addiction, making it hard for those around them to see any change in their behaviour. Some potentially addictive habits, such as shopping or gambling, may be more socially acceptable, which makes it more difficult to spot when a relatively harmless activity becomes a debilitating addiction.

More destructive habits such as drug or alcohol abuse will eventually cause an obvious change in an addict's behaviour and physical appearance, not to mention the adverse effect they will have on their health, both mental and physical. When people have fallen this far down the spiral of addiction, it is plain to see that something has taken over their life.

Addictive behaviour shows itself in different ways from person to person, but these are some of the most common signs an addict may display:-

• Sudden and unprovoked mood swings

• Difficulty concentrating or memory problems

• Lying or deceitful behaviour

• Lack of personal care

• Uncharacteristically criminal behaviour

Mood swings can be a result either of a chemical side-effect of a drug or addictive substance (which often cause paranoia and feelings of insecurity), or of guilt or anxiety brought on by the stress of addiction. If a habit is causing the addict financial problems, spin complex webs of lies, or take risky or criminal actions, the resulting emotional strain can cause sudden outbursts that are completely out of character. Anxiety can also affect an addict's concentration span and memory - which again can also be impaired by substance abuse.

Most addictive behaviours place a financial burden on the addict. Extremely addicted people may use deceitful means to acquire money to feed their habit, whatever it may be. Some may even resort to theft or other criminal activities to pay for their addiction. Most addicts know deep down that their behaviour is out of control, but a refusal to admit this can cause them to create increasingly elaborate lies to cover their tracks.

When a habit takes over a person's life, they begin to lose interest in everything else, including friends, family, and even themselves. Addicts often take little care of themselves, leading to health problems, changes in personal appearance, and a drop in performance at work or school.

An addict needs to recognise that they need help before they can be helped. If an addict is unwilling or unable to give up their habit, nothing that others do or say will make them stop. In fact, the more friends and family try to help an addict, the more likely they are to resort to lies or deception to hide their addictive behaviour.

Sometimes friends and family may resort to an intervention to try to convince the addict that they need help. An intervention is when a group of loved ones confront the addict simultaneously, explaining why they believe the person suffers from an addiction and how this is affecting their relationships. Group members often write letters detailing their concerns for the addict and the reasons they want to help them in breaking their habit. This can sometimes help the addict to realise how serious their condition has become, and that they have a network of people who care enough to want to support them through a recovery. In other cases it can cause the addict to become more secretive and deceitful in their behaviour.

It can take a lot to make an addict admit they have a problem. Tragically, some addicts are unable or unwilling to do anything about their addiction until it is too late. Not all addictions are physically destructive, but addictions to gambling, shopping, or other expensive practices can cause such a financial and emotional strain on the addict that they lead to depression and other mental health problems. Addiction to drugs or alcohol can have far more lethal consequences. Yet, despite the enormous risks to mind and body, addicts are still able to tell themselves that they can handle it, that they can stop anytime they please.

But most addicts eventually come to realise the destruction their habit has caused to themselves and those around them. It is then that they can take their first steps on the road to recovery. There are many therapies available for addiction, and it can take some time to find one that works well for each individual. Some addicts respond well to counselling, others may find techniques such as hypnotherapy for addiction more helpful. Those who are addicted to drugs or even alcohol may need prescription medication in order to wean themselves off the substance. Recovery from addiction is a rocky road, but help is most definitely out there. With the support of friends and family, an addict can regain control of their life and improve their physical and mental well-being.