TRANSCRIPTION 🔗
WEBVTT
1
00:00:02.250 --> 00:00:06.469
Most people fail this addiction quiz, will you? Before you
2
00:00:06.530 --> 00:00:10.119
even get out of bed, before drinking water, before saying
3
00:00:10.179 --> 00:00:14.500
good morning to anyone, your first instinct is to grab
4
00:00:14.519 --> 00:00:17.260
your phone. But have you ever stopped to wonder why?
5
00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:20.280
Is it just a habit or is it something deeper?
6
00:00:20.780 --> 00:00:24.300
Something shaping your brain more than you realize? Addiction isn't
7
00:00:24.339 --> 00:00:29.239
just about substances, it's about patterns. Behaviors repeated so often
8
00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:31.960
that your brain begins to rely on them. When you
9
00:00:31.980 --> 00:00:35.920
feel stressed, bored, or overwhelmed, your mind searches for relief.
10
00:00:36.420 --> 00:00:41.070
And if something, whether it's scrolling, binge-watching, or snacking, gives
11
00:00:41.109 --> 00:00:44.770
you a moment of comfort, your brain remembers. It reinforces
12
00:00:44.810 --> 00:00:47.890
the habit, making it harder to stop. And the more
13
00:00:47.929 --> 00:00:51.159
you repeat it, the stronger it becomes. That's how addictions form.
14
00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:54.899
Not as a conscious choice, but as an automatic response
15
00:00:55.060 --> 00:00:58.960
wired into your brain. So really, addiction isn't something you choose.
16
00:00:59.420 --> 00:01:03.130
It's something that happens through repetition, often without realizing it,
17
00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:07.590
until it becomes the default response to stress, sadness, boredom,
18
00:01:08.010 --> 00:01:12.129
or even joy. This quiz is not about shame. It's
19
00:01:12.170 --> 00:01:16.620
about self-awareness. Could your everyday habits be warning signs? Let's
20
00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:18.799
put them to the test. Keep track of your score
21
00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:21.019
as you go. And by the end, you'll see whether
22
00:01:21.040 --> 00:01:24.859
your habits are just routines or something far more controlling.
23
00:01:25.829 --> 00:01:28.129
All right, let's begin. Keep track of your scores as
24
00:01:28.170 --> 00:01:32.269
we go. Do you often turn to things like daydreaming,
25
00:01:32.569 --> 00:01:37.590
social media, or binge watching shows to escape reality? A,
26
00:01:38.329 --> 00:01:43.030
all the time. I use it as my main escape. B, sometimes,
27
00:01:43.430 --> 00:01:47.709
but I can pull myself back to reality. C, not really.
28
00:01:48.030 --> 00:01:51.530
I prefer to deal with things head on. Two, do
29
00:01:51.590 --> 00:01:54.849
you tend to make quick decisions without thinking them through?
30
00:01:55.439 --> 00:02:02.180
like impulsively buying something or indulging in unhealthy habits. A, yeah,
31
00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:06.900
I act on impulse a lot. B, occasionally, but I
32
00:02:06.980 --> 00:02:10.819
try to be mindful. Or C, no, I usually think
33
00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:15.710
things through. Number
Load full transcript
three, when life gets overwhelming, how do
34
00:02:15.750 --> 00:02:19.330
you cope? Do you turn to habits like overeating, alcohol,
35
00:02:19.490 --> 00:02:23.569
or spending time online? A, I shut down or turn
36
00:02:23.590 --> 00:02:27.569
to unhealthy habits. B. I try to manage it, but
37
00:02:27.789 --> 00:02:32.050
sometimes I struggle. C. I use healthy coping strategies like
38
00:02:32.169 --> 00:02:37.069
exercising or talking to someone. 4. Do small things affect
39
00:02:37.090 --> 00:02:40.530
you deeply, leading you to distractions or soothing habits to
40
00:02:40.569 --> 00:02:45.379
cope with the emotional intensity? A. Yeah, I feel emotions
41
00:02:45.460 --> 00:02:50.219
intensely and struggle to manage them. B. Sometimes, but I'm
42
00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:54.150
learning to regulate my emotions. Or C. No, I usually
43
00:02:54.189 --> 00:02:58.110
have a good handle on my emotions. Number five. Does
44
00:02:58.150 --> 00:03:02.789
your family have a history of addiction, whether to substances, alcohol, gambling,
45
00:03:02.870 --> 00:03:07.810
or other behaviors? A. Yes, multiple family members have struggled
46
00:03:07.849 --> 00:03:11.949
with addiction. B. I know of a few relatives with
47
00:03:12.009 --> 00:03:15.949
addiction problems. Or C. No, not that I'm aware of.
48
00:03:17.210 --> 00:03:20.219
Number six. Do you get bored easily and feel the
49
00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:27.289
need for constant stimulation like scrolling, multitasking, or seeking new entertainment? A. Yes,
50
00:03:27.689 --> 00:03:32.810
I often need stimulation. B. Sometimes, but I find ways
51
00:03:32.849 --> 00:03:36.770
to stay grounded. Or C. No, I'm usually content with
52
00:03:36.789 --> 00:03:41.819
what I'm doing. Number seven. Do you often prioritize others'
53
00:03:41.900 --> 00:03:44.740
needs over your own, even when it leads to burnout
54
00:03:44.860 --> 00:03:52.729
or unhealthy coping? A. Yes, I always put others first. B. Sometimes,
55
00:03:52.909 --> 00:03:56.770
but I try to balance it. Or C. No, I
56
00:03:56.789 --> 00:04:00.409
take care of myself too. Number eight. Do you often
57
00:04:00.469 --> 00:04:04.800
seek instant gratification through food, online shopping, social media, or
58
00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:12.740
other quick rewards? A. Yes, I constantly seek instant gratification. B. Sometimes,
59
00:04:13.060 --> 00:04:16.889
but I can delay gratification if needed. Or C. No,
60
00:04:16.949 --> 00:04:20.720
I'm usually patient and can wait. Tally up your scores
61
00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:24.660
and here's what they could mean. Seven to 10 points,
62
00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:29.939
low risk, in control. You appear to have strong self-awareness
63
00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:33.860
and healthy coping strategies in place. Good job. While no
64
00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:37.240
one is completely immune to addiction, your habits suggest you
65
00:04:37.259 --> 00:04:41.600
found effective ways to manage your emotions and maintain balance. Still,
66
00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:44.769
mental health isn't static. Even with a low score, it's
67
00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:48.180
worth remembering that life stressors or emotional dips can shift
68
00:04:48.220 --> 00:04:52.060
habits over time. Keep checking in with yourself, especially during
69
00:04:52.100 --> 00:04:57.379
moments of change. 11 to 16 points. Moderate risk. Stay mindful.
70
00:04:58.139 --> 00:05:01.360
You may carry some patterns that under stress or emotional
71
00:05:01.459 --> 00:05:05.779
overwhelm could lead to addictive tendencies. This is especially common
72
00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:09.420
in people who live with anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders,
73
00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:15.009
where self-soothing becomes necessary just to function. Sometimes it's not
74
00:05:15.050 --> 00:05:18.509
about pleasure. It's about dulling the noise, numbing the pain,
75
00:05:18.850 --> 00:05:21.790
or just getting through the day. People with mental health
76
00:05:21.829 --> 00:05:25.589
conditions often have either heightened or lowered tolerance to emotion
77
00:05:25.769 --> 00:05:28.970
and reward. This makes them more likely to seek relief
78
00:05:29.170 --> 00:05:33.540
through fast external means. You're not broken, but these are
79
00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:38.939
patterns worth watching out for with compassion, not shame. 17
80
00:05:38.939 --> 00:05:43.819
to 24 points. High risk. Be gentle, but honest. Your
81
00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:47.000
score suggests that certain habits may be taking deeper root
82
00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:51.160
and that you could be leaning on them for emotional regulation, relief,
83
00:05:51.379 --> 00:05:56.139
or survival. This is especially common if you've experienced trauma,
84
00:05:56.540 --> 00:06:00.980
unmanaged stress, or undiagnosed mental health conditions. Many people with
85
00:06:01.019 --> 00:06:06.199
things like ADHD, anxiety, or PTSD report feeling too much
86
00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:11.100
or not enough. and use behaviors like scrolling, eating, spending,
87
00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:16.120
or substance abuse to soothe the extremes. Sometimes it's about
88
00:06:16.290 --> 00:06:20.569
feeling nothing. Sometimes it's about feeling something. Either way, the
89
00:06:20.589 --> 00:06:24.009
pattern can become a lifeline that quietly becomes a trap.
90
00:06:25.250 --> 00:06:28.870
But again, you're not broken, weak, or beyond help. These
91
00:06:28.889 --> 00:06:31.490
patterns formed because you were trying to cope. And if
92
00:06:31.529 --> 00:06:34.790
you recognize it now, you're already beginning to heal. And
93
00:06:34.829 --> 00:06:37.459
you don't have to do it alone. So now that
94
00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:39.980
you know where you stand, the real question is, what
95
00:06:40.019 --> 00:06:43.259
comes next? Your score is not a label. It's a
96
00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:46.189
starting point. Whether you're in control or need a reset,
97
00:06:46.589 --> 00:06:49.850
small steps can make a big change. And if you've
98
00:06:49.889 --> 00:06:53.990
been self-soothing or self-medicating to cope with emotional pain, mental
99
00:06:54.009 --> 00:06:58.180
health struggles, or just trying to feel okay, please know
100
00:06:58.300 --> 00:07:01.379
this is more common than you think. You're not bad
101
00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:04.639
for developing habits that helped you survive. You just deserve
102
00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:09.029
more than survival now. So where do we start? Take
103
00:07:09.050 --> 00:07:14.129
a moment to reflect. What triggers these habits? Is it stress, boredom,
104
00:07:14.550 --> 00:07:19.269
emotional overload? Try experimenting with coping strategies that support your
105
00:07:19.310 --> 00:07:24.519
nervous system, like moving, journaling, or human connection. And if
106
00:07:24.540 --> 00:07:28.579
you feel stuck, reach out. Whether it's a friend, a therapist,
107
00:07:28.699 --> 00:07:31.000
or a support group, you don't have to figure this
108
00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:35.839
out on your own. Addiction doesn't always look dangerous. Sometimes
109
00:07:35.899 --> 00:07:40.139
it just looks comfortable. But the real question is, who's
110
00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:44.740
in control? You or your habits? Whatever your score, this
111
00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:47.560
quiz is here to help you understand your wiring, not
112
00:07:47.620 --> 00:07:50.360
judge it. And the best part? You can change. You
113
00:07:50.379 --> 00:07:53.319
can grow. You can begin again, one small decision at
114
00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:56.959
a time. So who's in control? You or your habits?
115
00:07:57.470 --> 00:08:00.899
Think about that next time you reach for your phone. Small,
116
00:08:01.129 --> 00:08:04.629
intentional choices every day can help you rewire your patterns
117
00:08:04.709 --> 00:08:08.990
and build a life free from unhealthy dependencies. Maybe start
118
00:08:09.009 --> 00:08:11.709
with something simple, put your phone in another room before bed,
119
00:08:12.029 --> 00:08:15.600
or take just one hour away from screens today. Just
120
00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:18.920
see how it feels. At Psych2Go, our mission is to
121
00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:22.279
create thoughtful, compassionate mental health content that helps people understand
122
00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:25.879
themselves and feel less alone. We believe that healing begins
123
00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:28.649
with knowledge, and even small moments of insight can spark
124
00:08:28.709 --> 00:08:31.779
real transformation. If this quiz resonated with you, let us
125
00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:33.909
know your score in the comments. And if you're making
126
00:08:34.029 --> 00:08:38.200
even one small change today, we're proud of you. You're
127
00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:41.519
not alone and you're never too far gone to begin again.