How It's Complicated works
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Find your therapistUse our free matching service for personal recommendations, or browse our network of 2,500+ therapists yourself.
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Start therapyReach out to your therapist and book your first session within 24 hours. Online or in person, in 60+ languages.
Learn more about addictions
Addiction is a condition in which a person compulsively seeks and uses a substance or engages in a behaviour despite harmful consequences and a persistent desire to stop. Recognised across the DSM-5 and ICD-11, addiction involves changes to brain circuitry governing reward, motivation, and impulse control, which is why stopping can be so difficult without support. Addictions are not a sign of weak willpower; they are a recognised health condition that responds to treatment.
Addiction can take many forms, including alcohol, drugs, gambling, and behavioural compulsions. Signs vary by type but a number of patterns tend to appear across them.
Common signs
- Spending increasing amounts of time obtaining, using, or recovering from a substance or behaviour
- Finding that more of a substance or activity is needed to achieve the same effect (tolerance)
- Experiencing physical or emotional discomfort when trying to stop (withdrawal)
- Continuing despite clear harm to health, relationships, or work
- Unsuccessful attempts to cut down or stop
- Giving up activities that were previously important
Other common experiences
- Intense cravings that feel difficult to resist
- Shame, secrecy, or hiding the extent of use
- Mood changes, irritability, or anxiety when access is limited
Addiction responds to a range of therapeutic approaches, often in combination. The most effective plans address both the addictive behaviour and the underlying patterns driving it.
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) CBT helps you identify the thoughts, triggers, and situations that lead to use, and builds practical skills for managing cravings and high-risk moments.
- DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) DBT was developed for people who experience intense emotions, which often underlies addictive behaviour. It combines skills in distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and mindfulness.
- Group therapy Group therapy provides peer support alongside therapeutic input, reducing the isolation that often accompanies addiction and building accountability.
- Psychodynamic therapy Psychodynamic therapy explores the deeper emotional and relational roots of addictive patterns, particularly useful when addiction is linked to unresolved experiences or attachment difficulties.
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. We work with over 2,500 vetted therapists, with in-person availability in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna, and other major cities, alongside online sessions worldwide. It's Complicated is free to use, and you pay your chosen therapist directly at rates they set.
Finding the right therapist for addiction can feel complicated when shame or uncertainty about what to expect gets in the way. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
Get matched with a therapist who specialises in addictions, or browse the directory.
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