Whether it's an evening smoke, chocolate on a stressful day or a calming pill before sleep, many small habits in our lives seem harmless. But when exactly does such a habit become an addiction? And why during high-stress periods, like the recent war with Iran, do people relapse into addictions they thought they’d overcome?
Inbar Danon Laov, Head Clinical Criminologist in Sourasky Medical Center's Psychiatric Division, discusses the blurred line between comforting habits and demanding addictions.
Defining 'small' addictions
"Small-scale addictions are behaviors that sneak into our lives unnoticed. They don’t seem dangerous—sometimes they’re even seen as part of a healthy routine, like an evening glass of wine or post-work chocolate.
"Over time, however, we develop a dependence: quantities or frequency increase. We anticipate the behavior, count the hours until we can engage in it and crucially, struggle to give it up."
"A regular habit is a comfortable action we can skip if needed. A small addiction, conversely, starts dictating our lives. If you rearrange your schedule just to smoke, or struggle to function without access to a specific snack, that’s different. Addiction isn’t just to hard substances like heroin—it can be to everyday things around us."
The tipping point
"The critical issue is control. If you need the behavior to relax, focus, or feel whole—and if it impairs daily functioning or triggers guilt, shame or secrecy—it’s likely an addiction. Another key sign is withdrawal: if deprived of the stimulus, you experience irritability, tension, or even physical symptoms."
Breaking the cycle
"First, understand this is your mind’s survival mechanism. Second, identify the underlying need the addiction fulfills: calming, emotional regulation, belonging, or self-compensation. Practice self-compassion.
"Ask: What do I truly need right now? (before lighting that cigarette or eating chocolate). This creates space between the urge and the action, allowing you to replace harmful long-term behaviors with healthier alternatives that meet the same need—even if not instantly."
Why stress triggers relapse
"Extreme stress—wars, terror, existential anxiety—creates fertile ground for revisiting old habits. Even after recovery, addictions live in our neural, behavioral and emotional memory. The brain and psyche remember this as a calming strategy, so under stress, we automatically revert to the familiar."
The strangest addiction you've seen?
"Consider lesser-known cases, like a woman addicted to the smell of a specific cleaning product. What began as occasional sniffing during stress became daily. She suffered headaches until doctors realized she was inhaling chemicals daily. She’d linked that scent to security and control."
ענבל דנון לאובצילום: אלבום פרטיAdvice for the concerned
"Avoid framing this as a 'crime' or 'courtroom offense.' Instead, pause and reflect: Is this behavior harming my quality of life? Do I control it, or does it control me? Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if needed."
Inbar Danon Laov is Head Clinical Criminologist in the Psychiatric Division at Sourasky Medical Center.