By Managing Editor: Amber Lee Carnahan

Everyone has that certain activity or hobby that they look forward to each day, such as playing a video game or watching a television show. While it might at first start out as a simple pastime, you could be at risk of developing an obsession. Before addiction sets in, here are a few ways to tell if you might be getting obsessed.

You Develop a Routine. Let’s say, for example, that you really like a certain television show. Perhaps you watch it once or twice a week. However, if you find that you watch the show every night at the same time, you might be getting a bit obsessed. The routine doesn’t have to be that extreme, either. Maybe you watch the show every other night. Either way, the fact that you are starting to get dependent on the activity points towards signs of obsession.

“Music is my complete obsession,” says Howell High senior, Anne Potts. “Band is what I focus on every day. Any time I’m not around people, I have my headphones in, and even when I am around people, I have my headphones in.”

You Avoid Social Situations. The moment your activity starts to rank above hanging out with friends is a major warning sign that you’ve become obsessed. Taking refuge in your room to watch a marathon of your favorite show once is one thing, but if it’s on a regular basis, then it is safe to say you’ve become addicted. A way to reduce risk of antisocial behavior could be to introduce your friends to your obsession – at least then you wouldn’t be a loner.

Withdrawal. Just like caffeine addiction can cause withdrawal, so can obsession with anything else. Your body gets familiar with watching a certain show or playing a game so much that it notices when the routine suddenly changes. While the withdrawal might not be as extreme as one with caffeine, it can still cause stress. If you feel oddly stressed after avoiding your obsession, it’s time to start looking for a solution.

Obsessions aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Someone could be obsessed with exercising, which is beneficial, but even too much exercising isn’t good. Instead of trying to drop the obsession entirely, slowly limiting the amount of time spent on the activity could help cut off the addiction.

Another way to turn obsession positive could be to make it a reward. For example, if you finish your homework by a certain time, you could reward yourself with an episode of your favorite television show. It’s great to have hobbies, as long as you take the effort to control your hobbies and keep from falling into obsession.