Addiction is not something that happens just to other people. Basically everyone has some form of addiction. Caffeine is a popular one in the United States. Many people feel they can’t start their day without a cup of coffee. Over time, this may increase to two cups of coffee each morning. Even if it doesn’t, the person can’t feel the effects of the first cup as they did when they began drinking it. This is the same concept of tolerance that people have with drug and alcohol addiction.

When a coffee drinker doesn’t get their fix in the morning, they often become moody and irritable for much of the day. They can develop a headache and fatigue. These are the psychological and physical symptoms of addiction. A headache is a withdrawal symptom when a substance that the body has become dependent on is taken away. It’s actually going through a mild detox. Like someone with a drug or alcohol addiction, a coffee drinker can ignore the negative consequences this habit creates, such as health risks and spending money.

Before judging someone who suffers from a drug addiction or alcoholism, consider your own bad habits. They can take many forms, from an exercise addiction to smoking cigarettes. What types of addiction have you had in your life? Did you set out thinking, “I would love to become physically and psychologically dependent on a cup of coffee every morning”?

Drug and alcohol addiction are much more serious than a coffee addiction. The individual with those conditions likely made some bad decisions to get to that place in life. Those substances are mind-altering and have more serious health risks. The consequences are greater, but the addiction is also stronger. Many of the same principles are at work. Perhaps someone with alcoholism just thought that they would be a social drinker, but genetics and alcohol took control of their life.