ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Addictive behaviour

Addictive behavior is when someone does something over and over again because it makes them feel good or happy, even though it might not be a good thing for them in the long run. Kind of like eating candy all the time – it tastes good, but if you eat too much, it can make you sick or unhealthy.

Sometimes, people can get addicted to things like drugs, gambling, or even video games. This is because these things can give them a rush of good feelings, but over time, they need more and more of it to feel the same way.

Just like when you want more candy after you eat it, people with addictive behaviors want more of what makes them feel good. But instead of candy, it might be drugs or gambling. This can be really dangerous, because these things can hurt their bodies or make them lose a lot of money.

People can try to break their addiction by getting help from doctors or counselors who can teach them how to stop doing the bad thing and find better ways to feel good instead.