Understanding yourself

What is said, and what is underneath.

Studies of the sentences people offer long before they can name what is happening. Starting points for reading, never a diagnosis.

12 studies in Addiction · Show every study

Conceptual paper artwork: Blank succession document under a brass seal, paper shadows separating at one corner.

N° 01

Drug and alcohol addiction

“I can stop whenever I want.”

Addiction is a health condition, not a moral failure. Treatment works best when it starts with respect.

Conceptual paper artwork: Dhaka rooftop water tank casts several soft, offset shadows on still navy plane.

N° 02

Cannabis and drug-induced psychosis

“It was just ganja, every evening. Then the voices started.”

Daily cannabis and stimulants such as yaba can trigger psychosis. Stopping and treatment help.

Conceptual paper artwork: Brass film reel turns outward in a loose loop stopping just short of closing.

N° 03

Alcohol use disorder

“Just two pegs at the club. Then four.”

Drinking that has quietly become a need. Stopping heavy drinking safely can need medical care, and recovery is common.

Conceptual paper artwork: Newsroom proof sheet with perforations opening into a broad unmarked margin.

N° 04

Smoking and nicotine

“I’ll quit after Eid. I said that last Eid too.”

In 2017, over a third of adults in Bangladesh used tobacco. Quitting is hard, and more likely with support.

Conceptual paper artwork: Muted brass taka token at edge of paper football pitch; field lines funnel toward rim.

N° 05

Online betting and gambling

“One more match and I’ll win it all back.”

Betting apps turn every cricket match into a stake. Gambling disorder is a recognised condition, and it is treatable.

Conceptual paper artwork: Charging cable coils around dawn-coloured paper sun; closed course notebook beyond loop.

N° 06

Gaming and phone overuse

“I’ll stop after this match. It’s 4am.”

Gaming disorder is a WHO diagnosis. When games or scrolling take over sleep, study and life, help can reset the balance.

Conceptual paper artwork: Bedside clock within concentric paper bands of night; outer band opens to dawn.

N° 07

Dependence on sleeping pills

“I can’t sleep a single night without my tablet.”

Sedatives bought without a prescription can lead to dependence. Stopping safely needs a gradual, medical plan.

Conceptual paper artwork: Blue paper phone-window holds tiny view dots spilling beyond frame into ivory.

N° 08

“I’m on my phone till 3am. It’s giving burnout.”

Problematic social media use is rising among young people aged 11 to 15 in Europe, central Asia and Canada. Sleep, mood and self-worth can be won back.

Paper artwork: a radio on a ledge before a hazy city at dawn

N° 09

News anxiety and doomscrolling

“One more headline, and then I’ll sleep.”

Scrolling through bad news late at night can feed worry and steal sleep. Here is what research shows, and what helps.

Paper artwork: a glowing phone on a rain-dark office desk beside a calculator, its light spiralling down into the glass

N° 10

Smartphone overuse in adults

“I pick up my phone to check the time and lose an hour.”

Phone habits that eat into sleep, work and family time are common in adults too. What may be behind them, and what helps.

Paper artwork: parcels and folded saris stacked inside a wardrobe

N° 11

Compulsive buying

“The parcels come while everyone’s at work.”

Buying that brings a moment of relief, then guilt, debt and secrecy. Compulsive buying is recognised by doctors, and therapy can help.

Paper artwork: An empty rented room at dawn with a bedsheet folding into a quiet loop

N° 12

Compulsive sexual behaviour

“Every night I promise it’s the last time.”

When sexual urges or pornography feel out of control and cause distress, it is a recognised condition. Confidential treatment can help.