The life of a college student is stressful, and with the added pressures of finding a career and possible mate, college students tend to become addicted to various things like video games, coffee, exercising and the ever popular Facebook to ease the stress.

These addictions can be lightweight or they can run along the edge of dangerous.

Most students use their addiction as outlets for stress relief or just as a way to get in some extra procrastination.

Erinn Wofford-Allen , senior in applied psychology, said her addiction is reality television.

“I usually watch reality TV shows to relieve stress and distract me from school work,” Wofford-Allen said. “It is fun to watch reality to take a break from work, but I usually end up watching too much and procrastinating on work and studying.”

Marcus Pollard, a senior in communication, said he is addicted to video games.

“I play video games to relax and de-stress. They give me a chance to focus on something other and school and work, while having fun.”

Many students also have social networking based addictions like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and the recently popular Pinterest .

Lee Salter, a counselor at the Student Health Center, said students could exhibit these behaviors as an outlet to distract them from course work.

“Overuse of behaviors like exercise or video gaming may be a way students avoid facing the anxiety that comes with producing academic works that need to be done”

“Behaviors like this are good stress relievers in moderation,” Salter said.

He also mentioned that these addictive behaviors could end up causing additional stress if they are taken out of hand.

The causes of these addictions vary on a case-by-case basis. 

“Obsessive behaviors are psychological, and you can’t say that about all college students,” Salter said.

It is important to be sure that your addiction does not cross the line and become dangerous. Salter warned that there is a thin line between the difference of healthy behavior and dangerous behavior. Obsessive behaviors can become detrimental when they are taken to the extent that they may interfere with a healthy lifestyle and balance of activities.