Addictions are usually symptoms of running away from self or from life in general.
We run away from ourselves when we can't accept ourselves fully. We might be rejecting ourselves due to numerous reasons such as
- guilt over some past mistakes
- feeling unwanted/unloved
- frustration from unfulfilled desires
- shame, insecurities
And we can be running away from life if
- we see life or the universe as hostile
- we can't get along with our loved ones
- we have some fears that we don't know what to do about
- we refuse to accept responsibility for our life
Regardless of above mentioned causes, the real cause of our addiction is us, it is our response to our life situation, and due to our thoughts and beliefs about life, God, people and the world in general. If you doubt this, just ask yourself - "Do I know anyone with the same life situation as me, and is not addicted?". And you'll find your answer.
What you're really doing through the addiction is that you're just masking your emotional pain; you don't want to feel those uncomfortable emotions; emotions such as guilt, fear, shame, rejection etc. You're thinking that as long as I keep it stuffed down, it won't effect my life in a significant way and will probably resolve on its own with time, but as you'll learn over time that it doesn't work that way. Those emotions are not going to go away, without you having to take a nice and thorough look at them.
Bible says - What you resist, persists i.e As long as you resist those emotions, they will stay alive.
And over a period of time, addiction becomes a habit, and it becomes very hard to break that habit. With each failed attempt, the belief of powerlessness to break the addiction becomes stronger. More the willpower or effort you use, more hopeless the situation becomes.
And this is because our minds operate like this. Our subconscious mind(creative part of our mind) is always controlled by the dominant idea, it accepts the strongest of two contradictory suggestions. So, if for a larger period of time, you have believed that you are powerless to break an addiction or habit, that will be your reality i.e you will be powerless to break the addiction or habit, no matter how much willpower you try.
So, if you really want freedom, you have to first accept that you're an addict and must have a sincere desire for freedom.