I used to be a pretty good saver - not a penny pincher but I definitely watched what I spent. Lately I have become aware of being on a slippery slope however...if there's something I want I get it. I do think my ADD/depression has something to do with it. I don't impulse buy - I can easily walk into a mall and walk out later empty handed, and I often do stop and ask myself if I really need something before I buy it. But my downfall are the big ticket items: A new laptop; a trip; a motorcycle, along with the lessons and gear needed to ride it, etc. And I do feel good after I make a purchase but often feel guilty afterwards. I live within my means but do live paycheck to paycheck. My realization of this is hopefully the beginning of reigning in my spending before it gets out of control.
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I've always been able to pay the bills I've made. That said, there had been a time in my early life that credit cards made it too easy to make a purchase, and think that I could pay back the minimum, until it was paid off, if necessary.
I easily recognized some of those warning signs you list, buying something seems to be a easy cure for depression.
The problem there is that it became too easy to justify adding, "one more thing," that I really had to have and it would only raise the monthly payment slightly.
Of course, if you pay the minimums, it could take forever to pay the card off.
I bought a lot of things I didn't need that way, and eventually paid the card off somehow because I couldn't stand paying those lenders interest at those ridiculous rates.
Still, I did run up the balance a few times before I realized it wasn't worth it. I still see a lot of things I want and still do buy items on impulse, I haven't stopped that completely, it's hard. Electronics and computers have dogged me through life trying to trip me over their newest, best gadgets.
Some things, I have learned lately, are much more important that that.