May 23, 2022

Addiction

Addiction: 

According to simple.wikipedia.org: 

Addiction is when the body or mind badly wants or needs something in order to work right. When you have an addiction to something it is called being addicted or being an addict. People can be addicted to drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, social media and many other things. 

Addiction takes place when the addictive element enters the body. The blood stream moves the element around the body so that it gets to the brain, and makes the person feel that they are enjoying it; then they want more of that substance and control the consumer. Once under this control, the consumer does not have a completely free will, and listens to the addiction's bidding. 

According to sobernation.com 

Addiction: It Can Happen to Anyone 

Addiction can develop in anyone and at any time, regardless of age, socioeconomic status or cultural background. The line between things that are habitual and those which are addictive is the fact that habits are those actions done out of choice and a person could successfully stop those behaviors at any time. On the other hand, addictive behavior can develop in anyone and is a repetitive process that is used to distract us from feeling deeper discomfort, pain and trauma. Whether it is through a substance, thoughts or activities, addictive behaviors are to distract someone from actual pain they may experience. 

What Are the Common Addictions That Affect People apart from consuming drugs? 

Food 

Shopping 

Gambling 

Love 

Exercise 

In addition to the ones listed above, people can also develop addictions towards the internet, pornography, anger and rage, body image, and video games to name a few. When people experience these types of addictions, they may feel guilt, shame or embarrassment because they allowed themselves to fall into these traps. If you or a loved one are experiencing an addiction of any kind, there is help available to you that can allow you to break the cycle of addiction and reclaim your life. You can consult with your doctor, physician or an addiction specialist in regards to possible treatment options. 

How do people behave when they fall into addiction 

Emotional Symptoms: 

Addiction plays with your psychology and makes you a useless human being, no matter what kind of addiction you are into, either good or bad, but any excessive thing never brings any good to you. 

A human being is made up to adapt changes for procrastinating, and these changes can be positive or negative. Most human beings are not psychologically strong enough to accept those changes and from there it starts their excessive consumption of anything that provides pleasure.  

Some people make themselves so weak that they do not even realize changes are part of moving, if you are still that means you are not living you are dead. 

When people are addicted to something the first thing, they do is make themselves comfortable in whatever situation they are in without making any effort to get out of it. 

They find an easy way to escape from problems and start using or consuming things that provide them with temporary pleasures. 

An addictive person is very irritated in nature and short tempered. 

They have a tendency to run away from any situation. 

They are hesitated to make eye contact 

They start to lose interest in their close relationships 

They start making excuses rather than working 

They are afraid to seek help 

They always have negative thoughts 

They have no control over their minds and body. 

Consequences of addiction 

Fatigue 

Poor personal hygiene 

Weakness 

Migraines 

Heart disease 

Frequent headaches 

Hormones disbalance 

How to overcome any addiction 

www.verywellmind.com 

Psychotherapy 

• Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT): CBT is an approach that focuses on identifying and changing the thoughts and behaviors that play a part in addictions. It has been shown to be very effective in helping people overcome all kinds of addictions. But CBT is not for everyone. Other approaches may be better suited for those who do not relate well to analyzing their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 

• Mindfulness therapy: Mindfulness-based approaches like mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) can be easier to relate to for many people. As with CBT, mindfulness is helpful for people with underlying mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression. 

• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET): MET is an approach that helps increase people's readiness to change. It can be helpful for improving the commitment and motivation to initial and remain in treatment. 

• Family therapy: Family therapy approaches can be helpful, particularly with teens and young adults. This type of therapy can help families learn more about how to support their loved one's recovery and can be effective for improving overall family functioning. 

Medications 

Medications can be utilized to treat symptoms of withdrawal, help people remain in treatment, and prevent relapse. The type of medication a doctor prescribes depends on the type of addiction that is being treated. For example, there are different medications available to treat opioids, nicotine, and alcohol addiction. 

 
Manage Withdrawal Symptoms 

Withdrawal symptoms can be a difficult aspect of overcoming addiction for both substance and behavioral addictions. With substance addictions, the physiological aspects of withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable like a bad flu, or can even be life-threatening. For this reason, it is a good idea to talk to a doctor about the best way and the best place to quit a substance. 

Avoid Relapse 

While it can be disheartening and frustrating, relapse is quite common. However, as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains, relapse does not mean that treatment has failed. The chronic nature of addiction means that relapsing is often part of the quitting process. 

Common reasons for relapse include: 

Cravings: Cravings are strong urges to use or engage in addictive behavior, and they are common during withdrawal. They can also creep up suddenly and unexpectedly weeks, months, or years after quitting. Although they can feel intense, you can learn to cope with cravings. 
 

Thinking you can have "just one": Another common cause of relapse is thinking you have control now and one drink, high, or binge, for example, won't matter. It might and it might not. You might find you don't even enjoy it anymore, or it could be a slippery slope to use regularly or excessively again. But it could even mean overdose or death. 

Conclusion: 

Addiction is a very complicated mental state where a person loses control of his body and mind. We become "addicted" to something when an experience brings us pleasure, satisfaction, or reward. We were designed or wired to return again and again to that which gives us pleasure. 

Any behavior that you continue to engage in despite the negative consequences that the behavior leaves in its wake. 

It can be removed from someone’s life but that person needs a strong willpower with some therapies, medication and to control one’s mind and body.