Definition of Addiction:
Addiction can be defined as a habitual dependence on a substance or behavior arising from either mental (psychological) or biological (physiological) factors that has gone beyond voluntary control. When a person is addicted to something, they lose control over the usage of that substance or the exhibition of that behavior developing recurring compulsion despite harmful consequences. The substance or behavior is highly likely to produce chemicals in the brain assigned for short term rewards or pleasure. The addict develops a pathological relationship with this mood-altering chemical. The addict’s relationship with a mood-altering “experience” becomes central to his life.
There are various types of addictions but two broad categories are substance addiction and behavioral addiction. Substance addiction consists of drug, alcohol, prescription drug and food addictions. Behavioral addictions include sexual addiction, technology and emotional addictions like love addiction.
Causes of addiction
Although there could be several causes of addiction, one of the major causes of addictions in teens and adults is their past history of child abuse. In fact one of the primary purposes of Live To The Fullest website is to explore the connection between addiction and child abuse and focus on recovery.
Patterns associated with addiction are typically characterized by immediate gratification or short-term reward mentality. The emptiness in your soul/emotional core is fulfilled falsely to some extent with addictive behavior because one thing is true about sex , alcohol , food, gambling, risk – is that it always does what it promises – for the moment. However, it ultimately negatively impacts the body and self –esteem.
Some triggers of addiction to watch out are– hunger, anger, loneliness, tiredness, boredom and stress [can also be remembered by the acronym HALTBS].
Symptoms of Addiction:
1. Un-manageability: The addict’s relationship with that substance or behavior becomes more important than social, professional or spiritual life. This sick relationship progresses to the point where the substance or behavior becomes necessary to feel normal –impacting necessary functions of all the areas of the addict’s life.
2. Isolation and lack of intimacy: Dependence on a substance or a specific behavior in order to feel normal, the addict unknowingly enhances isolation and loneliness since the primary relationship he depends upon to feel adequate is not with a human being but with either a substance or a specific behavior.
3. Risky behavior – An addict routinely jeopardizes all that she/he loves and continues use despite dire consequences
Consequences of Addiction
1. Physiological dependence and impact on physical health: The body becomes dependent on the substance (in case of substance addiction) because it has to adjust to the substance by incorporating the substance into its ‘normal’ functioning. Nerves get addicted to the chemical resulting in health issues like acidity, blood pressure, tiredness, schizophrenia , lack of concentration, organ damage and ultimately death if not on the path of recovery.
2. Inappropriate social behavior: In case of behavioral addiction like sexual addiction, consequences could range in intensity from pornography, compulsive sexual stimulation to very grave affects like prostitution, rape and incest.
3. Painful withdrawal: An addict’s body continually adapts to the substance and requires higher and higher dosage to achieve the original effects. This process is called as tolerance. If the substance is withdrawn from the system the body experiences discomfort and suffers anxiety, cold sweats, irritability, nausea, intense cravings for the substance, hallucinations, headaches, and tremors. These physical and psychological symptoms experienced when reducing or discontinuing a substance that the body has become dependent on is called as withdrawal. Painful withdrawal often discourages the addict to get on to the path of recovery and hence the addiction continues.
4. Lowering of self esteem: Addiction will always lead to feelings of frustration, guilt, hopelessness, failure, rejection, shame, anxiety, despair and/or humiliation.
Leave a Reply