Addiction
is it really a problem?
just one more
this is the last one
right, starting monday
never again
why can’t I just stop?
Addiction is characterised by a compulsive need to use a substance or engage in a behavior, despite harmful physical, psychological, or social consequences. The brain's reward and self-control circuits become altered, making it incredibly difficult to stop using will-power alone. Even if successful in that endeavour, often cross-addiction means something else replaces it.
Often the substance or behaviour is the solution to something else (unbearable situations or feelings, often stemming from early life), rather than the primary problem but over time, it loses it’s effectiveness and becomes it’s own problem (meaning you now have two problems).
the primary symptoms of addiction are:
engaging in increasingly risky behaviours to seek out substance or behaviour
losing interest in activities outside the addiction
anger towards people who suggest there is an addiction
hiding behaviours or substances
change in appearance/hygiene
continuing a behaviour or substance despite knowing it’s harmful impact on you
experiencing anxiety, irritability, fatigue or changes in appetite when the substance or behaviour is unavailable.
with physical addictions, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, sweating, diarrhea and tremors may also be present
I have worked with addiction for nearly twenty years and what I have noticed is that it is usually a process condition - in other words, the addictive process is the issues. Once the user is abstinent from the behaviour/substance the process lives on and must be treated which is where therapy and other support is usually essential to experience long-term change and reduce the likelihood of relapse.
Below are links to 12-step definitions of different addicitons
alcohol drugs foodwork sex/love gambling codepedence