Addictions
Addictions. Addiction is a prevalent condition that can impact individuals from diverse backgrounds, with certain individuals being more susceptible than others. Substances like drugs and alcohol, as well as certain behaviours, can lead to addiction. Addiction is characterised by a loss of control over the consumption or engagement with something. Tel: 07811 606 606 (24 hours)
What is an addiction?
Addiction is a complex condition that is quite common. It is defined as a lack of control over engaging in a specific behaviour or using a substance. Addiction can be related to substances or behaviours and leads to compulsive engagement that may result in harm. While commonly associated with gambling, smoking, alcohol, or drug misuse, it’s possible to be addicted to almost anything. Many addictions develop because the activity has a significant impact on the individual’s mental and physical state, often resulting in enjoyable feelings that create a strong urge to continue the behaviour. Being addicted to something means experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not engaging in the substance or activity, leading to unpleasant feelings and a heightened susceptibility to cravings. This repeated behavior perpetuates the cycle of addiction and worsens the problem over time. If you are concerned that you or a loved one may have an addiction, please reach out to our Treatment Advisors for a free assessment.
What pushes our addiction?
Struggling to manage emotions without relying on external factors often appears to be a leading cause of addiction. When we are unable to internally regulate our feelings, we may resort to substances or activities as a coping mechanism. This reliance on external factors can manifest in various forms, such as substance abuse or behavioural addictions. Understanding this connection is crucial in order to break the cycle of addiction.
Addiction types
When most people think about addiction, they often focus on substance misuse as the primary form. There are various chemical substances, including alcohol, illicit drugs, legal drugs, and prescription drugs, all of which have high addictive potential. It’s important to recognise that addiction is not limited to substance abuse; it also encompasses mental health issues. In addition to substance addictions, behavioural addictions can also be extremely detrimental, arising from becoming addicted to specific activities. Tel: 07811 606 606 (24 hours)
Substance Addiction
Experimenting with substances or behaviours does not always lead to full-blown dependence, but it is recognised as the initial stage of addiction. Introducing a substance or behaviour during a vulnerable period in one’s life increases the likelihood of continued use. If experimentation yields positive results, such as stress relief or social acceptance, this positive reinforcement can strongly influence progression to the next level of involvement.
Higher levels of addiction
Experiencing positive reinforcement in the early stages can motivate an individual to progress to a higher level of addiction. In the context of substance abuse, drugs or alcohol can begin to be perceived as a form of reward for the body, leading to a heightened desire for increased consumption. This shift in perception can result in a change of priorities, where the act of consumption takes precedence over other aspects of life, regardless of the potential consequences. In addition to the physical effects, individuals may also experience symptoms of depression and irritability when they are unable to access the desired activity or substance.
Identify your problem
If you are able to identify your problem at this stage, it is likely that you are hesitant to take corrective action. Peer and family support play a critical role in the treatment of addiction, but it may not always be feasible due to serious emotional strain. Continued engagement with addiction takes precedence, often jeopardising personal relationships and significantly impacting both health and wealth. Recovery typically occurs after reaching rock bottom, which can be triggered by experiences such as the loss of a loved one or a near-death experience. Addicts often reach rock bottom before seeking help and treatment.
Why do people get addicted?
Addiction can affect people from all backgrounds, regardless of their social or cultural differences. Certain individuals may be more susceptible to addiction due to environmental factors. Some drugs and methods of consumption are more likely to lead to addiction than others. In addition to the nature of the substance, there are other elements that can increase the likelihood of developing an addiction. These factors can include experiencing trauma and using substances as a way to self-medicate, such as abusing prescription medications for anxiety.
The Brain – Addictions
Various harmful substances and behaviours can stimulate the brain’s reward system, which is responsible for controlling pleasure and motivation. The impact on the reward centre from consuming drugs or alcohol, for instance, is significantly more intense than what would occur through normal means. This overstimulation leads to a decrease in the brain’s response to natural rewards, resulting in an inability to feel pleasure unless triggered by the abused substance. An imbalance of dopamine can lead to an unhealthy response in the brain’s reward system. The brain acknowledges that using the substance brings pleasure and does not seek to stop, even with the knowledge of potential harm.
Your Willpower – Addictions
Addiction is not simply a matter of lacking willpower or a question of morality. Neuroscience has provided evidence that individuals have different levels of ability and brain function when it comes to controlling impulsive urges with rational thought. Heredity plays a significant role as a risk factor for addiction. If there are family members who have struggled with addiction, the likelihood of experiencing it is higher. Research indicates that genetic factors may contribute to approximately a half of an individual’s vulnerability to addiction.
Your Environment – Addictions
Environmental factors can significantly increase the risk of addiction. For young people, a lack of parental involvement can strongly influence risk-taking and experimentation. Parental abuse or neglect often serves as a trigger for substance misuse. Many individuals turn to self-medication and substance abuse as a way of coping with emotional trauma. Peer pressure can also play a significant role in increasing the risk of addiction. An environment of experimentation or pressure from friends to fit in can further elevate the risk of addiction to drugs or alcohol. Avoiding environmental triggers may be necessary if you’re trying to recover from an addiction. Particular social circles can trigger cravings, making it important to avoid certain people and places to reduce the risk of relapse.
Psychology – Addictions
According to many experts, addictive behaviour often stems from emotional stress. To alleviate or escape this stress, individuals often seek pleasure in excessive ways. When the distraction of pleasure is absent, thoughts tend to revert back to the underlying emotional stress. In the absence of healthy coping mechanisms, addictive behaviour serves as a means of distraction. It’s important to note that the focus of the addiction is not the problem itself; rather, the problem lies in the reliance on unhealthy behaviour to divert attention from emotional stress. For many individuals, their addiction serves as a manifestation of an underlying issue that they may not even realise. Tel: 07811 606 606 (24 hours)