Addiction is a much broader topic than dependence on alcohol or drugs.
In addition to substance use addictions such as alcoholism, prescription pill, and controlled substances, there are process addictions. These addictions are related to compulsive behavior such as shopping, gambling, and disordered eating. Being active in addiction not only hurts the user, but also those associated with them such as friends and family. This raises questions. What is addiction? How does it start in when? It is hard to discern when a pattern of behavior moves into addiction?
It is a mystery why some can use drugs or alcohol and not become addicted, while others cannot avoid it. Victims of addiction have lost the ability to control or stop their user behaviors. Addiction is possible for everyone despite ethnic, social or economic status.
There is not a standard addict profile. There is no poster child. Despite a lot of study researchers cannot agree on the causes or cures for addiction. A real hard part of addictive behaviors and addiction to measure is the emotional impact on self and others. Getting relief from uncomfortably emotions is a prime motivator for engaging in addictive behaviors. The irony is that using generates more negative emotions that require more relief.
While addiction manifests itself in different people in different ways, here are the most common signs and symptoms of addiction:
Symptom 1 - Unable to meet responsibilities of relationships or at home, school or work.
Symptom 2 - Compulsive preoccupation, meaning one spends a great deal of time thinking about the substance or behavior
Symptom 3 - Has tried but failed to stop using the substance or end the behavior. Things spin out of control.
Symptom 4 - Engages in the behavior or substance use knowing it is dangerous or in dangerous situations such as driving.
Symptom 5 - Because of the addiction, one stops activities or hobbies that were fun or enjoyable.
Symptom 6 - There is a need to increase the amount and frequency of the behavior or substance to achieve the desired felling or affect.
Symptom 7 - Ones life has become centered around the addiction, isolation from others occurs.
Talk to somebody if any of the above symptoms are occurring. Everyone agrees that addiction is a progressive disease. Left untreated, it will get worse.
There is more information available here on addiction treatment.
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The root cause of chemical addictions (alcohol, street drugs and prescription drugs) and the “process addictions” (eating, sex, money, gambling, work, spending) is the PRIMARY untreated disease of addiction. An alcoholic often stops drinking alcohol to become a work addict. A sex addict stops that process to become an overeater. The PRIMARY disease does not care what you feed it (alcohol, drugs, food, sex, money) it just does not want you to treat it.
HOW it is treated in its PRIMARY state indicated what kind of a disease it is. It is treated with a 12 step spiritual program, a sponsor and the twelve steps in writing.
The disease of addiction is a spiritual disease.
Thanks for the information about the symptoms and its equivalent actions. Drug detox treatment is always needed in so person who have suffered from this kind of addiction shall overcome problems in life.
I think lack of social activities is one of the symptoms too.
Yes actually, one of the diagnostic criteria for substance dependence is ‘not engaging in activities once found pleasurable’.
Interesting and well documented post. i have read something similar elsewhere.
very nice articles. Thank you for sharing
This is a very interesting use of information, addiction can be hard to deal with, making you give up those things you use to enjoy doing, like social activities, hanging out with your mates, the best thing to do, is to talk to someone as soon has you think you see any signs of it, and try to get it treats sooner than later.