Recognizing an addiction problem is usually an uphill task for the affected and those around them. Typically, addiction is a chronic brain disease affecting your motivation, memory function, and reward system. People with an addiction problem will crave a particular substance and almost always ignore other important aspects of their lives to satisfy the addiction.
The Different Types of Addiction
The term addiction is in the majority of the time used to mean the behaviors brought about by substance abuse. But it also includes some aspects of behaviors such as gambling. You are suffering from addiction when you cannot reasonably avoid behavior or addiction. Some of the most common elements abused include nicotine, alcohol, medication, and illicit drugs such as cocaine.
Sex, working, and gambling, among other behavioral addictions, are, according to studies, just as serious as substance abuse. The negative consequences and dependency of behavioral addiction are similar to that of substance abuse.
Other examples of behavioral addiction include video games, shopping, and the internet.
Identifying the Addiction
There are obvious telltale signs that a person has a problem with addiction. For example, they could have a family history of addiction or are particularly drawn to a substance or activity. There is a loss of control and remorse after engaging in the activity or taking the substance.
But addiction is different from typical social behaviors of managing stress, such as drinking.
- You realize that an individual has an addiction problem when they exhibit personality changes. Initially, the changes are not consistent, but they become familiar as time goes by. They start neglecting the important people in their lives, and what used to be interesting to them becomes uninteresting.
Risk-taking tendencies and missing important obligations become a thing, and they ignore the repercussions.
- The health of those suffering from an addiction will almost always deteriorate. They will have unexplained injuries, constant illness, grazed eyes, weight changes, and drug tolerance. Addicts may also exhibit withdrawal symptoms such as vomiting, trembling, and sweating.
The problem may also manifest in mental or emotional changes such as irritability, suicidal thoughts, apathy, aggressiveness, mood changes, and depression.
- The negative consequences of addiction will eventually become long-term or permanent. Someone suffering from a critical addiction problem will ignore or trivialize the health issues in favor of continuing with the habit.
For example, they will see no problem in abandoning loved ones or leaving their workplace to have more time to indulge in their desires. Sometimes they will also contract infectious diseases from shared needles and suffer from a bad reputation. These people may end up doing jail time. This tarnishes their record and affects future opportunities.
But similar problems can as well happen to individuals not suffering from an addiction issue. For example, misunderstandings and falling out of love can make one partner abandon the relationship. A bad reputation can come from various places, and an infectious disease does not always come from shared equipment.
Recovery from Addiction
Addiction comes with various consequences on an individual’s life. Recovery from addiction requires comprehensive treatments, sometimes with several phases that vary from one person to another. The stages most of the time include detoxification, counseling, guidance, and support in a facility such as https://www.gallusdetox.com/ and follow-up.
There are various ways you can recognize an addiction problem in a loved one. They will usually have personality changes; experience deteriorated health outcomes and long-term consequences. You can help with their recovery process by providing an environment that is sober and trigger-free. Just being there for them through the whole process is critical.
