Addiction
Historically, addiction has been defined as:
Being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs) with regard solely to psychoactive substances (for example alcohol, tobacco and other drugs) which cross the blood-brain barrier and once ingested, temporarily alter the chemical milieu of the brain.
However, many Addiction profesionals, now feel that there should be accommodation made to include psychological dependency on such things as gambling, food, sex, pornography, computers, video games, internet, work, exercise, watching TV or certain types of non-pornographic videos, spiritual obsession, pain,cutting and shopping so these behaviors count as addictions as well and cause guilt, shame, fear, hopelessness, failure, rejection, anxiety, or humiliation symptoms associated with, among other medical conditions, depression and epilepsy.
The problem is that addicts believe they have found one thing that is the solution to all of their problems. This is because no matter what issue arises or what difficulties they are experiencing, their drug of choice will relieve their stress and worries, which makes it extremely difficult for them to try and deal with their problems in a healthy way.
When people are addicted, their emotional well being severely altered . After using drugs and alcohol for so long to deal with the issues that life brings, drug addicts will be very sensitive to complications or dilemmas in life. This is due to their lack of addressing these circumstances. These circumstances also worsen when a person is using drugs and the whole situation just snowballs and causes a downward spiral effect. The more a person uses drugs, the more they need to use drugs. Even people who are addicts themselves do not realize this fact. All they know is that no matter what happens and where they are that they can take their drug of choice and feel good and all of their problems will float away and they will be peaceful.
Addiction affects family members worse than it does the actual addict. This is because the family members are not high and drunk and are able to have an outside, objective viewpoint on the damage the addiction is causing. The addict is constantly in a haze and off in another world, so they do not realize all of the damage they are doing to themselves by living their lifestyle.
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction affects both brain and behavior. We have identified many of the biological and environmental factors and are beginning to search for the genetic variations that contribute to the development and progression of addiction. Scientists use this knowledge to develop effective prevention and treatment approaches that reduce the toll drug abuse takes on individuals, families, and communities.
Despite these advances, many people today do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs or how drugs change the brain to foster compulsive abuse. including the many harmful consequences of addiction.
People of all ages suffer the harmful consequences of drug abuse and addiction.
- Babies -exposed to legal and illegal drugs in the womb may be born premature and underweight. This drug exposure can slow the child’s intellectual development and affect behavior later in life.
- Adolescents who abuse drugs often act out, do poorly academically, and drop out of school. They are at risk of unplanned pregnancies, violence, and infectious diseases.
- Adults- who abuse drugs often have problems thinking clearly, remembering, and paying attention. They often develop poor social behaviors as a result of their drug abuse, and their work performance and personal relationships suffer.
- Parents- drug abuse often means chaotic, stress-filled homes and child abuse and neglect. Such conditions harm the well-being and development of children in the home and may set the stage for drug abuse in the next generation.
Giving Up an Addiction
Many people think of addiction as a disease, something that you have for life, that cannot be given up, something that can only be managed so that you can cope with it and its symptoms.
To think that addiction is a lifelong disease is certainly discouraging. Fortunately, many addiction recovery specialists see addiction differently. They see addiction as a symptom itself, of stress and disorder in the body. Put the balance right and you can overcome and recover completely from addiction with treatment.
A lot of people believe that drug detox is a painful process – both physically and emotionally. However it does not have to be. The process of detox is seen as the first stage of drug addiction recovery. Provided that no more drugs are used and with the proper care, it is possible, using todays most recent therapies to cleanse the body and gradually make it clear of drugs and their residues,and to become totally drug free.
With the body free of drug memories and chemical dependency, addiction treatment can enable you to start to look at the emotions that are involved with drug use. Giving up addiction is more than avoiding places and people that are likely to make you use drugs, recognizing “triggers” and abstaining from drug use. A lifetime of craving, of avoidance of drugs & alcohol and provoking situations is not what is meant by addiction recovery.
When you achieve emotional recovery from addiction, you could be surrounded by your drug of choice, and not even want to use. Recovery from addiction can be absolute.
Giving up an addiction is really about giving up the feelings of empowerment that the drug use brings. Giving up drugs means that we become exposed to the negative feelings in ourselves that the drug use covers up.
How we feel when we use drugs might be the very opposite of the negative feelings that we have about ourselves. For example when drug use makes you feel “free” and in your own space – very likely you have issues about other people being in control of your life.
When your drug use takes you off into a world of fantasy – very likely you have a lot of anger and hate about the real world. When you use drugs to feel delirious and stoned, this is usually a defense against feelings of loss and abandonment. Drugs that make us feel just perfect are a defense against low self esteem and feelings of shame or rejection. When drug use makes us feel like a “winner”, it is often about compensation for the experience of betrayal.
Giving up addiction is not about the drug, but about exposing ourselves to the real emotions in us that the drug use covers up. Once we acknowledge the real causes of our emotional pain, and use methods to resolve and overcome it, then we are getting powerful to really recover from addiction.
Giving up addiction is really about getting to know ourselves better. When we are happy about ourselves, we don’t need to use drugs. The best possible help against addiction is the quality addiction treatment that can help you to become content and independent – and completely addiction free.
