Addiction

Online Counseling & Psychotherapy

Need help with overcoming addiction?

Talk to our certified psychologists.

Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence. Addiction is a physical or psychological need to do, take or use something, to the point where it could be harmful to you.

There are many reasons why addictions begin. In the case of drugs, alcohol and nicotine, these substances affect the way you feel, both physically and mentally. These feelings can be enjoyable and create a powerful urge to use the substances again.

Gambling may result in a similar mental 'high' after a win, followed by a strong urge to try again and re-create that feeling. This can develop into a habit that becomes very hard to stop.

Being addicted to something means that not having it causes withdrawal symptoms or a 'come down'. Because this can be unpleasant, it's easier to carry on having or doing what you crave, and so the cycle continues. Often, an addiction gets out of control because you need more and more to satisfy a craving and achieve the 'high'.

The strain of managing an addiction can seriously damage a person's work performance and relationships. In the case of substance abuse (for example, drugs and alcohol), an addiction can have serious psychological and physical effects.

What is Addiction?

ALCOHOL : .Alcoholism is the inability to control drinking due to both a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol. Symptoms include repeated alcohol consumption despite related legal and health issues. Those with alcoholism may begin each day with a drink, feel guilty about their drinking and have the desire to cut down on the amount of drinking.

NICOTINE ADDICTION (smoking) : Nicotine dependence occurs when you need nicotine and can't stop using it. Nicotine is the chemical in tobacco that makes it hard to quit. Nicotine produces pleasing effects in your brain, but these effects are temporary. So you reach for another cigarette. The more you smoke, the more nicotine you need to feel good. When you try to stop, you experience unpleasant mental and physical changes. These are symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

SUBSTANCE USE : Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in social situations, and, for some people, the drug use becomes more frequent. For others, particularly with opioids, drug addiction begins with exposure to prescribed medications, or receiving medications from a friend or relative who has been prescribed the medication. The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by drug. Some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others. As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As your drug use increases, you may find that it's increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill (withdrawal symptoms).

Types of Addiction

FAMILY HISTORY : Genetics explains 50 percent of whether an individual will develop an addiction.

STRESS : Stress is an important risk factor in addiction. It is especially important in the transition from moderate drug use to dependent drug abuse. Stress is a risk factor for a few reasons. First, the more stressed you are, the more you will want to escape or relax, and that is why people turn to drugs or alcohol. Second, when you are stressed, you tend to do what is familiar and wrong instead of what is new and right, therefore you are more likely to fall back to your old ways.

NEGATIVE THINKING : All the different types of negative thinking make you feel stressed, uncomfortable, irritable, and discontent. When you think in an all-or-nothing way, you see your life as either going perfectly or horribly, you see your options as either good or terrible. Feeling like that makes you want to escape, relax, or reward yourself, which can lead to drug or alcohol use.

UNDERLYING ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION : Approximately 15 to 30 percent of people with addiction also suffer from underlying depression. The combination is sometimes called a dual diagnosis. Anxiety and depression can lead to addiction. Addiction can also cause anxiety and depression. People who have a dual diagnosis often use drugs and alcohol to escape the feelings of anxiety and depression. They have a repeating pattern of staying sober for a while and then relapsing when the feelings become overwhelming and they try to escape them.

Causes of Addiction

Symptoms of Addiction

PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

A belief that you need the substance to do certain things , whether that's sleeping, socializing, or just generally functioning.
Strong emotional cravings for the substance
Loss of interest in your usual activities
spending a lot of time using or thinking about the substance
Defensiveness
Irritability/Argumentative
Obnoxious
Denial
Rationalizing- offering alibis, excuses, or other explanations for their using behavior
Minimization- admitting superficially to the problem but not admitting to the seriousness or full scope of the behavior or consequences
Blaming- placing the blame for the behavior on someone else or some event
Diversion- changing the subject to avoid discussing the topic

Over-active or under-active (depending on the drug)
Repetitive speech patterns
Dilated pupils, red eyes
Excessive sniffing and runny nose (not attributable to cold)
Looking pale or undernourished
Weight loss
Change in eating habits
Unusual odors or body odor due to lack of personal hygiene

Missing school/work
Work/school problems
Legal issues
Missing important engagements
Disrupted sleep patterns
Financial problems (eg. always needing money)
Relationship/marital issues
Conversations dominated by using drug/alcohol related topics

PHYSIOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

SOCIAL SYMPTOMS

Recommended Therapy for Addiction

Book Now

Matrix Model
12-Step Facilitation
Contingency Management (CM)
Motivational Interviewing
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy