Author: Contributor

Addiction, which has been accurately identified to be a disease, has been found to come with unpleasant effects on the human body. When these effects or signs are recognized, it becomes easier to provide the individual with the right help they need.

The effects of addiction can be divided into three: psychological, social, and physical.

Psychological Effects

This occurs when the person finds it challenging to stop using addictive substances or indulging in addictive habits.

They will attempt it many times but would be unsuccessful. Sometimes, they may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that will force them back to their addiction.

In some cases, even if they have health issues, they will continue in their addiction not minding the possible complicated effects. They often feel the need to carry out their addictive habit or take the substance to handle their problems.

Social Effects

Addiction can affect the way a person socializes with other people. For instance, the person might turn down an important social gathering so that they can have enough time for their addictive habits.

Someone who is addicted to alcohol might not attend a party where alcohol isn’t served. When they notice that their addictive habit won’t be fueled at any gathering, they prefer not to go.

In the long run, some of them begin to drop off activities and hobbies that were previously interesting to them.

Also, some addicted persons might begin to practice isolation and secrecy. They will prevent anyone from getting into their private space so that they won’t be found out.

Physical Effects

When it comes to physical effects, they are also physical symptoms you can notice when a person is addicted. There might be drastic changes in weight, appetite loss, insomnia or somnolence, increase in tolerance, observable physical defects, etc.

When a person discovers that they are showing some of these effects or signs, they may be pointers that addiction is in play. Hence, they should seek help from a therapist or an addiction counselor.

Addiction is one of the most complex diseases known to man. However, different scientists and researchers have been able to have a better insight into how addiction generally works.

When people hear of addiction, the first thing they likely think of is drug and alcohol addiction. While this is correct, it is important to understand that there are other types of addiction.

Also, addiction is divided into two big categories namely substance/chemical and behavioral addiction.

Substance/Chemical addiction

This is an addiction type where an individual is involved in the constant use of substances like drugs and alcohol. As they continue to use these substances, they find it difficult to stop or break free.

Then it gets to a point where they develop a strong dependence. If they stop using these substances for a short time, they experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that force them back to their addiction.

The known types of substance addiction are drug and alcohol addiction. Other types of substance addiction are categorized as drug or alcohol addiction.

Behavioral addiction

Behavioral addiction is when an individual develops compulsive behaviors that become a habit in the long run. It even gets to the point where there are no real benefits in sight.

But the individual continues to indulge in their addiction because they are used to it. Some types of behavioral addiction are food addiction, sex addiction, shopping addiction, gambling addiction, video gaming addiction, etc.

For both substance and behavioral addiction, the reward system of the brain is always affected. Both types of addiction provide an enjoyable feeling that you would not want to end.

During such periods, dopamine and other known chemicals are produced in excess. These chemicals intensify the association between your brain and those activities that cause you pleasure.

Hence, you are likely to indulge in those habits in the nearest future. As addiction develops, the individual is unlikely to participate in other activities because they have lost interest. During this phase, the brain doesn’t produce much dopamine when natural triggers are in place.

Addicted individuals need to seek support from a trained health professional because it is often challenging to stop their addicted lifestyle all by themselves.

Addiction is basically any behavior or substance that you are bound to.

People do not just break free from addiction when they feel like, it is an obsessive and compulsive disorder that requires a lot of factors to be implemented, before the individual can bid addiction goodbye.

Addiction has the capacity to impact a dominant influence on the brain.

Overcoming addiction is feasible, however, it is a long and complex process. At first, it was deduced that people who were addicted were those who lacked self-discipline and willpower.

However, it was discovered it was beyond their control because addiction was discovered to be a chronic disease.

There is no one who would want to be intentionally addicted. However, a good number of people are ensnared in this problem.

There are different causes of addiction, however, the major factor is the reward system of the brain. When an addictive activity or behavior has been engaged, the brain receives a form of reward.

So from time to time, the brain requests this reward and addicted individuals are obliged to fulfill this appeal. An addiction can be caused by environmental factors.

This happens when individuals are compelled to engage in an abuse act or take an abusive substance because their peers are doing it.

An environment that engages in addictive activity would have an influence on people who are there.

Addiction could also be caused by the genetic factor. If an individual comes from a family that has the history of being addicted, he or she could get caught up in it.

Most likely, his or her parents would show some addictive tendencies, and the individual might follow suit.

Some psychological factors like stress, depression and anxiety can also be responsible for addiction.

A good number of people have this faux belief that, when you are stressed, depressed or unnecessarily anxious, it is best to undergo a repetitive interesting hobby to take your mind of it.

Other people would suggest that you take a particular substance to feel better.

These pieces of advice only work in the short-run, because they are not the right steps to take. The best way to deal with mental health problems, is to see a counselor or therapist.

An addictive behavior is any behavior that has gained the capacity to become the top focus of an individual’s life, to the point where they give up other activities for this particular behavior. Anyone can become addicted with any activity or substance.

Addictive behaviors produce endorphins in the brain that makes an individual feel high. Some professionals are of the opinion that, if an individual engages in an activity for the purpose of euphoria production, the person might be living in an addictive cycle.

This implies that, the individual is hooked on the brain chemicals produced by his or her brain.

So what happens is, they continue in the behavior not minding if there are detrimental social or health effects.

For some people, they feel these are conventional bad habits that they would soon do away with. However, they find it difficult to and this is something they live with for almost all the rest of their lives.

An addictive behavior makes someone to be continually obsessed with the activity or behavior. They cannot take their minds of it, and they would give anything to carry out that activity or exhibit that behavior.

In addition to this, they would try to engage these behaviors even though it causes detrimental problems to them.

They do not even mind if it affects their relationship with family, friends, coworkers, neighbors and a host of others.

It would get to a point where they do not want to stop, but they have no other choice than to continue. This is usually the point where they need help.

But because they have gone far in their addiction, they would find it weird to seek help because they do not want to be treated harshly.

If they decide to refrain for a while, they experience withdrawal symptoms which is very unpleasant.

They would also go to the extent of lying so that they can cover up their addictive acts. At this point, it starts becoming obvious to other people.

People who exhibit addictive behaviors need help and it is important they get it from the right sources, for their recovery to be fast-tracked.

Addiction is a brain disease that affect lots of lives around the world. Addiction is more complex than most people realize.

For each person who is suffering from addiction, they have peculiar needs so this means their mode of treatment is distinct.

There are some addicts who do not want to commence addiction treatment and the reason for this is because, they do not know what to expect.

For addicts who are recovering, it could be a complex process for them, this is why it is important to provide as much ample information as possible.

There are various strategies that can be employed to proficiently treat an individual, and they have been grouped into five broad stages:

• Pre-contemplation: This is the stage where addicts are yet to admit that they are addicted. During this phase, they have faced lots of problems due to their addiction, but they are unaware that they have a problem.

So what they would do typically, is to avoid any talk that has to do with an addiction. Once these individuals have been convinced to believe that they have a problem, they move on to the next phase.

• Contemplation: During this stage, the addicts are aware that they have a problem, and they are being schooled on the origin of their addiction. They do not know how to move forward at this stage, so they need the help of counselors to help them make the right decision.

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• Preparation: This is the phase where they take the bold step. They can either decide to take the oath of abstinence or they get admitted into a rehab. The preparation phase prepares them for life after addiction recovery. A life where they would be completely sober.

• Action: The action phase is regarded as the basis for long-term soberness. They have already been admitted at a rehab facility and recovery is already in motion. This is the point where a sense of accomplishment is built.

• Maintenance: This phase is often overlooked and it would interest you to know that it is arguably the most important phase.

During this stage, there is a likely chance that recovering addicts would be tempted to resume their addiction. So, they need to adapt to structures in place set by rehab facilities to make sure it does not happen.

Anyone can be addicted although this possibility is not the same across all individuals. Addiction is a chronic disease of the brain. When it sets in, it has the capacity to control the way a person feels, thinks and acts.

Someone who is addicted is all after providing pleasure to the brain not minding the adverse consequences that are attached to it.

Most people’s definition of addiction is when you are hooked on drugs and alcohol. However, it is much more than that.

There are other forms of addiction like video gaming, sex, gambling and a host of others. Addiction comes with a particular format. It starts off as an abuse before it becomes an addiction.

There are some factors that can make you addictive without you being aware. For instance, if you hang around with people who abuse drugs and alcohol, there is a likely chance that you would get influenced in no time.

This is peer influence and it can happen to anybody. With time, you will be encouraged to start taking these substances and you could get addicted.

One of the signs to knowing you are addictive, is when the particular substance or behavior takes over your entire life.

If you become addicted to gambling, and it starts affecting your finances adversely, and it becomes hard for you to do anything about it, you might be addicted. Hence, there is an important need for you to check yourself.

People who are addicted would notice a decline in their productivity. The reason for this is because, they have given that addiction a top priority in their lives.

Hence, they will first satisfy their addiction before they face any other activity that they are meant to do.

One of the best ways to put a check on yourself, is to refrain from activities that are likely to get you addicted.

Everything about you needs to be done in moderation, so that you do not find yourself carrying out an addictive act.  

The conventional belief when it comes to addiction is the intake of substances like alcohol and drugs. Based on recent studies, addiction is likely to set in when there are rewards.

This implies that if there are rewards attached to taking any substance or showcasing a particular behavior, then people would get addicted.

Now, it would interest you to know that there is a thin line between excessive behavior and addiction. There are some individuals who take part in excessive activities but they are not addicts.

The reason for this is because, they do not undergo any adverse effect when they take part in the behavior.

Excessive behavior is also the same as excessive enthusiasm, and life is added in this case. For addiction, life is taken away gradually.

An addictive behavior comes with some unpleasant consequences. First off, an addiction is likely to be the most prioritized activity in the life of an individual. It could be one of the ways they use to step-up their mood.

In addition to this, they would most likely feel the desire to carry out that activity regularly for the effects to be felt. If they are unable to do it, they experience psychological and physical symptoms.

The availability of this could induce conflict both at work and in their personal lives. For some of them who try to give up, they experience relapse all times.

The mode of development of addictions is a complex one, be it behavioral or chemical.

It is very easy for you to spot chemical addictions, but behavioral addictions are usually referred to as the hidden forms of addiction. It would take a very observant person to know someone who has a behavioral addiction.

The responsibility of a healthcare provider is to make sure that all their patients have a clean bill of health. This is the reason why there should be a widespread awareness of all the common forms of addiction.

Family and friends need to be on the lookout for suspicious behaviors in their loved ones. If addiction is suspected, it should be treated with love instead of prejudice.