Addiction: Know The Signs And Throw Off The Shackles-before It Is Too Late!
Who gets trapped by addiction to alcohol, drugs or smoking
? Those with an addictive personality are the most likely to fall into this pit. Addictive personality refers to a set of traits that is shaped in many people by their compulsive involvement in alcohol, "recreational" drugs, gambling or even sex.
The theories of addictive personality disorder are hazy because there are not many useful psychological studies in this area to which to refer for cause-effect correlations. Consequently, it is only after compulsive involvement with a substance or behavior actually begins to impair a person's life, is addictive personality finally diagnosed.
There is an assortment of psychological techniques that can be effective in treating addictive personality disorder. Symptoms of addiction usually include the following:
1. Signs of antisocial personality
Many people with manifestations of addictive personality disorder have antisocial personality traits. They tend to withdraw or isolate themselves from their families and friends.
They withdraw in order to be alone or to be with others of the same ilk, so that their addictive use, consumption and behavior will not be challenged. Addicts of various types are known to frequently hang-out in their rooms or other private locations.
Avoiding people enables their compulsive behavior because no one questions or challenges them.
2. Addiction replacement or substitution
Addictive personalities frantically feed off one thing, their addiction, until they are satiated, sick or dead. When that substance or activity is no longer available, they frantically search for other related options to quickly elevate their mood.
These troubled people often deceive themselves, by saying that they want to overcome their addiction on their own. This leads to their continual switching from one addictive behavior to the next, using the newest one for "comfort" while desperately trying to get over the original one.
For instance, a heroin addict may switch to unhealthy amounts of Valium consumption, as he/she "tries" to get over the heroin compulsion.
3. Lifestyle featuring instant gratification
An addict strongly values the principle that reward and gratification must be received now! This frantic person craves instant gratification in order to quickly elevate his mood.
The patient afflicted with compulsive impulses to quickly elevate mood, by using alcohol, mind-altering drugs or engaging in compulsive sex, including porn, will often find it difficult to have long term goals. Since mind-altering substances produce instant gratification, addicts over-generalize by thinking that everything else should act in the same way.
4. Pervasive signs of anxiety and depression
Addiction treatment can be difficult because staying away from the compulsive substance or behavior initially, can trigger severe mood swings, which may frighten others. Over the short term, the addict may become very defensive or even agitated with family members and friends with whom he is close.
Therapeutically-triggered deep pangs of anxiety and depression, in the initial stages of treatment, are likely to make things worse both for the addict and for those close to him. He may even begin to become intimidating or threatening towards those attempting to lead him to sobriety.
5. Concealment and secrecy
Fear and shame causes the addict-patient to scrupulously attempt to hide his behavior. Addicts are almost always out of control, so secrecy has to be maintained by them on a daily basis.
Moreover, if their addiction is illegal, a whole host of legal and family-related consequences will ensue, making everything worse and the need for subsequent mood-elevation seem all the more compelling. These factors make complete secrecy an absolute necessity.
There are various tests available from professionals to diagnose addiction. Psychotherapy, 12-Step programs, home-based self-therapy programs and treatment in specialty inpatient programs, the earlier, the better, are some ways in which addictions can be treated.
Start treatment as early as is possible. The longer one waits, the more difficult it is to recover!
by: Mike Shery
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