The Truth About Addiction

An addiction definition is difficult to narrow down

, because addiction presents itself in different ways in different people. For the majority of the population an addiction and the related cravings can be removed by detoxing from the substance or activity. For the person with the addictive personality, however, a detox is insufficient to remove the cravings and professional help to obtain complete abstinence is the only way out. This kind of addiction can be described as a simultaneous physical and mental illness that makes the addict repeatedly use a substance or behaviour until they become completely dependent on it.

There are many forms of addiction, the most common being alcohol, drugs, gambling and sexual addiction. The addict becomes reliant on their "drug" to achieve any feeling of normalcy and this can lead to them isolating themselves from friends and family to pursue their habit.

An addict experiences an uncontrollable need for their habit, so much so that they find it nearly impossible to stop. Many times, this is in spite of the fact that they recognise the destructive nature of their own behaviour. In the early stages the addict may only use in small quantities. Eventually the user's body adapts and starts to need more of that substance or behaviour to create the same excitement as when they first started.

A man just starting to use cocaine, for example, may start by only using on weekends. Over time, the tolerance increases and the cravings grow in intensity. The man progresses to using on a couple of weekdays as well. As the dependency increases, the individual may begin to use on a daily basis, and eventually multiple times a day.

At this stage, for the addict, everything else becomes unimportant, as feeding the habit rises to the top of their priority list. An addiction definition can therefore also involve social changes, physical changes and the inability to control ones own habit without help. At its worst, an addict will withdraw from society completely or begin to exclusively associate with other addicts.

When someone is physically addicted to a substance, they may experience pain, intense agitation, and depression when trying to quit. The psychological aspect of the addiction involves a damaged brain chemistry and is much more challenging to defeat. It is often coupled with the reluctance to give up the habit in any way.

A proper definition of addiction is crucial when trying to establish if you or a loved one has a dependency problem. Obtaining a proper understanding of addiction and its effects is the the first step on the road to obtaining proper addiction treatment. Tackling an addiction is a challenging endeavour and it cannot be accomplished without assistance.

by: David Congreave

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