ADDICTION
The addict rotates back and forth from feeling powerful to powerless, out of control to in control, larger than life to feeling "less than". The addict's substances become the glue that bridges the two concepts together and finds a middle ground in an illusion of normalcy.
The word “addiction” is derived from a Latin term for “enslaved by” or “bound to.” Anyone who has struggled to overcome an addiction—or has tried to help someone else to do so—understands why.
Addiction exerts a long and powerful influence on the brain that manifests in three distinct ways: craving for the object of the addiction, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences.
Addiction starts as a choice but is fueled by unconscious pain and physical need that creates a knee jerk reaction to seek the "fix" and escape or just to avoid painful withdrawals. The addict's escape and need to avoid withdrawals becomes bigger than the addict's choice. The addict's unconscious psychological and physical pain rises and dominates the addict's choice and ability to control his or her acquired need for these substances.
Unless you're an addict the behavior can look like weakness and someone that lacks will power. It is not a weakness but an unconscious enslavement and a legitimate medical condition. When you take the concept into the addict's unconscious, it can be uncovered and explained.
The word “addiction” is derived from a Latin term for “enslaved by” or “bound to.” Anyone who has struggled to overcome an addiction—or has tried to help someone else to do so—understands why.
Addiction exerts a long and powerful influence on the brain that manifests in three distinct ways: craving for the object of the addiction, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences.
Addiction starts as a choice but is fueled by unconscious pain and physical need that creates a knee jerk reaction to seek the "fix" and escape or just to avoid painful withdrawals. The addict's escape and need to avoid withdrawals becomes bigger than the addict's choice. The addict's unconscious psychological and physical pain rises and dominates the addict's choice and ability to control his or her acquired need for these substances.
Unless you're an addict the behavior can look like weakness and someone that lacks will power. It is not a weakness but an unconscious enslavement and a legitimate medical condition. When you take the concept into the addict's unconscious, it can be uncovered and explained.
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Addiction has long been understood to mean an uncontrollable habit of using drugs or alcohol. Because of the physical effects of these substances, on the body and particularly the brain, people have often thought that “real” addictions only happen when there is regular use of these substances in large amounts. More recently, however, we have come to realize that people can also develop addictions to behaviors, such as gambling, and even quite ordinary and necessary activities such as exercise and eating (Eating disorders).
What these activities have in common is that the addict finds them and the brain recognizes them as pleasurable in some way. They become a powerful coping mechanism giving the user a sense of control.
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Although the precise symptoms vary from one addiction and individual to another, in clarifying what is an addiction, there are two aspects that all addictions have in common.
First, the addictive behavior is maladaptive or counter-productive to the individual, causing them harm or other negative consequences.
So instead of helping the addict adapt to situations or overcome challenges, it tends to undermine the ability to do so masking pain instead of healing it and ultimately causing far more problems than it solves.
For example, a gambler might wish he had more money – yet gambling is more likely to drain his financial resources. A heavy drinker might want to cheer herself up – yet alcohol use contributes to the development of her depression. A sex addict may crave intimacy – yet the focus on sexual acts may prevent real closeness from developing.
Secondly, the behavior is persistent. When someone is addicted, they will continue to engage in the addictive behavior continuously. An emotional and psychological consumption with engaging in the activity, drug, or behavior or aspects associated with it.
So an occasional weekend of self-indulgence is not addiction, although it may cause different kinds of problems. True Addiction involves more frequent engagement in the behavior.
First, the addictive behavior is maladaptive or counter-productive to the individual, causing them harm or other negative consequences.
So instead of helping the addict adapt to situations or overcome challenges, it tends to undermine the ability to do so masking pain instead of healing it and ultimately causing far more problems than it solves.
For example, a gambler might wish he had more money – yet gambling is more likely to drain his financial resources. A heavy drinker might want to cheer herself up – yet alcohol use contributes to the development of her depression. A sex addict may crave intimacy – yet the focus on sexual acts may prevent real closeness from developing.
Secondly, the behavior is persistent. When someone is addicted, they will continue to engage in the addictive behavior continuously. An emotional and psychological consumption with engaging in the activity, drug, or behavior or aspects associated with it.
So an occasional weekend of self-indulgence is not addiction, although it may cause different kinds of problems. True Addiction involves more frequent engagement in the behavior.
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The biggest problem is the addicted person’s failure to recognize the harm their addiction is doing. They may be in denial about the negative aspects of their addiction, choosing to ignore the effects on their health, life patterns, and relationships. Or they may blame outside circumstances or other people in their lives for their difficulties.
The harm caused by addiction is particularly difficult to recognize when the addiction is the person’s main way of coping with the other problems they have. Sometimes many of the other problems are directly related to the addiction, for example, health problems, relationship problems, and financial hardships.
Some people who get addicted to substances or activities are very aware of their addictions, and even the harms caused by the addiction, but keep engaging the addictive behavior anyway. This can be because;
-They are avoiding painful withdrawal symptoms.
- They don’t feel that they can cope without the addiction/substance.
-They are dealing with another issue that the addiction distracts them from.
-They do not know how to enjoy life any other way.
The harm of addiction may only be recognized when the addicted person goes through a crisis. This can happen when the addictive substance or behavior is taken away completely, and the person goes into withdrawal and cannot cope. Or it can occur as a consequence of the addiction, such as a serious illness, a partner leaving, or loss of a job etc.
ADDICTION AND THE BRAIN
IS IT A DISEASE?
A core concept evolving with scientific advances over the past decade is that drug addiction is a brain disease that develops over time as a result of the initially voluntary behavior of using drugs, including alcohol.
The consequence is a virtually uncontrollable compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use that interferes with, if not destroys, an individual’s functioning in their family and in society. This medical condition very often demands formal treatment or medical intervention.
We are beginning to understand in detail the brain's mechanisms through which drugs acutely modify
mood, memory, perception, and emotional states. We've learned that using drugs repeatedly over time changes brain structure and function, both psychically and chemically, in fundamental and very significant ways that can even persist long after the individual stops using them. Addiction is created through an array of neuro-adaptive changes and strengthening of new memory connections in various circuits in the brain.
There's no question. Addiction wreaks havoc on the brain. Addiction causes significant chemical, structural, and molecular changes that quite literally hijack the brain defining the condition of a disease of this organ.
However, treatment can counteract and even reverse these effects. Moreover, as the recovery process proceeds, the brain begins to heal and while It is true that many changes occur in the brain after addiction takes hold, we must also remember that the brain is a dynamic and ever-changing organ. Changes to the brain's neuronal circuits, chemistry, and structures may powerfully drive the addiction forward, but a strong motivation to change, can just as powerfully counter these changes.
People can learn new coping skills. They can practice behavioral modification techniques. These efforts will counter those damaging changes in a process known as neuroplasticity where the brain re-calibrates itself, forms new neural connections, and regenerates back to normal function. Professional assistance can be enormously helpful as someone learns to overcome addiction's effect on the brain.
If you are having a hard time coping with life, take the time to identify whether or not you are using escapes, such as drugs and alcohol, as coping mechanisms. If you are, it's important to find other fulfilling and productive ways to deal with your stress and problems.
What are treatments for drug addiction?
There are many options that have been successful in treating drug addiction, including:
A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow-up options can be crucial to success. Treatment should include both medical and mental health services as needed. Follow-up care may include community- or family-based recovery support systems.
What are treatments for drug addiction?
There are many options that have been successful in treating drug addiction, including:
- behavioral counseling
- medication
- evaluation and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety
- long-term follow-up to prevent relapse
A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow-up options can be crucial to success. Treatment should include both medical and mental health services as needed. Follow-up care may include community- or family-based recovery support systems.
Medications can be prescibed to manage withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, and treat co-occurring conditions.
Withdrawal. Medications can help suppress withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. Detoxification is not in itself "treatment," but only the first step in the process. Patients who do not receive any further treatment after detoxification usually resume their drug use. One study of treatment facilities found that medications were used in almost 80 percent of detoxifications (SAMHSA, 2014). In November 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a new indication to an electronic stimulation device, NSS-2 Bridge, for use in helping reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. This device is placed behind the ear and sends electrical pulses to stimulate certain brain nerves.
Relapse prevention. Patients can use medications to help re-establish normal brain function and decrease cravings. Medications are available for treatment of opioid (heroin, prescription pain relievers), tobacco (nicotine), and alcohol addiction. Scientists are developing other medications to treat stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. People who use more than one drug, which is very common, may need treatment for more than one, if not, all of the substances they use.
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