What Are the Signs of Addiction?

In today's culture, the term "addiction" is becoming more and more common. Negative substances, such as drugs or alcohol, are often linked with this term.

But exactly, what is addiction?

A brain malfunction is described as an addiction. That's because when someone gets hooked to anything, whether it's drugs or alcohol, they associate it with a reward. As a result, the brain is deceived into believing that the drug is needed to feel motivated or rewarded, and addiction is formed.

The following are traits of someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol:

Unable to put an end to it

Someone who is addicted to anything will, by definition, need that drug to operate. They will be unable to stop thinking about it and will find it very difficult, if not impossible, to quit using it.

Cravings for the drug have increased.

It's understandable that if someone is addicted to anything and their brain connects that item with benefits, the individual would desire it and seek it out.

Not all desires are harmful; for example, a desire for coffee or ice cream does not indicate that you are addicted.

However, desiring alcohol or drugs occurs because your brain has developed a dependence on something non-essential that it now believes is needed for you to operate.

There is no self-control.

We've all heard this phrase before when it comes to overindulging in sweets or snacking in between meals. However, in the case of substance addiction, this is ten-fold since individuals hooked to drugs or alcohol have no control over their urge and want to obtain and use such substance.

This sensation will overwhelm all other feelings, leaving the person with little control over the desire they are experiencing.

Absence of emotion

This may seem to be a little overlap with the preceding points, but it is still worth mentioning that when someone is addicted to a drug, they may be unable to recognize how it affects them or others around them, and therefore fail to show any emotion in response to the circumstance.

This is due to the brain equating drug abuse with pleasure, blinding the user to the fact that their behaviors are harmful.

Is it possible for addiction to happen just once?

Unfortunately, no addiction has a proclivity for recurrence. Relapses are common among those who are addicted to a drug.

A relapse occurs when a person receives addiction treatment and then goes a length of time without taking the drug they used to use regularly, relapsing into their previously treated condition of addiction.

There is no way of predicting when or if this will happen since addiction affects everyone differently. There is no way of knowing whether someone will or will not relapse.

Is it possible for addiction to grow worse?

Yes, it gets a lot worse. The longer someone uses a drug that is very harmful to their health, the greater the long-term consequences will be.

Consider this: if you take a glass of wine with dinner once or twice a month, it will not be harmful to your health; but, if you drink a bottle of wine every evening and continue to do so for years, the substance's bad effects, in this instance alcohol, will be greatly enhanced.

Also, since your brain connects the drug you're addicted to with pleasure, the more you take it, the more of it you'll need to feel the same way, which means that the quantity of a substance an addict takes throughout their addiction only grows.

What are you able to perform to assist?

Addiction is a disease that requires expert treatment. There is no one answer or cure for treating addiction; in fact, there are many research and scientific techniques for treating addiction.

The most important thing you can do to assist someone with an addiction is to recognize it early and assist that person in seeking professional treatment as soon as possible.

Once they are enrolled in a professional addiction treatment program, the likelihood of them using or relapsing drops substantially, and this lowers the longer they are in the program.

In addition to expert medical guidance, the person will need a great deal of support and assistance from people close to them to overcome their addiction and reclaim their former self.