Stay Alert Against Addictions

What Is An Addiction?

An addiction is defined as a state of strong dependence of a substance or practice, to the point that this dependence has harmful consequences on the life of the addicted person. It is a physical or psychological disorder that may result of the combination of several aspects of a person, such as social life, physical health, psychological health, genetic predispositions and others. Many substances and practices may be object of addiction. The most extended addictive factors are alcohol, drugs, tobacco, pornography and caffeine, amongst many others. Discrimination of people with an addiction usually causes a feeling of deep dissatisfaction and frustration, and makes the addiction even worse.

Causes Of Addictions

The reason why a person develops an addiction can be physical or psychological.

Physical addictions are those in which the body “asks” for a certain substance and produces a feeling of general wellness when it is supplied. It the substance is not incorporated into the person’s body, there is a strong sensation of illness and general discomfort, usually with physical pain, that urges the addict to get the substance at any cost. Alcohol and heavy drugs like heroin cause physical dependence.

Psychological dependence is usually associated with practices more than substances, although certain substances like tobacco are thought to cause both physical and psychological addiction. In a psychological addiction, the addict has the need of satisfying a strong desire and therefore he makes this a priority. Perfectionism, addiction to shopping and certain sexual related addictions, like pathological voyeurism, are examples of this type of dependence.

The first time a person gets in contact with a certain substance is typically related to social factors. For instance, kids may smoke their first cigarettes to achieve a certain “cool” status among their friends. Other causes, however, are more complex and usually involve a certain tragedy, an undesired event, or even stressful everyday frustrations on the life of a person, that make him wish to escape from reality somehow. For instance, some people may feel powerless in their jobs, and practices like compulsively gambling may create the illusion of a certain power.

Symptoms Of Addictions

The symptoms of an addiction can vary depending on the addictiveness of the substance used. As a general rule, both types of dependence may cause the addict to isolate himself into a very small circle of so-called friends, usually other addicts who encourage or share the use of the substance. Irritability and paranoia are often other symptoms of addiction.

The symptoms of a physical addiction usually subside when the substance is discontinued, but abstinence syndrome appears. Abstinence syndrome is a group of symptoms characteristic to each addictive substance, that appears when it’s use is suspended. An example of one of those symptoms is “delirium tremens” a group of visual and audible hallucinations that appears on alcoholics that suddenly discontinue alcohol ingestion.

Psychological addiction does not produce abstinence syndrome when the used substance is suddenly discontinued. This may be the only way to differentiate between a psychological addiction and a physical addiction, because they have the same or very similar symptoms while they are in progress.

Bookmarks
Bookmark This |