The Symptoms Of Addiction.

Addictions are most commonly associated with drug and alcohol addiction. The truth is millions of people suffer from all kinds of addictions. Common addictions are to alcohol, controlled substances and prescription medicines. Additions you might not think are addictions are related to compulsive behaviors like gambling, shopping, food, the internet.




An addiction of any type is readily recognized by the fact that “it is not a matter of choice.” Individuals who are addicts do not have the ability to “decide” to stop abusing, for example, alcohol or a certain drug, or even the behaviors of gambling or shopping. Addictions affect the user, their family and friends.




What is an addiction? How does an addiction begin? When does the pattern of behavior become an addiction? Some individuals may be able to use a substance or engage in a behavior periodically over a period of years without becoming “addicted.” Other individuals are not capable of stopping and do become addicted.




Are addictions only in certain social, educational or ethnic groups? Absolutely not! There is no such thing as a typical addict.




The causes of addiction have been studied for several years. Addiction is caused by the emotion the substance or behavior brings about in the user. The body and mind become dependent on that feeling and seeks to maintain it.




There are addiction risk factors that make some people more likely than others to become addicts. Studies show that sometimes addictions can be hereditary. The child of an alcoholic may not grow up to be an alcoholic; however, they may become addicted to gambling or some other type of compulsive behavior as an adult.




Besides hereditary, individuals who grow up in families with abuse, neglect and who are impoverished are more likely to become addicts.




For most addicts, it can be extremely difficult to recognize that what they have associated as simply a habit is actually an addiction. While every individual is different there are some symptoms that are prevalent among most addicts and addictions:




Symptom # 1




Unable to meet responsibilities at home, school or office.




Symptom # 2




Continues to use substances or engage in behavior even when it is dangerous.




Symptom # 3




The need increases to engage in behavior or use more of a substance to achieve the same effect or feeling.




Symptom # 4




Has tried but failed to stop using the substance or end the behavior.




Symptom # 5




Continues to engage in the behavior or use the substances even when they are aware of the dangers.




Answering yes to three or more of the above symptoms during a 12 month period may show that you or a loved one has an addiction. The first step to treating an addiction is recognizing that it exists.




There is no cure for an addiction. Treatment and counseling can help an addict to learn how to control their behavior, withstand impulses and recognize the presence of a problem, but an addict is never cured. Treating an addiction can take years and requires ongoing support from friends, families and support groups.




A 12 step program can be particularly beneficial in treating an addiction. One of the most well known 12 step programs is AA, also known as Alcoholics Anonymous. There are similar programs for all types of addictions.




Living with an addiction requires a daily commitment and there is always the possibility of relapsing. An addict that has been "clean" for even 20 years can succumb to temptation just as they did decades before.




There are several treatment programs and centers that can help with the numerous types of addictions that are prevalent today. Many of them are anonymous. Support groups are also available to help family and friends who experience the effects of an addiction in a loved one.




The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Always consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Your Smoking Addiction Can Be Un-Hooked And Un-Trapped

Hooked, trapped, desperate—Oh these words are so heart wringing. Are those that utter these soul-searing cries being tied up by their thumbs? Or have they fallen down an old mine shaft?




Well, umm, no, they have… well they have made a decision to become hooked, trapped and desperate.




See the news blog tumbling out... Scottish smokers, hooked on their smoking addiction have vowed to fight the smoking bans.




Read the Press Release from the pharmaceutical company announcing… Smokers trapped by their smoking addiction are offered a new drug.




Hear the media babbling… Britney Spears' man is desperate to quit smoking for the sake of their children.




I bet if you are a smoker, you don't really use these strong words… more like, "I'd really like to quit, but I enjoy smoking, or, I've tried to quit but it's too hard, or, I want to quit, but I'm so addicted I don't think I can, or, I'm too scared, what if…" and so on.




But are smokers totally at the mercy of their habit and spinelessly despairing of escaping its bonds? Would they describe their smoking addiction like that? Trapped? Trapped by a chemical and emotional fix? They're not trapped by their decision, that's for sure, because we all have the ability to make our own decisions, yes or no as we wish.




A person makes a decision to try smoking. For some that leads to more decisions to reach out and take more cigarettes maybe a week or so later. Then some more, then pretty soon as the nicotine gets its grips into the brain's receptors, the person finds it becomes harder and harder not to go out of his or her way to acquire cigarettes to smoke… and hey presto, because of their decisions, they are now supposedly a hooked, trapped smoker, and if they want to quit, they are desperate.




But it still comes down to a decision to smoke. Every time a smoker lights up it is a decision they have made. A simple, personal decision, along with 1000's of other decisions each day that make up that person's character, lifestyle, mood, health and future.




A daily decision to get out of bed is made.




A decision not to have another helping of food is made.




You decide to clean the house, take the dog out in the rain, stack the dishes, and sort out your accounts for tax.




You don't dwell on how you'll miss lingering in your warm bed, or how you'll suffer without more food, or how unpleasant it will be to walk the dog in the rain, do the dishes, tax etc.




No, with unpleasant decisions you simply do what needs to be done because the consequences not to would be worse.




Some people make daily major decisions, sacrificing a lot because of a goal worth aiming for, such as a champion swimmer rising at 5am to practice 2 hrs before breakfast. Thus it is with smoking, or exercise, or getting out of bed in the morning. It's a matter of making the decision and focusing on the outcome.




You know it's absolutely pointless to try to worm your way out of getting out of bed. Who would you worm to anyway! But the point is it's automatic, although for some people an effort, to get up in the morning—but it has to be done. Has to... and your decision is made, because the day beckons and there's a whole lot of living to do today.




You're in charge of your decisions. You are not trapped; your brain and body are resisting, but no-one is tying you to your bed, so up you get… no-one is forcing you to have your smoking addiction, although your brain and body crave a smoke, so decide to get help to control it and focus on something better.




It's your decision and the consequences are not that crash hot if you don't make the right decisions.

All About Alcoholism And Drug Abuse.

Alcoholism & Drug Addiction are common realities in today’s society. Some estimates have shown that over twenty percent of the United States population battles with a substance abuse problem. Not only health caregivers and social workers encounter this population on a regular basis. Indeed, even company managers and professionals most likely encounter some (if not many) of this percentage more often then not. Professionals in their positions of authority may be the only ones with the opportunity to help. It is their opportunity to spot drug dependency and (hopefully) offer the availability for effective individualized and holistic treatment. A little perception and educated kindness may mean the world of difference – maybe even save a life.

Who Does Drug Addiction Affect?

Addiction’s effects insidiously spread. Bringing only destruction, sorrow, and pain, it affects not only the addict, but also the people in his/her life. Hurting friends and family, drug addiction also permeates professional settings. Employees with dependency problems hurt businesses and create aggravating and possibly unsafe work environments. In medical settings, addiction intensifies the care needed from psychological and physical health providers.




Many untrue myths on the origins of drug addiction continue to circulate. Some attempt to pinpoint the social groups most affected. Others attempt to recognize addiction as an illness or a moral defect. These falsehoods must be stopped. While they perpetuate unnecessary confusion, fear, and shame, these inaccurate conclusions augment problems and make them more difficult to treat. Addiction does not appear in any particular component of society. Rather, it affects every socio-economic class, ethnicity, and gender. Not a disease and never an indication of a “bad” person, addiction is merely a problem that needs solving. There is no reason to label drug addicts with untrue stereotypes, and there is no need to fear them. At some point everyone struggles with life’s hurdles and needs help from others. Addicts are no different from anyone else. No one chooses addiction; rather, addiction steals from him/her. With kindness, help, and support from others, people can reclaim their lives.

How Can Drug Addiction Be Detected?

With most drug addictions there are warning signs. Some are characteristic symptoms of particular substances. (e.g., most alcohol can be smelled on the breath; constant sniffling may indicate a cocaine user, puncture scars inside the elbows can suggest syringe use for heroin abuse, etc.). However, there are many general indicators as well:




* Red or dilated eyes

* Slurred speech

* Cold or sweaty hands

* Difficulties concentrating

* Moody, impatient, dangerous, and/or violent behavior

* Extreme periods of energy (e.g., constant talking) and/or fatigue

* Paranoia

* Sudden or decreasing disregard in personal appearance or hygiene

* Sudden change in friends

* Dishonesty

* Depression




Well over half of drug users work, and two out of five have taken an illicit drug at their work site. Unsurprisingly, almost half of work related accidents involve substance abuse. While this causes daily frustration for managers and fellow employees, low productivity and damages cause money losses. Mistakes and inappropriate behaviors put employees and customers in danger. Substance abuse on the job manifests in many ways:




* Decreases the quality and/or speed of work.

* Constant absences and/or tardiness (especially right before a weekend or holiday break and right after payday): Researchers find that drugs cause over sixty percent of work absences.

* Often leaving work early

* Lengthening breaks

* Talking more on the phone

* Stealing company supplies and/or profits




An employer may detect job performance issues; whereas, a health provider may spot behavioral issues during an exam/evaluation. However, regardless of a professional’s role, it is vital that action follows even the slightest amount of suspicion. Helping a substance abuser will not only help the addict, but also the others that love and work with him/her.

How Can a Professional Help a Drug Addict?

Addiction can be permanently treated. But then why do so many recovering addicts return to the same behaviors? Posing a severe problem in and of itself, addiction rarely develops on its own. Substance abuse most often results from inadequate coping of conscious and unconscious deeper issues. Problems stem from unresolved childhood traumas, current personal tensions, and occasionally deep troubles at work. Dependency denial merely enlarges the initial denial. Substance abusers require extensive patience, compassion, and sensitivity to treat and to heal. For this reason, addicts may need constant encouragement to pursue treatment options. Employees may benefit from job-enforced treatment programs. Unfortunately, while abuse instigators are commonly known, treatment is often misunderstood. However, with individual and holistic treatment that heals the underlying causes for the dependency on drugs and/or alcohol, the addiction itself can disappear!




By preparing ahead of time, professionals can ensure that they provide substance abusers with sufficient help. Below are some suggestions. (These do not substitute for the help of a professional interventionist, nor should they be used in an intervention-type scenario).




Step One: Educate Yourself on the Signs of Drug Addiction




First, know how to recognize addiction; look for warning signs (stated earlier). Second, become familiar with strategies for handling with a possible drug addition (described in the following text).




Step Two: Talk to the Person




This may prove to be the most difficult step. Fears of being wrong often deter people from approaching a possible addict. However, it is better to talk to a person and be wrong then to say nothing and allow an addiction to continue. Even if a person does not have or is in denial of having a substance addiction, he/she will still know that someone cares. However, always broach the topic in an unthreatening and non-accusatory manner. When criticism and condescension are eliminated, a person shows his/her true concern.




Step Three: Offer Guidance and Suggestions




While demonstrating concern is essential, it is important not to come on too strong. Destroying well-intentioned help, “overbearing” concern may end up smothering and discouraging a substance abuser. A substance-abuse situation is a delicate matter. While addiction may be apparent, all other issues, which perhaps contributed to the present condition, are not. Sobriety can never be achieved unless an addict takes charge of his/her own situation and decides to change his/her lifestyle. With gentle guidance and suggestions, professionals enable addicts to utilize necessary agency.




Step Four: Be Supportive




Even if professionals delicately ask about a possible addiction, the addict may still refuse help. Substance abuse and its initial/current life problems create massive feelings of helplessness. They may not feel capable of stopping their addictions, and they might not trust others, even those that want to help. Nonetheless, with persistent patience and compassion, a professional can communicate his/her sincerity; and eventually, the addict may gain the necessary trust and courage for drug rehab.




The Lasting Recovery of Individual and Holistic Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation




People suffering from addiction need both benefits of individualized care and of socialization with others facing the same obstacles. Individualized treatment is essential for enduring sobriety. While symptoms may be common, causes are never completely shared. Being an individual automatically implies that life is experienced uniquely. People require different addiction treatment therapies, and people need adequate time to explore their individual sorrows and stresses in a secure environment. However, the benefits of solidarity should never be overlooked. When rehabilitation centers provide one-on-one individualized treatment, the individual and social components combine to bring faster and healthier healing.




Substance abuse attacks from all angles and progressively weakens a person into sequestered parts. Holistic addiction treatment naturally reunites body, mind, and spirit into an enduring whole person again.




Drug Rehab Centers should offer a variety of specified therapy treatments. Incorporated with individual chemical dependency counseling, state-of-the-art methods of psychotherapy and hypnotherapy enable people to heal from anxiety and memories which often cause the self-medicating substance abuse. Family counseling repairs the relationships contributing to and brought on by addiction. Life purpose and spiritual counseling enable people to embrace their true identities and to move positively forward.




Rejuvenating all components of human life, comprehensive alcohol and drug rehabilitation offers further treatments including:




- Physical Training

- Massage/Bodywork

- Acupuncture

- Nutritional Advisement

- Yoga/Music/Arts Treatment

- Image Therapy

- Peaceful and Soothing Environment




Complete drug or alcohol rehab programs develop further specialty therapies to address specific client needs. A staff team closely works to create the best individualized/holistic treatment possible. Most importantly, all activities focus directly on healing the initial problems that caused the dependency.




Professional help is needed to eradicate substance abuse. With valuable societal positions, professionals play critical roles in the detection and recovery of substance abuse/addiction problems. Due to society’s variety of occupations, most drug addicts encounter at least one, if not more, professionals at some time. 

Complimentary Therapies Enhance Addiction Treatment

Long-term sobriety is the ultimate goal of addiction treatment, but high rates of relapse show that talk therapy alone is not enough. Traditional addiction treatment primarily originates from the Minnesota Model developed during the late 1940’s and has remained relatively unchanged over the past decades. The cornerstone of the model relies primarily on talk therapy and that addictive behavior is the result of psychological dependencies which cause a person to rely on drugs and alcohol. The belief is that addiction is the sole result of mental needs.