You firmly decide to quit alcohol(or any other drug), but suddenly you experience an uncontrolled urge to drink, and you give in to this urge, thinking it’s just once, and it goes on and on.
You spend several hours each day involved in gaming(or gambling) thinking every time that this will be the last game or bet or gamble, but you cannot stop yourself from going for the next round
What is Addiction?
Addiction is a chronic disorder with biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors influencing its initiation and maintenance. The use of drugs or any behavioural addiction starts as a voluntary or an impulsive act.
By nature, this behaviour leads to an emotional high or a reward. This is followed by an urge to reexperience the high or reward. With repeated use, this urge gradually intensifies and leads to brain alterations. In simple terms, the brain stops making the chemicals that elevate the moods or cause a high, as the use of drugs is supplying them.
As soon as the brain gets accustomed to it, it craves more drugs for the same effect. Gradually the person loses control over this behaviour, and it becomes a compulsive act to avoid discomfort. People dealing with addiction encounter problems in their family, work, and social life. Drugs or behaviour takes precedence over everything else in life
Why do addicts look for more drugs over time?
Upon taking drugs, people feel intoxicated. When they keep taking it, it results in changing brain functioning. When the person doesn’t take drugs, he or she feels discomfort and seeks drugs to keep going.
What are the prime symptoms of addiction?
Some of the most common symptoms comprise of
- Craving
- Inability to stop drug use despite physical or psychological ill health
- Unable to concentrate
- Unable to complete tasks
- Engaging in high-risk behaviours
- Loss of appetite and sleep disturbances
What are the causes and risk factors of substance abuse?
- Early exposure to drugs
- Personality issues
- Genetics
- Environmental and cultural factors
- People with other mental illnesses deal with painful feelings, anxiety, depression, and loneliness by using drugs.
How does drug use to affect a person?
- Acute withdrawal or intoxication can lead to life-threatening problems like delirium, seizures
- Physical complications like liver disorders from alcohol use and heart and lung diseases from smoking
- Triggers psychiatric illnesses like depression, psychosis
- Suicidal tendencies
How can substance abuse be treated?
- Medication
- Drugs to reduce withdrawal symptoms
- Anti craving agents
- Anxiolytics
- Psychotherapy
- Motivation enhancement therapy
- Relapse prevention
- Group therapy and support groups
We can help you recover from addiction and resume a healthy life. Call +91 9811006930 and speak to any office staff to learn more or schedule an appointment.
