Addiction is considered a disease with various harmful symptoms. And by recognizing those signs in a loved one, you can help them get treatment. Addiction has a significant symptom, which is a troubling pattern of use that leads to distress or impairment. However, one will display varying symptoms based on the addictive substance. Symptoms can also be categorized into three as discussed by http://oceansrecovery.com/.
Psychological Symptoms
Addiction symptoms causing mental disorders include:
- Unable to stop using: Most people with a dependence on drugs like nicotine have unsuccessfully tried to quit one too many times. These can be physiological, since substances like heroin cause severe withdrawal symptoms when one tries to quit.
- Continued use and abuse despite health challenges: Individuals will keep using a substance even after falling sick. For instance, one will continue smoking even after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
- Takes risks: Someone with an addiction may cross many lines to get the substance. For instance, it could be stealing money from people to afford drugs.
- Obsession: Some people may develop an obsession with the substance, so they spend a lot of time and energy getting it.
- Dealing with challenges: Most people with an addiction will often feel the need to consume a substance to deal with challenging tasks.
Social Symptoms
Substance abuse also affects how one socializes with people or participates in social activities.
- Neglecting hobbies: As one continues using them, they may drop hobbies they used to enjoy doing. For instance, a person dependent on tobacco could find it hard to keep enjoying a sport, since they cannot go for long without smoking.
- Sacrificing: A person that has developed a dependence on substances will sacrifice an activity they used to love in favor of taking the substance. Individuals with nicotine dependence may opt not to join friends by going to a smoke-free joint.
- Solitude and secrecy: Most individuals abuse drugs, like avoiding people to hide their addiction, or spending time with others who are abusing as well.
- Continued supply: Most of the time, a person abusing drugs ensures they have enough supply. Even if it means they have to sacrifice house bills to buy the drugs.
- Denial: Most people abusing refuse to acknowledge they have a problem, making it hard for them to get help.
Physical Symptoms
Continued substance use impacts bodily functions in the following ways:
- Change in appetite: A substance like marijuana increases appetite while cocaine reduces it.
- Withdrawal symptoms: Once your body becomes dependent on a substance, there are levels of consumption you may have to maintain. Failure to do that can cause effects like constipation, seizures, diarrhea, and trembling.
- Sleeplessness: Continued substance use affects one’s sleep cycles.
- Appearance change. A person using drugs will start looking tired, disheveled, and haggard. Most neglect personal hygiene.
Treatment Options
One of the hardest addictions to overcome is addiction to heroin. Nevertheless, when you feel you are ready to get help your best bet is opting for heroin addiction treatment. These treatment programs are specifically designed to help people who are lost in the grips of heroin addiction.
With the right treatment strategy, one can recover from an addiction. Below you can find some treatment strategies to help someone.
- Recovery Centers: Individuals dealing with substance abuse can benefit significantly from an addiction center as they are designed to help people overcome addiction.
- Support Groups: These groups offer practical assistance, reassurance, and continued support. They also help one stay accountable.
- Therapy: It helps one understand why they need to take substances and find other ways to cope with situations.
- Family Counselling: Addiction does not just affect the person using drugs. Family members and loved ones get affected too. This strategy helps them cope and teaches them how they can support the person using it.
- Lifestyle changes: Healthy changes like eating a balanced diet, managing stress, and exercising can help one manage cravings or deal with other issues like depression.
People using substances need to know that there is a risk of getting addicted. Once you begin suspecting you are dependent on drugs, try and seek help. Support from loved ones is essential as well if one is to recover fully.
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