The Truth About Addiction: What Makes a Person Addicted, the Signs of Addiction, and What Should Be Done

Addiction, the Signs of Addiction, and What Should Be Done

How much do you know about addiction? Some may say that addiction is just another word for overindulgence, but there’s more to it. For example, people can be addicted to things like gambling, pornography, sex, and exercise, and these addictions differ widely from each other in terms of both the signs of addiction and what should be done about it. In this article on the truth about addiction, you’ll learn everything you need to know about addiction—what it is, how to tell if someone has an addiction problem, and how to get that person's help.

 

The True Meaning of Addiction

What is addiction?

Addiction can mean many things to different people. The truth is that addiction is an emotional attachment or dependence on any type of substance or activity (i.e., heroin addiction, alcohol abuse) that often leads to dangerous consequences like a drug overdose or even death. In other words, addiction may manifest itself in behaviors such as compulsive use of drugs despite physical or psychological harm.

 What Makes a Person Addicted

People often think addiction is when someone abuses drugs or alcohol. However, not every person who abuses a substance is addicted to it. Generally, dependence on a substance will set in before abuse. It's not uncommon for people to indulge in substances if they're fully aware that they don't have an addiction or mental health condition. An addiction can be classified as when someone has tried to stop using a substance or went through withdrawal without success.

 The Sign of Addiction

Every person is different when it comes to addiction. Addiction signs can be hard to identify in some people but may not be that difficult for others. If you are having a hard time deciding if someone is addicted or not, look for these signs.

* Obsession with drugs or alcohol

* Escalating amounts used

 * Mood swings that are related to substance use

* Denial or lying about how much they use

* Social isolation

 * Trouble at work/school

 * Lying to cover up the use

 Steps to Recovery

It can be challenging to figure out what to do if you or someone you know is addicted. Here are a few steps to recovery:

 1) Make an honest assessment of your addiction.

2) Share your assessment with someone close to you who will help hold you accountable for changing.

3) Decide on your next step to recovery.

 4) Seek professional help if necessary.

What is procrastination? Read here