Side Effects of Addiction
Each alcohol or drug can and does have its own set of side effects; however there are some side effects that are common to any form of addiction.
These can be classed under the broad categories of cravings, guilt and depression.
Cravings are the intense feeling of physical or emotion need for more drugs or alcohol.
Guilt and depression are the inevitable side effects of all the things the individual has done to hurt or harm himself, his family and loved one, friends, associates, and others in general. These feelings along with cravings make it very difficult for the individual to stay away from drugs or alcohol.
As he or she has a very hard time confronting the reality of the harm created, the drugs appear to be the only solution to remove the physical and emotional pain. It is a deadly trap as the drugs are the main contributor to these feelings.
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One of the main symptoms of
addiction is when the
drug use starts controlling the individual instead of the individual controlling the drug use. In real life there is often a very thin line between drug
abuse and drug addiction. Both include the compulsive seeking and using of drugs despite adverse social, mental and physical consequences. In
addiction the addict usually suffers intolerable physical and mental withdrawal when cessation of use is attempted.
The addict has at this point fallen fully into the trap of addiction and will sacrifice almost anyone or anything to satisfy the uncontrollable cravings for the drug or alcohol.
Alcoholism is an
addiction to alcohol.
Addiction is defined as a condition characterized by repeated and compulsive seeking and use of drugs, alcohol, or other substances despite adverse social, mental, and physical consequences.
In severe
alcoholism cessation of use can cause delirium tremens and be life threatening.
Medical withdrawal is vital in these situations and needs to be evaluated by competent and informed medical professionals.
Following a full withdrawal from alcohol use the alcoholic’s health and nutrition levels need to be monitored and a program to return them to a health nutritional balance is needed. Follow up with a full
addiction program to address the cravings, guilt, and depression are vital to creating an alcohol free productive life for the individual.
As any loved one of an addict can tell you, the effects of
addiction go far and beyond just the effects created on the addict himself. The amount of stress and distress created in the wake of active
addiction can and do effect the emotional and physical well being of loved ones and associates or the addict.
Financial ruin, destroyed marriages, emotional upsets to children, distrust, and repulsion are just a few that can be named.
The sad part of it is the fact that the addict himself is often unaware of creating these situations until they have reached a breaking point.
As drug and
alcohol addiction reduce awareness of the environment and often distort it, it is a sad commentary that the addict when he becomes aware of these harms actually feel great guilt and depression, which often leads to more and more drugs in an attempt to numb him or herself.
The cycle of
addiction begins with a problem, discomfort, or physical or emotional pain. Drugs or alcohol are used in an effort to find relief.
Short term temporary relief is found which give the drug or alcohol value in the eye of the user.
When confronted with the problem, pain, etc. again in the future the individual is prone to use the drug or alcohol again.
The problem arises when it takes more and more of the drug or alcohol to get the same effect and instead of handling the source of the problem or pain the drugs are continually used to mask the symptoms while the problem itself continues to get worse.
The drugs and alcohol themselves create new physical problems, shut of awareness and ability, all of which simply increases the symptoms to the point of the person being obsessed with finding and using the drugs or alcohol to numb himself, despite consequences to self and family.
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