WARNING: If you are taking medications, street
drugs or alcohol and you want to stop using them you must first
check with your medical doctor. It may not be safe for you to
stop immediately.
How can I tell if I have addiction problems?
By Licia Ginne, LMFT
My good friend Rod Allison of Monterey Recovery Center defines
addiction as an "enslavement to habit". A medical
definition of addiction is a state where the body relies on
a substance to maintain normal function and when removed will
experience a physical withdrawal.
In more common usage addiction has come to mean and include
psychological and physical dependence and abuse. It has come
to include more then alcohol and drugs, but gambling, sexual
activity, food and eating disorders, computer activity, relationships,
and many
other substances and processes.
Addiction is doing something over and over to the point
where you have regrets (shame), or until it causes harm in
your life. It's a good chance it is addiction or abuse if
your behavior includes any of the following: shame, remorse,
denial, minimizing and / or secretive behavior. The problem
drinker will claim
to have had fewer drinks than actually consumed or claim not
to have even been drinking. The drug abuser will downplay
the amount or type of drugs taken. The gambler will lower
the amount lost and increase the amount won. Shame is such
a crucial part of the addictive pattern that you can assume
the person is underestimating or overestimating their story.
It is important to ask yourself does your indulgence
affect your work, play, relationships, emotional or physical
health?
Compulsivity is the behavior underlying addiction and we
can become compulsive about most anything. In the early days
of treatment this was referred to as cross-addiction. Current
research on brain activity supports the theory of compulsivity
as brain patterns are similar whether it is from cocaine use,
alcohol or even eating disorders, it seems to be the pattern
of any addiction in the brain. It is important when addressing
addiction to consider the addictive nature and how it can
move across the board from substances into processes and back
again.
Substances can include:
- Alcohol
- Drugs: amphetamines, caffeine, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens,
inhalants, nicotine, opiates (street drugs or prescription
drugs)
- Food
Processes can be:
- Food; restrictive eating, compulsive eating, binging
and purging.
- Gambling
- Internet use
- Money & Finances
- Sexual activity; anonymous sex, pornography, strip clubs,
compulsive masturbation, multiple partners, prostitutes
- Love addiction; infidelity, obsession with partner (stalking
type behavior), relationship after relationship, being in
love with love
- Work
- Exercise
- Religion
Relationships can be:
- Co-dependency
- Co-sex addict
- Traumatic bonding relationships
- Love
- Romance
What may start out as casual use or activity soon becomes
compulsive and a demand. You tend to schedule your activities
around the behavior or the planning for the behavior. Many
report the preoccupation with planning is more stimulating
and exciting than actually completing the event. You may become
so preoccupied with your desire that it is hard to focus on
anything else; you find your mind wandering back to the compulsive
behavior. You attempt to control your behavior with rules;
limiting use or abstaining without a support group.
Once you remove yourself from the self-defeating addiction
pattern you can reassess your life and see what really needs
to change; maybe you are lonely, insecure or feel you lack
confidence and alcohol helps you feel confident and makes
it easier to meet people. Addictions will always have a major
downside; hangovers, health issues, financial problems,legal
problems, loss of relationships, loss of employment or careers
just to name a few.
If you are not certain if you have an addiction stop the
behavior for 6 months (or even 3 months) and see how you feel,
see if there is a difference in the quality of your life.
If you cannot stop the alcohol, drugs, gambling or
whatever your compulsive behavior than it's a good guess it
is at least a problem if not an addiction. People
who don't have issues with compulsivity can stop the behaviors
for 6 months, they may have cravings at times but do not struggle
with urges.
If you want to know more about your behaviors: contact me,
contact an expert in addiction in your area, talk with a psychotherapist,
M.D., social worker or psychologist who specializes in addiction
or attend a 12-step meeting and see if you find people talking
about situations and experiences that you have had.
12-step programs offer support and assistance for free or
a small donation.
Support for Friends & Family Members
- Al
anon –support for family members and friends of
problem drinkers.
- Adult Children
of Alcoholics (ACA) – support for
those who grew up in alcoholic or dysfunctional homes.
- Codependents
Anonymous -
12-step program for women and men seeking support to learn
how to have healthy relationships.
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