Signs And Symptoms Of Addiction
Whether the substance involved is crack cocaine or alcohol or a behavior such as gambling, the common denominator of all addictions is continued use despite the development of negative consequenceswhether to self, relationships, finances, school or work performanceand the inability to control use. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , which shuns the term addiction , instead prefers the term substance use disorder, and categorizes 10 distinct such conditions depending on type of drug involvedfor example, Alcohol Use Disorder Stimulant Use Disorder, including use of cocaine Opioid Use Disorder, including heroin. The DSM notes that all 10 produce such an intense activation of the reward system that normal activities may be neglected.
How each type of drug acts in the body is different, but the behavioral symptoms, including those associated with gambling, all overlap. Another common feature is the persistence of changes in brain circuitry beyond any detoxification period studies show that it can take months or more after stopping use for the brain to rewire itself to respond to normal rewards.
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What Are The Types
According to U.K. charity Action on Addiction, 1 in 3 people in the world have an addiction of some kind. Addiction can come in the form of any substance or behavior.
The most well-known and serious addiction is to drugs and alcohol. Nearly 1 in 10 Americans have an addiction to both. Of the people with a drug addiction, more than two-thirds also abuse alcohol.
The most common drug addictions are:
- nicotine, found in tobacco
Technology, sex, and work addictions are not recognized as addictions by the American Psychiatric Association in their most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Some habits or social behaviors look like addiction. But in the case of an addiction, a person will typically react negatively when they dont get their reward. For example, someone addicted to coffee can experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms such as severe headaches and irritability.
Most signs of addiction relate to a persons impaired ability to maintain self-control. This includes changes that are:
- social, such as seeking out situations that encourage a substance or behavior
- behavioral, such increased secrecy
- health related, such as insomnia or memory loss
- related to personality
Someone with an addition wont stop their behavior, even if they recognize the problems the addiction is causing. In some cases, theyll also display a lack of control, like using more than intended.
What Are The Signs That Someone Has A Sexual Addiction
Sex is definitely an important part of life, and many people feel that its one of lifes greatest pleasures. Its normal to desire sex, and everyone has a sex drive. However, some people become addicted to sex, and they seek it out to the detriment of their own health. There are many people out there who dont take sexual addiction seriously enough. Having a sexual addiction is very tough, and it makes it so that a person has a hard time focusing on anything except sex. As you might expect, this can lead to various problems in life, and some have even ruined relationships due to sexual addiction.
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You Feel You Need It To Deal With Your Problems
Alongside what Psychology Today calls the craving or compulsion to keep doing an addictive thing, there is often another motivator: the belief in its necessity to your functioning. The most common reason that addicts refuse to seek treatment, according to a study of 2.8 million drug users, is that theyre not ready to stop using, at a whopping 38.8 percent. Life without the addiction seems terrifying and impossible it has become one of the only reliable ways to deal with your issues and life in general, and you arent prepared to try to experience the world without it.
How The Adderall Is Being Stored
Instead of the person keeping their medication at home with other medications, loose Adderall pills might appear in their vehicles, pockets, plastic baggies, cellophane from cigarette packs, or other unusual places. This may occur because the person feels like that have to take their medication more often, or because they have purchased the pills illegally.
Sometimes, a person struggling with Adderall addiction may have several prescription pill bottles without labels, or the labels have different names on them. They also may keep Adderall inside other medication bottles.
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How Do I Fix An Emotionally Draining Relationship
Youre not helpless when it comes to people that are exhausting to be around. Finding the strength and courage to establish clear boundaries, speak up for yourself, and make decisions that will help you feel more fulfilled in your life is possible.
Here are some helpful tools that can help you heal and end the cycle of emotionally draining relationships:
- Acknowledge your feelings: Take a few moments to sit with yourself and identify your feelings in the relationship. Acknowledging where youre at will help you determine how to move forward.
- Set clear boundaries: Establishing healthy limits is essential, especially when it comes to emotionally draining relationships. Determine what you are and are not willing to do and communicate that with the other person.
- Dont be afraid to say no: It can be challenging to break away from people who drain your energy, but its important to remember that its ok to say no if something doesnt feel right for you.
- Seek out support: Its essential to have a strong support system when dealing with emotionally draining people. Surround yourself with positive friends and family who can cheer you on and offer advice when needed.
- Practice self-care: Taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional needs is essential for maintaining healthy relationships with other people. Is an emotionally draining personality trying to take away your self-care time? Return to bullet 2, set clear boundaries.
Anger Is A Common Response
Anger is an emotion that masks other emotions. So if someone doesnt have the competency to deal with challenging emotions, they might lash out in anger.
Explosive emotions can be a sign of an unhealthy coping mechanism, which could mean that the friend cannot deal with their emotions effectively.
And in return, they are dumping on you, which is extremely emotionally draining.
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They Constantly Seek Affirmation And Attention
Sometimes it can be exhausting to continually let a person know youre paying attention to them.
If your friend, partner, or family member always asks you if they look good or are doing something the right way, it shows that they are looking for constant validation.
You may start to feel like you need to be their cheerleader, constantly giving them affirmation and compliments. It may also begin to feel like theyre never content, no matter what you say.
Patterns Of Addiction With Adderall Abuse
People who struggle with addiction tend to spend a lot of time seeking the drug they are abusing. As tolerance develops a person will likely use more of the drug. When they begin to take more of the drug, the person may run out of their supply.
If the person abusing Adderall is prescribed the stimulant, they will likely run out of their prescription before they are supposed to. This can lead to some uncharacteristic patterns of drug seeking, such as:
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Get Help Today With New Directions For Women
Dealing with addiction is difficult for the entire family. Addiction makes people act uncharacteristically, which is upsetting and confusing. If your loved one is hiding drug addiction, the best approach is to confront them while letting them know you are here to support them in recovery.
New Directions for Women can help you or a loved one find and enroll in a treatment program. Our proven treatments will give you the best opportunity to find peace and recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, please contact us today.
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Addiction To Prescription Drugs
Many people associate drug abuse with illegal drugs such as cocaine or heroin. But addiction is far more common with prescription medications such as sleeping pills and tranquilizers. Drug dependence, which can be psychological or physical, is an uncontrollable desire to experience the pleasurable effects of a drug or to prevent the unpleasant effects of withdrawal.
Your body can build up a tolerance to a drug so that the dose must be increased to achieve the same results. This effect is called drug tolerance. It is characteristic of most commonly abused drugs, including alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine. Commonly abused prescription and over-the-counter medicines include opioids such as hydrocodone and oxycodone , sleep medicines such as zolpidem and eszopiclone , and stimulants such as methylphenidate .
When a person becomes physically dependent on a prescription medicine, the body has adapted to the drugs effects so much that stopping it causes withdrawal symptoms. The only way to get free of it is to slowly use less and less, under a doctors supervision, to prevent severe symptoms of withdrawal.
In a small number of people , addictive behavior can develop during treatment with narcotics or tranquilizers. In these circumstances, supportive counseling combined with careful monitoring of prescribed dosages may be necessary to prevent addiction.
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How Do You Overcome An Addiction
There are many effective treatment options that can help people break free of addiction. Healthcare providers can prescribe medications that can help reduce cravings for certain substances and minimize the uncomfortable effects of withdrawal.
Psychotherapy, rehabilitation centers, 12-step programs, and support groups can also help aid in recovery from addiction. Online options are also available, including websites and apps designed to help people overcome addiction.
They Are Scared To Be Alone
When someone is addicted to something or someone, they rely on that addiction to get through each day. This mentality leaves the person thinking that they couldnt live without you. This fear of being alone creates a dependency on you that is unhealthy and destructive to both individuals independence. So when this happens, it could put a toll in the relationship.
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What Are The Signs Of Having A Problem With Drugs
Addiction can happen at any age, but it usually starts when a person is young. Its the result of changes in the brain that can come from drug use. Addiction affects how people think and what they do. But what exactly are the signs?
First, its important to know that there is no type of person who becomes addicted. People can face addiction no matter where theyre from, what they look like, or how much money they have.
One important sign of addiction is that a person continues to use drugs even though its harming their life: physical health, performance at school or work, or relationships. They feel like they cant stop using drugs, no matter what happens.
Other signs can include:
- Hanging out with different friends than usual.
- Not caring about their appearance.
- Getting lower grades in school.
- Missing classes or skipping school.
- Losing interest in their favorite activities.
- Getting in trouble in school or with the law.
- Having different eating or sleeping habits.
- Having more problems with family members and friends.
Determining The Right Approach
Ideally, all those facing substance misuse and abuse should have access to treatment programs that can help individuals find sobriety and maintain it.
If youre desperate for assistance, contact us today for 24/7 support at 855-288-5588. Speak with one of our qualified admission staff members about concerns youre experiencing and wed be happy to offer some supportive suggestions and give you additional information for the programs we offer.
If you choose to approach your significant other on their possible drug use, here are a few pointers. First, understand that addiction is a disease that can often overtake an individual without warning and can have a tremendous impact on their physical and mental health. Experienced addiction therapists suggest finding a strategy for approaching the situation. Some tips include: avoid nagging, lecturing, begging, or criticizing. Try to find a private moment to discuss your concerns. Omit blame-angry language, and focus, on specific instances that have affected you. Be truthful and honest, and ask questions about what they may be feeling or experiencing.
Above all else, be compassionate and understanding. Substance misuse and addiction can make an individual feel alone and isolated. Finding time to speak with them directly, even if not immediately helpful, can assure them that theres possibility for recovery and that they are loved and cared for.
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What Are Physical Signs Of Addiction
Addiction can reveal itself in physical signs, as well as psychological and behavioral ones, although they are not diagnostically specific for the condition. Substance users may have dilated pupils or glazed eyes, slurred speech, and ramble when they talk. They can show changes in movement patternsdepending on the type of substance involved, psychomotor retardation or jumpiness . Substances users often become so preoccupied with getting and using that they forego eating and suddenly lose weight. Another sign of addiction is a shift in sleep and wake patternssleeping too much or too little, or at unusual times.
Signs And Symptoms Of Drug Addiction How To Tell If Someone Needs Help For A Drug Problem
Nzinga Harrison
Understanding the science behind addiction can be complicated. Some people might think that people become addicted if they dont have any willpower or good morals. In actuality, addiction is a complex and chronic brain disease that can affect people from all backgrounds. It can happen to anyone at any age.
Not everyone who uses drugs becomes addicted because drugs have a different effect on everyone. Some people use drugs experimentally on occasion in a social setting. However, if usage becomes more regular, some people lose the ability to control when and how much they are using. Over time, drugs change behavior and how the brain, body, and mind function. This is how drug addiction, medically known as substance use disorder, develops. These changes can be long-lasting and cause stressful problems like missing work, legal issues, physical health problems, and trouble with family and friends.
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Doctor Shopping For Adderall Prescriptions
A person struggling with Adderall addiction who is doctor shopping will usually take many trips to different doctors in an attempt to gain access to several different prescriptions for Adderall at the same time. During the appointments, the individual may fake symptoms or pretend existing symptoms are worse than they truly are.
They do this to get a higher milligram dosage, a prescription for more pills at once, or they may be trying to make sure they get the prescription at all. The person also will visit different pharmacies in an attempt to fill these Adderall prescriptions at one time.
They Never Understand Where Youre Coming From
Do you struggle with relating to this person on an emotional level? If they never seem to get where youre coming from and cant empathize with how you feel, it could be a sign that they are emotionally draining.
You may find yourself constantly explaining why something is important to you or why something hurts your feelings. But the other person just cant seem to understand.
Constant misunderstandings could signify that they are taking more than giving in the relationship and leaving you feeling unsupported and unheard.
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What Is Samhsa’s National Helpline
SAMHSAs National Helpline, , or TTY: is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
Also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message: 435748 to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service.
Understanding The Signs Of Addiction
A drug addiction or alcohol use disorder can be difficult to identify without understanding the signs of addiction. Substance use disorders can change the way people look, how they act and how they feel, and the symptoms of drug abuse can be physical, behavioral and psychological in nature.
Not everyone who uses drugs or alcohol has a substance abuse problem. However, about 10% of Americans struggle with substance abuse. Understanding the signs and symptoms of drug addiction is the first step towards getting help.
Fortunately for concerned family members and friends, many characteristics of addiction are easy to identify, and many types of drug addictions share similar signs and symptoms. If someone can recognize the symptoms of addiction, they may be able to help a friend or family member who struggles with this disease.
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Environmental Signs Of A Drug Problem
Unusual Smells. Some drugs, like alcohol, marijuana, crack, or meth, have distinct smells that individuals may try to cover up. Repeated and constant use will be hard to disguise. You may notice those smells on their clothes, in their car or bedroom, or on their breath or skin.
Finding Drug Paraphernalia. If you find smoking devices, needles, oil vaporizers, or stashes of different devices needed for drug use, you may want to discuss with your loved one what those items are and why they have them.
Deodorizers or Incense to Cover Up Smells. Some drugs have very strong smells. You may notice this person spraying areas such as their room or car, wearing very strong cologne or perfume, or even burning candles and incense to cover it. This is concerning especially if this is a new behavior.
