Addiction
There are many definitions of addiction and many things that a person can become addicted to. While most people think of drugs and alcohol when they think of addiction, a person may develop an addiction to almost anything. Some examples include drugs and alcohol, food, shopping, television, the Internet, exercise, sex, relationships, gambling, etc.
A general definition of addiction is that it is a chronic illness where the person experiences a loss of control over behavior and experiences interference or problems in major life areas like school, family, friends, sports, work, breaking laws, etc. However, at its most basic level addiction involves a loss of control. Addiction can be further broken down into three main types.
1) Physical Addiction Most commonly associated with drug and alcohol use. Over time the body develops tolerance to drugs and alcohol. This means that the body adapts to the regular presence of a substance and it therefore takes more of the substance to create the same effect. This also means that when the substance is not in the body, the body misses the substance and experiences withdrawal.
Example A person begins drinking alcohol socially. Over time they begin to use alcohol more often and in greater quantities. As their body develops a tolerance to alcohol they must increase the amount they drink to reach the same level of intoxication. As tolerance continues to increase they begin to experience withdrawal and craving when they do not drink.
2) Psychological Addiction This can be thought of as a habit. The more a behavior is repeated the more automatic it becomes for a person and is therefore more likely to be repeated.
Example If the person in the example above stops drinking alcohol they will experience physical withdrawal for a period of several weeks. However, the physical cravings will stop in time as their body adjusts to not having alcohol. Unfortunately, their craving for alcohol may continue long after the physical withdrawal has ended. This is due to the psychological addiction to alcohol. Certain situations may increase the psychological cravings. For example, if they always had a drink with dinner they may crave a drink at dinnertime or going to a bar with friends may increase their desire for a drink.
3) Process Addiction This occurs when a person loses control over an activity that they enjoy. It is similar to a psychological addition. However, it is the process of the activity that the person becomes addicted to and which can eventually become harmful to them.
Example A person who enjoys shopping finds that shopping is both enjoyable and relieves stress. Over time, they begin to shop whenever they feel stressed and may buy things they do not need, just for the feeling of relief that shopping gives them. They may continue this behavior despite financial problems resulting from excessive shopping and other negative consequences.
Often, an addiction may be a combination of types, such as the example of alcohol, which had both physical and psychological components. The distinctions between the three types of addiction may be helpful in understanding the origin of the addiction and suggest a method of treatment. However, people sometimes use these distinctions to deny that they have an addiction and avoid or delay seeking help. For example, a person who does not show strong symptoms of withdrawal when they stop drinking alcohol may use this as a reason or excuse why they do not have a problem despite the fact that everyone around them feels they have lost control over their drinking and they have experienced other negative consequences associated with their drinking.
An important aspect of any addiction is denial. Denial is a psychological phenomenon or defense mechanism that allows the person suffering from an addiction to refuse to accept or acknowledge the adverse effects of their behavior. This is why everyone around them is aware of their destruction and loss of control, but the addict still denies any problems. He or she blames everything and everyone else for their problems, except the substance or behavior that is the source of their addiction.
In order to avoid this trap, it is often helpful to remember the basic definition of addiction, a loss of control. If a person is not able to control their behavior, this indicates a problem. When looked at this way, people are empowered to seek help sooner rather than later. This can be especially helpful in their treatment since the problem may be addressed in the earlier stages of its development and therefore be easier to overcome.
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