Addiction is a complex brain disorder characterized by compulsive and repetitive use of certain substances or an engagement in certain repetitive behaviors or activities. This compulsion usually results in dependence on that particular substance or behavior as well as an inability to get rid of it despite psychological or physical harm to self. A few examples of substance addiction are Drug addiction, Alcohol addiction, smoking, etc. Examples of behavioral addiction are Gaming addiction, Gambling, Internet addiction, Food addiction, Sexual addiction, etc.
People could begin to take drugs and other substances or even engage in certain activities or behaviours for one of the following reasons
- to experience a feeling of “high” or intense pleasure
- to improve performance
- to relax or relieve stress
- peer pressure
Prolonged addiction can result in structural and functional changes in the areas of brain that are responsible for judgement, memory, behaviour control, learning and decision making. Eventually you lose self-control and feel as though you cannot function normally in your day to day activities. This can adversely impact the various aspects of your physical and professional life, in turn, overall health. If left untreated, it could even be fatal.
Signs & Symptoms
If you are experiencing addiction, you could be displaying one or more of the following signs and symptoms
- Loss of self control to resist the addiction
- An intense craving or desire for the substance or behaviour every day or several times through the day
- Loss of interest in activities that do not involve the substance or behaviour
- Failure to fulfill responsibilities at home, school or work. You may also have strained relationships with family or friends; especially those who identify your dependency on the substance or behaviour
- Engaging in increasingly risky behaviors such as lie, steal or even drive when under the influence. You could also be spending money on the addiction even if you cannot afford it, thus leading to financial trouble.
- Spending more time alone or avoiding social gatherings
- Serious changes or worsening of hygiene and personal appearance
Treatment
All types of addiction are treatable. The first step to treatment is to identify and acknowledge the problem. A constant support of family, friends and community helps in a better and faster recovery. It also helps to prevent a relapse in the future. The various treatment methods to manage drug addiction include:
Medications
Behavioral or Cognitive therapy and Psychological counseling
Medical devices to treat the withdrawal symptoms as well as other associated symptoms resulting from the drug overuse
Self-help and support groups
The best treatment is a combination of medications and ongoing psychological counseling. The best psychological treatment is personalized for every individual. An excellent way of achieving this is to seek online psychological treatment with the team of Online Psychologists Happy n Healthys. The very well trained & experienced team of counselors at Happy n Healthys help the addicted individuals control their drug cravings, understand their behaviour and motivations, cope better with stress and develop a higher self esteem that will help them interact better socially and professionally.
Our approach
Life can be a struggle and is full of situations that test human strength and perseverance. People may be going through a difficult time at work, or having trouble with their partner, they may not be doing well in their studies and may be dealing with the loss of a loved one. There’s a saying that goes, “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times…” It goes to show that we must rise above the stressful times we are all facing.
People have different coping mechanisms to deal with addiction; some listen to music, some isolate themselves, some talk with themselves or with someone they trust, some take a break from work or go on holiday. All of these are methods that help to a certain degree. However, to truly be a master of your addiction response, it is always best to reach out to a Therapist that can help.
Services
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress Management
- Couple Counselling
- Child Psychology
- Bipolar Disorder
- Addiction
- Phobia
- OCD
- Anger Control
- ADHD
- Self Improvement
- Work Place Pressure
