Addiction Facts - Your Online Source for Information on Addiction
Addiction Facts - The What, The Who and The Why?
Addiction facts can address a number of topics, including what addiction is, who is most likely to get addicted and why addiction happens. Not to mention the variety of things people become addicted to. Here's a quick review that breaks addiction down into easy to understand parts.
Addiction Facts - The What
Addiction is defined as having a physical or psychological need for something that is so overwhelming that it cannot be controlled. An addicted person gradually loses the ability to manage their own behavior when it comes to addiction. This almost always results in problems, with negative effects on relationships, finances, jobs, health and more.
Addictions can be physical or psychological. A physical addiction occurs most often with substances like alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or caffeine. Physical addiction happens when the body becomes dependent on a certain substance. Some substances, like heroine, cocaine and nicotine have very powerful addictive qualities and can quickly lead to an addiction problem.
A psychological addiction dwells in the mind, is closely associated with feelings and occurs most commonly with activities such as gambling, exercise, eating and sex. Psychological addictions have the same physical effect on the body as physical addictions - the body begins to require the activity.
Addiction Facts - The Who
Virtually anyone can become an addict. Addiction knows no discrimination against age, race or sex, and people of all educational levels and financial backgrounds can become addicted to both substances and activities.
There are some common denominators that are found in people who become addicted. Since both addictive substances and behaviors are frequently used as an escape from a negative situation or uncomfortable feeling, it is not surprising that many addicts live a life high in anxiety or the perception of it.
Addiction Facts - The Why
Most of the time, an addiction starts with a good feeling or an escape from a reality that is unsatisfying or uncomfortable. A person feels shy when they are out in public, so they have a drink or two. The alcohol seems to alleviate their discomfort and soon becomes a part of all of their social interactions. Before long, they have to up their intake in order to get the same feeling, and over time an addiction develops. Substitute addictive drugs for the alcohol and you get the same result.
This is also true for addictive behaviors like gambling, where the person continually seeks out the euphoria of winning. Once gambling becomes an addiction, the addict will forfeit every penny they have just for the chance to feel that feeling again. This is why addiction is so destructive. Because the addictive person will stop at nothing to get the relief they are so desperately looking for.
The most important thing to remember about addiction is that it is curable, and healing requires the addicted person to realize that they have a problem and need help. Once that hurdle is overcome, determination, therapy and a strong support group can help an addict change their thinking and end their body's physical dependence on whatever they may be addicted to.