The term addictions is most commonly associated with drug and alcohol addiction, however
truth is that millions of people suffer from all kinds of addictions. Some of these addictions are related to some form of chemical dependency such as alcohol, controlled substances and even prescriptions drugs. Other addictions are related to compulsive types of behavior such as gambling, shopping, food disorders and eating, sex and even
Internet.One of
most important things to recognize about any type of addiction, regardless of whether it is a chemical addition or a behavioral addiction; is that it is not a matter of choice. Individuals who are addicts do not have
ability to simply decide to stop abusing their ‘drug’ of choice. Addictions affect not only
user, but their family and friends as well.
So, what is an addiction? How does it begin and when does a pattern of behavior become an addiction? Some individuals seem to have
ability to use a substance or engage in a behavior periodically over a period of years without becoming ‘hooked.’ Others; however are not capable of stopped and become addicted.
Addictions affect all social and educational groups. There is no typical addict.
The causes of addiction have been studied for a number of years. In many ways, addiction is caused by
feeling that
substance or behavior brings about in
user. The body, and mind, becomes dependent on that feeling and seeks to maintain it.
There are addiction risk factors that make some people more likely than others to become addicts. Studies indicate that in some cases addictions can be hereditary. The child of an alcoholic may not grow up to become an alcoholic, however; they become addicted to gambling or some other type of compulsive behavior as an adult. Besides heredity, individuals who grow up in families with abuse, neglect and who are impoverished and undereducated are more likely to become addicts than those who do not.
For most addicts, it can be extremely difficult to recognize that what they have associated as simply a habit is actually an addiction. While every individual and addiction is different there are some symptoms that are prevalent among most addicts and addictions.