Addiction levels are on the rise and many addictive behaviors (such as alcohol, food, and social media) are considered normal parts of life, making it difficult to know if your habit is truly addictive or simply something you like!
There are a lot of different things we can get addicted to. Some of these are substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs (for example, opiates, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and tranquilizers) or illicit versions (for example, crystal methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ketamine and others) commonly prescribed drugs.
Many of these substances are physically addictive, which means that their chemical makeup causes the body and brain to depend on them, and dangerous withdrawals can occur if you try to stop using them all at once. If you are addicted to physically addictive substances, it is essential that you get help from your healthcare professional or a rehabilitation service such as Recovery of the green branch in New Jersey.
Not all addictions are physically addictive substances, and many addictions are not about substances at all but about behaviors. Behaviors such as gambling, binge eating, sex, pornography, social media, or video games can be highly addictive. This form of addiction is known as “psychological” rather than physical addiction.
Many substances and behaviors are harmless or even healthy in moderation; developing a psychological addiction to anything can be destructive and negatively impact your life. Addiction can be psychological, physical, or in some cases both. This article will use the term “behaviors” to refer to anything you might be addicted to, whether it be a substance or an action.
If you’re unsure whether or not your habit has become addictive, here are five questions to ask yourself.
How often do you adopt your behaviors?
How often you practice your behaviors and to what extent may indicate addiction. For example, someone who drinks a few drinks of alcohol once or twice a week is much less likely to be addicted than someone who drinks daily. However, some drug addicts can go a long time without using, but finally go into an uncontrollable “flex” when they finally do.
Have you ever lied about your behavior?
Lying about your behavior can happen for a variety of reasons. For example, someone who claims to his partner that he does not use pornography or that he has only had a drink or two with his friends is not necessarily an addict! However, if this happens repeatedly and consistently, it may indicate an addiction.
Do you rely on your behavior to make you feel happy or confident?
Alcohol, food, video games, sex, and other behaviors generally make people feel pleasureat least in the short term. However, there is a difference between experiencing something that makes you happy and to count on this thing to make you happy!
Have your behaviors caused serious problems in your life?
Serious problems in your life that can be caused by addictive behaviors include financial difficulties, relationships, family disputes, and even legal issues.
Did you give up things that were important to you in order to continue your behaviors?
One of the most telling signs of addiction is that behavior becomes more important than anything else. If you’ve found yourself giving up previously important things like friendships, relationships, hobbies, exercise, or making sure you pay your bills for behavior, you might be addicted.
Conclusion
The answers to these questions are only indicators of whether or not you have a problem. You can answer “yes” to many of these questions, but not meet the medical criteria for a patient. addiction, or you can answer “yes” to only one or even none of these questions and still meet the criteria.
This checklist is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis. If you want a definitive answer, you should always consult a healthcare professional.
Interesting related article: “What is drug addiction?” “