Understanding addiction

Addiction is a difficult concept to understand, let alone cope with. A taboo issue, even in the 21st century’s society. Hence addicted people tend to feel outcasts, or renounce society because of their mistreatment from their social environment. Their social environment, on the other side, does not know how to deal with them either, which leads to an internal fear, doubt, and reservation towards people with the hard reality of addiction. A de facto vicious circle, which comes from ignorance and stereotypes of an archaic status quo. As it is a social issue of major importance, it is essential to educate oneself on addiction.

What is addiction?

Addiction is a chronic relapsing condition, abuse of a substance or a behavior (like excessive use of the internet, gambling, or sex), that is different to each person and is affected by psychological, social, and biological factors, as well as with the addict’s own life experiences. It is beyond the control of the addict to terminate the addiction, as the urges are constant and strong, depending on the level of addiction. There is a difference between overindulging in a substance or behavior and having an addiction, as a user has to fill certain criteria to qualify as an addiction.

What are the criteria for a Substance Use Disorder (SUD)?

  • Taking the substance for longer amounts of time and increasingly larger amounts
  • Difficulty in cutting down or stop using the substance
  • Need to spend time recovering
  • Having cravings and urges for the substance
  • Not managing to do what one wants to do at work, school, home
  • Continuing to use despite negative effects
  • Not attending important social events
  • Needing more and more of the substance to reach the wanted effects
  • Developing withdrawal symptoms

Of course, the effects of the SUDs can develop in an addict whose addiction is a behavior, apart from the biological effects.

In general, addiction can be characterized by the three Cs:

Compulsion

Loss of Control

Continued Use and Contact despite Negative Consequences

*It is significant to note that not all users become addicts. That depends on biopsychosocial factors that differ from person to person, as some people are more vulnerable to substances and/or may have predispositions*

Furthermore, it is time to break the taboo: an addict is a human and it is only humane that people snap. Addicts are not weak or worthless. They should be treated with dignity. If one has never been an addict, then they could never understand the torment of an addict and the reasons why they are seeking refuge in substances or behaviors. The worst thing that deteriorates their illness is being the objects of fear, pity, anger, or hate. Even judgement, as people often neglect the fact that it can happen to people in all walks of life, all ages, social and economic environments. For instance, 17% of adults over the age of 60 have a SUD in the United States, which is worsened by illnesses that are usual in the elderly, like dementia, diabetes, and even depression. Many older people have access to medication and the problems that they may face may appear more bearable after consuming larger substances of it. 

Additionally, rehabilitation is a linear process. It could take years for an addict to recover and a lot of relapsing incidents. It is a natural response of the body and a part of the rehabilitation process.

What all people need to remember is that they should treat addiction with carefulness. One can never know what may trigger a negative or even a disastrous response from the addict. For this reason, one should never use a patronizing tone with them. It is a professional’s job to help them, so it is better to pace along and help indirectly, in a way that does not get in the way of the treatment. Lastly, one must always appreciate progress, even if it is slow. Progress is still progress. 

In conclusion, an addict is precarious and in need of help. This does not mean that the change that help may bring can be forced or dictated because there is often an underlying psychological trauma that could take years to deal with.

For more information on the subject, I have provided a few links to Greek websites:

Helpline for internet addiction:

Πόσο χρήσιμο ήταν αυτό το άρθρο για εσένα?

Αξιολόγησέ το, επιλέγοντας τη φατσούλα που επιθυμείς!

Μέσος όρος: 5 / 5. Ψήφοι: 4

Καμία ψήφος μέχρι στιγμής! Αξιολόγησέ το πρώτος/η.

Λυπούμαστε πολύ που αυτό το άρθρο δεν ήταν χρήσιμο για εσένα!

Βοήθησέ μας να βελτιώσουμε αυτό το άρθρο!

Πες μας, πως μπορούμε να βελτιώσουμε αυτό το άρθρο?

Δημοσιεύσεις

Είμαι από το πανέμορφο Ρέθυμνο της Κρήτης το οποίο γνώρισα στο τέλος του 2001. Σπουδάζω στο τμήμα αγγλικής γλώσσας και φιλολογίας στο ΑΠΘ και μου αρέσει να μαθαίνω καινούργια πράγματα, να φοράω τα γυαλάκια μου και να γράφω με τις ώρες. Πιστεύω στον Υπαρξισμό, φτιάχνω τέλεια μαρμελάδα και είμαι υπέρ της άποψης ότι μπορώ ωραιότατα να συνδυάσω έργα της Jane Austen με το Star Wars ή με το Indiana Jones (μεγάλη αγάπη ο Indy), τον Chopin με τους The Doors. Κοινώς το ποιά είμαι είναι μπερδεμένο σαν το πουλόβερ που μου ξήλωσε ο γάτος μου.

Σχετικά θέματα: addiction // psychology // rehabilitation // substance // SUD // talk english to me // tambook // tambook.gr

Μπορεί επίσης να σας αρέσει

0 Σχόλια

Υποβάλετε ένα Σχόλιο

Η ηλ. διεύθυνση σας δεν δημοσιεύεται. Τα υποχρεωτικά πεδία σημειώνονται με *

Εγγράψου τώρα στο Newsletter μας

Εγγράψου τώρα στο Newsletter μας

Με την εγγραφή σου στη λίστα θα μαθαίνεις πρώτος τα νέα μας.

Η εγγραφή σου ολοκληρώθηκε με επιτυχία!

Share This