Addiction Beyond Drugs and Alcohol

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When you think of addiction, you might picture hard substance abuse; when you think of rehab, you may imagine services that help someone stop using intensely addictive drugs like heroin or methamphetamine. In truth, the scope of addiction stretches far beyond the most clear-cut examples. Not every addictive substance is made illicitly and sold in a nightclub. It may surprise you how many people become addicted to things you might think of as safe parts of your daily life. As you learn about the varieties of addiction, remember that the people who struggle with it aren’t always as identifiable as you might expect.

Addiction to Eating

Cravings and hunger are different things. Cravings are when you experience the urge to eat despite being full. It’s normal to start craving something sweet after you’ve eaten a filling, nutritious meal. That’s the whole basis for the existence of dessert, and if satisfied in moderation, there’s nothing too dangerous about indulging in a sweet tooth. Having cravings after a meal doesn’t indicate the presence of food addiction.

In some cases, however, food cravings can get out of hand. If your cravings happen all the time and become increasingly harder to satisfy, you may be dealing with a problem. These cravings have nothing to do with the body’s need for energy or nutrients. They indicate that your brain is looking for a source of dopamine, the brain chemical that affects how you feel pleasure. Like with other forms of addiction, this can develop into an all-or-nothing perspective that leaves no room for moderation. Telling someone with a food addiction to only eat unhealthy foods in moderation is like telling someone with a drinking problem to only drink alcohol in moderation: it doesn’t work, because the person is slowly losing control over their ability to moderate themselves. Without help, a person can start eating more and more, regardless of the detrimental effects on their health, self-confidence, finances, or relationships.

Addiction to Gambling

As with other addictions, being addicted to gambling means that you battle the prolonged urge to wager your money, no matter what sort of impact it may have on your life. People with gambling addictions may be willing to risk everything they own in the hope of winning the ultimate jackpot and achieving that mythical explosion of euphoria. Gambling can stimulate the brain similarly to drugs and alcohol, causing someone to continuously turn to it in pursuit of increasing exhilaration. It can cause you to spend increasing amounts of time engaged in gambling over your other affairs, hide your behavior, and accrue extreme debt. Although finding treatment for a gambling addiction might not be as easy as finding resources for drug abuse, the help is out there.

Just like with consistent substance abuse, a gambling addiction can cause a person to need to put more and more money on the line to achieve the same thrill they got when they first began. You might start having to find creative or even harmful ways of obtaining more money to feed your gambling habit. Also, like substance addiction, you may notice feelings of intense restlessness or irritability when trying to cut back on gambling. While a gambling addiction might not destroy your body as substance abuse can, it can cause you to lose your home, your family, and your most valuable possessions. Addiction makes you chase an illusory high that you can never catch. Being addicted to gambling means you’ll never be satisfied, and could ultimately lose everything.

Anything Can Be Addictive

Sex, the internet, even exercise – pretty much anything that functions as a source of pleasure can become habit-forming under the right circumstances. From food to alcohol to gambling, some people are simply psychologically wired to be more susceptible to addiction. While the scientific evidence behind the “addictive personality” idea is inconclusive, it has shown that some people are more likely to seek external pleasure and satisfaction and that a variety of environmental factors can contribute to the frequency and intensity of addiction.

It can be easy to follow your social inclination to mind your own business or write off potential concerns you have about your friends’ or family’s behaviors. Don’t assume that someone has it all together just because they are staying afloat, holding a good job, or are married. If you feel an instinctual uneasiness about certain behaviors, don’t just write it off as harmless. Addiction can form in anyone, to a great variety of sources, so keep your focus sharp and take the first step in reaching out for help if you think you or a loved one might have a serious problem.

Addiction can appear in many more ways than simply being unable to stop drinking. People across the country struggle with addiction who have never once indulged in drugs or alcohol. Whether it be food, sex, the internet, gambling, or even exercise, addiction is a personal disease that requires personalized treatment. If you or a family member are showing signs of a struggle with addiction, reach out for professional help as soon as possible. No matter what habits you’re trying to break, Kimberly Center can provide the treatment and guidance you need to overcome the cycle of addiction and build a better life. Fighting addiction on your own can be an intense, lifelong challenge. From detox to continuing care, our expert staff can direct you towards the most effective possible solutions and ensure your safety and success in recovery. To learn more about how our services can help you to beat addiction, reach out to us at (855) 452-3683.

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