Understanding Addiction

What do you mean by Addiction?


It is a compulsive, chronic, physiological or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects and typically causing well-defined symptoms (such as anxiety, irritability, tremors, or nausea) upon withdrawal or abstinence : the state of being addicted.


What are some common symptoms of Addictions?


Some common symptoms of Addictions are:

1.Activities centering on the addiction in a way that negatively affects relationships, school, and work.

2.A preoccupation with the addiction and spending a lot of time on planning, engaging in, and recovering from the addictive behavior.

3.Changes in energy, such as being unexpectedly and extremely tired or energetic.

4.Difficulty cutting down or controlling the addictive behavior.

5.Extreme mood changes

6.Physical changes including increased illness and changes in weight

7.Sleeping a lot more or less than usual, or at different times of the day or night.

8.Tolerance, which involves the need to engage in the addictive behavior more and more to get the desired effect.

9.Withdrawal, when the person does not take the substance or engage in the activity/don't do the thing which they are addicted to, they may experience unpleasant symptoms.

How might addiction affect our day to day lives?

-Problems at school/university or work — frequently missing school or work, a sudden disinterest in school activities or work, or a drop in grades or work performance.

-Physical health issues — lack of energy and motivation, excessive energy, weight loss or gain, or red eyes, vomiting, seizures

-Neglected appearance — lack of interest in clothing, grooming or looks. -Changes in behavior — exaggerated efforts to bar family members from entering their room or being secretive about where they go with friends; or drastic changes in behavior and in relationships with family and friends etc.

What are the some ways in which we can try to break the cycle of Addiction and go towards the path of recovery from Addiction?


Breaking the cycle of addiction can be frightening. One of the most vital aspects of abstaining from an addiction is by having a solid support system. Tell your friends and family that you are actively working on recovering from your addiction and ask for support in doing so. Sometimes that may be having them hold you accountable, other times it may be having the option to call them when struggling with the cravings. Try making friends who are also in recovery through different types of support groups or activities. You don’t need or deserve to go through this alone.


Establishing a plan for when the cravings get strong is also incredibly important. Here are a few suggestions. Feel free to reply with any additional ideas!

-Have a phone list available at all times of who you can reach out to for support

-Attend events that don’t involve the substance or activity that you’re addicted to

-Make a list of coping mechanisms to help you get through the cravings (examples: reading, journaling/writing, video games, strength training, going for a run, yoga, calling a friend)

-Reaching out here on 7Cups to a listener

-Attending meetings


Remember, struggling with an addiction does not make you weak or a bad person. As mentioned earlier in the post, it’s not a choice. If you slip into old behaviors, that’s normal.Try not to be too hard on yourself; you’ve still made progress! The most important part is focusing on learning what triggered the slip or relapse and working on finding ways to cope with those triggers.


What support groups are available?

-Anonymous Meetings (AA, NA, CA, etc.)

-S.M.A.R.T Recovery Learn more Here

-7Cups Addiction Groups as well as the forums
Some Resources which might be helpful in our fight against addiction-

Samsha

Daily strength

Very well mind

USA.govt

7Cups Resources:

-Recovery Phone Apps

-In Person/Online Support Group Library

-Staying Safe While Celebrating

We are aware this fight is tough but always remember you are not alone in this we are here for you and we are in this together! ❤️

A song for you all which may make your day and help you to keep fighting - Hero- Mariah Carey

Written by @InternalAcceptance and @Bright7Cups