Addictions
Drug Addiction
Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person’s body works. You’ve probably heard that drugs are bad for you, but what does that mean and why are they bad? When people talk about a “drug problem,” they usually mean abusing legal drugs or using illegal drugs, such as marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD, crystal meth, and heroin. (Marijuana is generally an illegal drug, but some states allow doctors to recommend it to adults for certain illnesses.) Illegal drugs aren’t good for anyone, but they are particularly bad for a kid or teen whose body is still growing. Illegal drugs can damage the brain, heart, and other important organs. Cocaine, for instance, can cause a heart attack — even in a kid or teen.
Drinking Problem
Do you have a drinking problem? You may have a drinking problem if you regularly drink more than you intended to or need to drink in order to relax or feel better. It’s not always easy to see when your drinking has crossed the line from moderate or social use to problem drinking. But if you consume alcohol to cope with difficulties or to avoid feeling bad, you’re in potentially dangerous territory. Alcoholism and alcohol abuse can sneak up on you, so it’s important to be aware of the warning signs and take steps to cut back if you recognize them. If you have a problem with alcohol, you may not be able to cut back or quit without help. Denying a problem is usually part of alcoholism.
Smoking
“Smoking is injurious to health” is a common quote found almost everywhere and known by everyone. But the question arises that how many people actually obey the quote and act accordingly. It is quoted that “A cigarette is a pipe with a fire at one end and a fool at the other”. Knowing the injurious effects of smoking, don’t be the fool to try it. Cigarette smoking is addictive and harmful. In a single cigarette, there 4000 chemicals which are highly poisonous and few are carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Frequent exposure to other people’s smoke can increase your risk of lung cancer and coronary heart disease, even if you’re a non-smoker. Smoking effects everyone.
Porn Addiction
Not everyone who sees porn will become addicted to it. Some will just come away with toxic ideas about women, sex, marriage and children. That kind of damage is bad enough. And porn isn’t the only ingredient in addiction. Usually, those who become addicted have some kind of emotional opening that allows the addiction to really take root. There are five stages of Addiction, Firstly, Most guys who get addicted to porn start early. They see the stuff when they are very young, and it gets its foot in the door. Secondly Addiction, You keep coming back to porn. It becomes a regular part of your life. You’re hooked. You can’t quit. You are then escalated. You start to look for more and more graphic porn. You start using porn that would have disgusted you when you started. Now it excites you. Then eventually, you start to become numb. Even the most graphic, degrading porn doesn’t excite you any more. You become desperate to feel the same thrill again but can’t find it. And last stage and the dangerous one, At this point, many men make a dangerous jump and start acting out sexually. They move from the paper and plastic images of porn to the real world.
Internet Addiction
Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is now more commonly called problematic internet use (PIU) or compulsive internet use (CIU).Other overlapping terms includes internet overuse, problematic computer use or pathological computer use – and even iDisorder. Thoughts about previous on-line activity or anticipation of the next on-line session, Use of the Internet in increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction , Repeated, unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back or stop Internet use, Feelings of restlessness, moodiness, depression, or irritability when attempting to cut down use of the Internet, On-line longer than originally intended, Jeopardized or risked loss of significant relationships, job, educational or career opportunities because of Internet use, Lies to family members, therapists, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet, Use of the Internet is a way to escape from problems or to relieve a dysphoric mood e.g. Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, anxiety, depression.
Food Addiction
People who show signs of food addiction may also develop a tolerance to food. They eat more and more, only to find that food satisfies them less and less. Scientists believe that food addiction may play an important role in obesity. But normal-weight people may also struggle with food addiction. Their bodies may simply be genetically programmed to better handle the extra calories they take in. Or they may increase their physical activity to compensate for overeating. People who are addicted to food will continue to eat despite negative consequences, such as weight gain or damaged relationships. And like people who are addicted to drugs or gambling, people who are addicted to food will have trouble stopping their behaviour, even if they want to or have tried many times to cut back. The Symptoms can be: End up eating more than planned when you start eating certain foods, Keep eating certain foods even if you’re no longer hungry, Eat to the point of feeling ill, Worry about not eating certain types of foods or worry about cutting down on certain types of foods and When certain foods aren’t available, go out of your way to obtain them.
Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction, also known as compulsive gambling, is a type of impulse-control disorder. Compulsive gamblers can’t control the impulse to gamble, even when they know their gambling is hurting themselves or their loved ones. Gambling is all they can think about and all they want to do, no matter the consequences. Compulsive gamblers keep gambling whether they’re up or down, broke or flush, happy or depressed. Even when they know the odds are against them, even when they can’t afford to lose, people with a gambling addiction can’t “stay off the bet.” Gamblers can have a problem, however, without being totally out of control. Problem gambling is any gambling behavior that disrupts your life. If you’re preoccupied with gambling, spending more and more time and money on it, chasing losses, or gambling despite serious consequences, you have a gambling problem.
Prescription Drug Abuse
Is it possible that you or someone you love is addicted to prescription drugs? Most of us take prescription drugs only for the reason the doctor intended. Nevertheless, an estimated 48 million people (aged 12 and older), according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons in their lifetime. That figure represents approximately 20% of the U.S. population. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in prescription drug misuse or abuse. This increase has led to a corresponding increase in ER visits because of accidental overdoses as well as admissions to drug treatment programs for drug addiction According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the three classes of prescription drugs that are often abused include: Opioids used to treat pain, Central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin), used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders and Stimulants, such as Adderall or Ritalin, used to treat attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy (a sleep disorder).
Sex Addiction
Sexual addiction, also known as sex addiction or sexual dependence, is compulsive participation or engagement in sexual activity, despite negative consequences. In a clinical setting, sexual dependence may also refer to a conceptual model that is used to assess people who report being unable to control their sexual urges, behaviors, or thoughts. Related models of pathological sexual behavior include hypersexuality, erotomania, nymphomania, satyriasis, Don Juanism (or Don Juanitaism), and paraphilia-related disorders. Prevention of sexual addiction may involve interventions that enhance self-esteem and self-image, addressing emotional problems, educating children about the dangers of excessive internet use, monitoring and limiting computer use, and screening out pornographic sites. Sex addiction is associated with a number of potential medical, occupational, legal, social, and emotional complications.