Addiction & Substance Abuse

Addiction and Substance Abuse

Addiction is an inability to using a substance or engaging in a behavior even though it may cause psychological or physical harm to the addicted individual and to those around them. The difference between addiction and abuse is that in addiction the individual will experience tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Tolerance occurs when a person's physical response to a substance lessens over time. Which often equates to the need to take higher doses of the substance to get the same effect. Withdrawal symptoms can be very unpleasant and range depending on the substance that is being used, therefore substance use can often accelerate as the individual attempts to get rid of unwanted withdrawal symptoms.

Here’s an example of the range of withdrawal symptoms a person can experience:

– Anxiety
– Depression
– Shakes

– Panic Attacks
– Insomnnia
– Sexual Dysfunction

– Loss of Appetite

– Anxiety
– Depression
– Shakes
– Panic Attacks
– Insomnnia
– Sexual Dysfunction
– Loss of Appetite

You can really get the sense from this list that the breadth of different withdrawal symptoms a person can have can vary widely.

Behavioral Addictions: are similar to drug addiction except that the individual is not addicted to a substance, but he/she is addicted to the behavior or the feeling experienced by acting out the behavior, the different with behavioral addictions is that the physical signs of drug addiction are absent in behavioral addition. Clients suffering from behavioral addiction will experience cravings, excessive behavior, psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms, loss of control, emotional dysregulation, development of tolerance (increased behavior range).

Behavioral Addictions Include:

– Gambling
– Overeating
– Internet Addiction

– Shopping
– Video Game/Electronic Addition
– Sexual Dysfunction

– Gambling
– Overeating
– Internet Addiction
– Shopping
– Video Game/Electronic Addition
– Sexual Dysfunction

We are here to guide, support, and empower you on your journey toward mental and emotional well-being. Your story is unique, and we are committed to helping you find the healing and growth you seek.