The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) classified addiction as a chronic disease because of its effects on the body. A person with an addiction has no control over their will and may pursue harmful behavioral habits to their detriment. It is easier to curb when it is in the early stages. The longer it has been on, the more difficult it is to resolve. Therefore, recognizing the early signs of addiction is necessary to protect your loved ones.
Problems of Addiction
Addiction is problematic because the person with an addiction will seek out what they are addicted to at all costs. People can be addicted to anything, from what is considered normal, like social media, entertainment, or video games, to the obvious, like alcohol abuse. Regardless of what it is, addiction affects the reward, motivation, and memory functions of the brain. One of its signs is that those affected are unable to stay away from it regardless of their determination.
Addiction can also affect an addict’s social life as they may start to hide or not want to be around people. Such people also fail to keep their promises and become totally unreliable. Moreover, their relationships begin to take a hit as they become inefficient and unreliable. It further makes addicts ignore their well-being and take risks as they only focus on getting what they are addicted to. For example, those who take drugs share needles or take higher dosages despite how dangerous those things are.
What Can People Be Addicted to?
People can be addicted to anything, from substances to behaviors and habits. Some substances include alcohol, nicotine, tobacco, hard drugs like crystal meth, whippits, or inhalants that include household items such as spray paints, aerosol products, and sewer. People can also be addicted to medication such as pain relief. Behavioral addictions include sex, shopping, social media, the internet, gambling, video games, or work. Each of these is as dangerous as the other.
Recognizing the Early Signs of Addiction
Identify the Early Signs
The signs of addiction must be spotted early to stage an intervention. It may be difficult to recognize the signs of addiction when it is in the early stages. However, through observation and research, you may be able to identify the signs when you see them. Its early signs usually involve experimentation. Here, the person is drawn to a substance or keeps repeating a behavior.
Other early signs of addiction include a history of addiction in the family, an urge for the substance or behavior, and binging with no remorse. Sometimes, a person might do some or all of these things and not be addicted. Therefore, you need tact and patience to determine whether you are seeing its signs or the person is just experimenting.
Personality Changes
Another sign of addiction is changes in the personality of the person. Addiction typically alters the brain, which can cause the person to change. These signs could manifest and affect work, relationships, and reputation. Some of the changes include a lack of interest in activities they loved previously or considered important.
Other signs of addiction include missing work, isolating from loved ones and friends or chasing them away, lying, stealing, and risk-taking. Such people also experience sleep issues and a lack of remorse or make excuses for their actions or addiction.
Health Issues
Changes in health are also signs of addiction. After eliminating all chances of other medical conditions, you can be fairly sure you or your loved one has an addiction based on health issues. Addiction affects mental and physical health, so a person with an addiction will show changes in this regard. Some signs of addiction are constant illness, weight loss, wrinkled or dry skin, bad hair, teeth, and nails, and bloodshot or glazed eyes.
Other signs of addiction include sweating, unexplained injuries, trembling, vomiting, slurred speech, depression, and anxiety. People with an addiction also develop increased tolerance for drugs and experience mood swings. Additionally, they exhibit aggressive behavior and apathy and are irritable and suicidal.
There is a better chance of tackling addiction if it is caught early. Therefore, knowing the signs of addiction will be helpful if you or a loved one battled it. If you notice that you or a loved one is exhibiting any of these signs, you may be addicted, and you should seek help.
#Clique, have you ever struggled with an addiction? How did you overcome it? What other early signs should one look out for in dealing with addiction? Let us know in the comments.
