So what actually is an addiction? We often hear the word thrown around during conversations about alcohol, smoking and drugs and sometimes social media. By definition addiction is the state being enslaved to a habit or practice that either physiologically or physically causes one to obsess. It is also described as a relationship with a substance or practice.
Just because someone really likes to use or participate in an activity, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are addicted. There are specific requirement and criteria that an addiction must to meet. For something to be classified as an addiction at least 3 of the following criteria must be met.
Another thing that is often associated with addiction is denial. Denial is when someone refuses to believe or accept the reality of something. Addiction may also have short term positives that the user may think outweigh the negatives. This contributes to the user believing that nothing is wrong and adds to their denial.
Overtime users become convinced that they cannot survive and/or enjoy life without their substance or activity and this is the base line of addiction.
Just because someone really likes to use or participate in an activity, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are addicted. There are specific requirement and criteria that an addiction must to meet. For something to be classified as an addiction at least 3 of the following criteria must be met.
- Tolerance. Over time the user begins to participate or use more of the substance.
- Withdrawal. Withdrawal can be experienced when use has been stopped. Symptoms can be physical (sweats, nausea, vomiting, etc.), and/or emotional (anxiety, irritability, etc.).
- Limited control. The user loses some or all control over the use or participation of a substance or practice. They can also lose control over the amount and how often one on uses or participates.
- Negative consequences. There are almost always negative consequences involved with addiction. Sometimes the negative consequences may not be realised or noticed until the damage is done and can’t be reversed or fixed. Some of the most common things to be effected by addiction are mood, family, friends, job/education, self-esteem and health.
- Neglect. Neglecting activities because of a substance or practice repeatedly.
- Significant time or energy spent. A considerable amount of time or energy is spent on either: obtaining, using, planning or recovering from an activity or substance.
- Desire to cut down. The user knows and wants to stop using or participating. Usually feels as though this is not possible to do.
Another thing that is often associated with addiction is denial. Denial is when someone refuses to believe or accept the reality of something. Addiction may also have short term positives that the user may think outweigh the negatives. This contributes to the user believing that nothing is wrong and adds to their denial.
Overtime users become convinced that they cannot survive and/or enjoy life without their substance or activity and this is the base line of addiction.
Bibliography
Dictionary.com. (2015). Dictionary. Retrieved may 10, 2015, from Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/
M.Melemis, D. S. (2015, May). Addictions and Revovery.org. Retrieved May 2015, from What is Addiction?: http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/what-is-addiction.html
Oxford University Press. (2015). Addiction. Retrieved May 6, 2015, from Oxford Dictionaries: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/addiction
Dictionary.com. (2015). Dictionary. Retrieved may 10, 2015, from Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/
M.Melemis, D. S. (2015, May). Addictions and Revovery.org. Retrieved May 2015, from What is Addiction?: http://www.addictionsandrecovery.org/what-is-addiction.html
Oxford University Press. (2015). Addiction. Retrieved May 6, 2015, from Oxford Dictionaries: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/addiction