addicted to their addiction, the temporary feeling of pleasure, rather
than the drugs...
Addiction is primarily psychological although addiction is defined
according to the physiological changes in the body, and addiction
continues to be considered as a social, cultural, genetic and
experiential process as well. Addictive behaviour could be explained
as any behaviour that gives temporary or short term pleasure and also
provides relief from discomfort although there may be long term
adverse effects.
Addiction is generally described as dependence on any drug and results
from substance abuse. Any drug or alcohol can produce addiction as can
other things such as the internet, gaming, gadgets, chocolates etc.
However the physical and psychological effects of drugs and alcohol
are detrimental and actually result in loss of productivity,
withdrawal and physical dependence and lack of attention and such
other conditions. The primary feature of addiction is dependence as an
individual shows increased psychological and physiological dependence
on the substance he is addicted to and without the addictive substance
the person is unable to return to normal life.
Dependence on anything may not be too bad and some amount of social
dependence is expected of us as social beings. However when there is
excessive dependence with inability to live without the substance in
question, then withdrawal symptoms result and there are physiological
changes in the body including pain and in some cases medical attention
is required. Addiction is an extreme dependence and can cause people
to lose sense of reality as people become cripple without the
substance they are addicted to. Addiction leads to crime and
anti-social behaviour as addicts can resort to violent behaviour, to
stealing, to murder simply to attain what they want. Addiction to a
substance could be separated from healthy use of the substance such as
some amount of alcohol is considered acceptable and healthy in a
social setting but being completely dependent on alcohol to that which
amounts to addiction can have adverse social and personal implications
for the individual. Some of the common addictive drugs and substances
are opium, alcohol, nicotine and barbiturates. Giving up any
addiction, requires strength and this is largely the strength of the
mind that aids in stopping any addictive behaviour. Thus if addiction
is a disease, the cure of addiction or even its prevention is largely
a psychological process suggesting that the 'mind' is responsible for
the addiction, the beginning of it and also the end of it.
Using addictive substances stimulate and release the pleasure inducing
neurotransmitters in the brain and the dependence on this feeling of
pleasure leads to more such pleasure seeking behaviour and this can
spiral out of control and doesn't remain within the control of the
individual who then is completely controlled by his addiction rather
than the other way round. Withdrawal or abstinence symptoms of an
addictive substance could include anxiety, depression, craving,
irritability, restlessness or even thoughts of suicide with fatal
consequences. Craving, irritability, depression, anxiety are all
psychological withdrawal symptoms of addiction although closely
related to the physical withdrawal symptoms. So addiction is largely
in the mind and if a person wants, he or she can overcome this extreme
dependence on an activity or a substance through self control and with
better insight into his condition.
Why do people develop addiction?
People who develop addiction are more prone to mental illnesses as
addiction has been related to mood or affective disorders, to neurotic
illnesses and obsessive disorders, to anxiety disorders and many other
psychological problems. Addiction is largely akin to compulsion or the
need to repeat any particular behaviour in an abnormal dependent
manner and addiction like compulsion is an abnormal dependence.
Addicts are obsessed with the substance or objects or activity that
they are addicted to and show an abnormal dependence on the substance
or activity. Individuals with mood disorders or people prone to
frequent depression are prone to addiction as any addictive substance
or drug or even activity such as sex that gives short term pleasure
can cause the addict to return to this activity or substance again and
again so that the depression is forgotten for a while. This need for
short term pleasure leads to repeated pleasure seeking behaviour and
thus creates addiction.
All human beings are necessarily pleasure seekers, we all like to
experience that is good or beautiful or provides a moment of happiness
but addicts are in turn addicted to this pleasure as well. In fact
addicts are addicted to the pleasure and not to the drugs, which are
simply catalysts to provide them this pleasure. The drugs and the
objects as also the activities that they repeatedly engage in provide
them a solace that they feel they would not find in other options.
There are of course chemical changes in the body so there are
substantive proofs that addicts do get short term pleasure. Thus a
drug addict repeated uses drug because it provides a particular form
of pleasure that he will not get by say watching films and a sex
addict repeatedly seeks sex because the pleasure from sex according to
her may not be found in other activities such as travelling or
reading. However this is only a belief that the addict has and is not
necessarily true. In fact there is a sort of fixation of want, and an
obsession with the object of want so an addict repeatedly thinks about
this want and convinces himself that without the addictive substance
he will not be able to survive. When love becomes an addiction, it can
lead to suicide or fatal consequences when the object of desire is not
attained.
Addicts are thus obsessed and largely depressed individuals who
sometimes use the obsession against the depression or to overcome the
depression. They are socially withdrawn although they may apparently
have a huge circle of friends with whom they may not be able to relate
at all levels. Addicts are also susceptible to suggestion and they are
vulnerable to opinions of other people. Strange that it may sound, it
is easy to mould or change addicts and also easy to hypnotize them as
they are very impressionable and easily affected by what people and
society have to say about them. This weakness of addicts is also their
strength as both negative and positive influences can act equally well
on addicts and the right guidance would be necessary to show them what
is good for them and what is bad.
How is addiction controlled and stopped?
Stopping or overcoming any addiction could be a challenge but as
addicts are changeable and affected easily, it may be relatively easy
to bring them back to normal life provided they have the right type of
guidance and counselling.
One of the strategies that could be used to cure addictive behaviour
would be 'diversion', providing alternative substances/activities or
shifting their attention or interest into something other than the
addictive substance or object. As a TV addict could be encouraged to
develop more constructive habits of reading for instance.
'Substitution' would be another method and a person addicted to
alcohol could be encouraged to take a drink that tastes like wine but
does not contain alcohol.
'Eradication' or complete unavailability of the addictive substance or
object can gradually lead to forgetting the pleasure giving substance
and interests in other activities. The complete unavailability of a
drug, even a sleeping pill can lead to lessening of addiction for that
drug and help the addict to develop other interests, although this
should not be done abruptly as physiological and psychological
symptoms of withdrawal may result. So if someone is addicted to a
specific medicine or pill, the doses could be slowly reduced before
completely stopping intake of the drug.
Finally 'suggestion' or counselling to change behaviour highlighting
the bad effects of a drug or an obsessive activity could be effective
at a later stage after withdrawal from the drug or activity has been
attempted as when in need of any substance, addicts lose all sense of
reality and may not even want to listen to advice. So, only when their
dependence reduces to an extent with the help of the other methods of
substitution, eradication or diversion, counselling could help them to
show more reasonable and socially responsible behaviour and prevent
further conditions of relapse.
Reflections in Psychology - Part I - by Saberi Roy (2009)
http://www.lulu.com/content/5865445
Saberi Roy - Books
http://saberiroy.tripod.com/books
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1393598
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