ADDICTION

 

How do you know you’re addicted to something?

          You can do a small test. Discontinue a habit for one week and if cravings arise, that means you’re addicted to that substance or feeling, or else cheers, You’re not!

The moment somebody says addiction, we only get cigarettes, drinks, and drugs on our minds but if you take this test, you will be shocked to see addictions related to something as normal as food, shopping, relationships, or even thinking!

Thus, in today’s world, everybody is an addict but the difference is seen only in the extent to which they are and how they let it affect their lives.

Keep your phone away, go to an empty room and just sit there, doing nothing. How long can we push the time? Unless you meditate or are into spirituality, you become restless, agitated and the fear of emptiness will creep in.

And that is exactly why we develop several addictions; To distract ourselves from that fear and this happens unconsciously.

Immediate attempts of Withdrawal cause mental and physiological reactions within us.

This reminds me of the fact as to why I love psychology and what makes me depend on it for the solution to every problem.

I strongly believe that a deep, concise understanding of how addiction works and its effects on the user will help us develop strong willpower against such habits.

So, what is it? Is it the fault of the addict who gets dependent on these external substances or internal behaviors and spoils his life or the contents of the substance which has addictive elements in them?

Although we know that certain substances act on the brain in ways that make the individual want to use more, drug addicts and alcoholics are still widely considered by society to be deprived; after all, they chose to use drugs in the first place. And with all of the data available and medical advances achieved in identifying the different aspects of alcohol and substance abuse, science is still struggling with some key questions, like whether it's ultimately substances that are addictive or people who are addicted to substances -- or both.

We all know the basic reason that makes us an addict; we love the way that particular substance or behavior makes us feel. And this is due to the release of dopamine as a reward in response to our actions like smoking or eating our favorite dish.

Different substances approach the reward center -- in our brains in different ways, but all substances of abuse cause the brain to release high levels of dopamine. This release can be 2-10 times the amount our brain releases normally, giving the user a sense of a high.

In such cases, the brain learns the habit much faster and with more intensity, since the release of dopamine is so much larger.

Now, when you know that whatever has been happening to you is purely a scientific process, denying alcohol or the substance you’re addicted to, to catch the highest position in your priority list shouldn’t be an issue.

Try different ways like exercising regularly and staying away from people who encourage addiction. Because where there is a will, there is definitely a way.