| Most of the people I know have one addiction or | | | | having the particular addictive substance or situation. |
| another. Whether it is an addiction to cigarettes, food | | | | This is where the whole cycle of using substances |
| or alcohol they all fall into basically the same category. | | | | and situations compulsively. |
| I have an extremely addictive personality. When I | | | | One person will be different from the next when it |
| give up one addiction I tend to pick up another to | | | | comes to the level and how quickly an addiction leads |
| replace it. Therefore, I try to pick the least harmful | | | | to compulsive behavior. This is all dependent on an |
| (and legal) things as my addictions. | | | | individual's psychological makeup and genes. |
| When somebody is addicted their body depends on | | | | Psychological dependence occurs when the mind is |
| an activity or substance in order to keep functioning | | | | dependent on a substance or situation. There are |
| normally. Depending on what the addiction is the | | | | very real symptoms that occur when somebody |
| body becomes either physically or psychologically | | | | gives up a substance. These include: cravings for |
| dependent on the activity or substance that is being | | | | food, insomnia, depression and shaking. Some of the |
| used. The medical community widely agrees that | | | | signs you might notice an addicted person showing |
| addiction is a disease. Anxiety and mood disorders | | | | are: hostility, poor self esteem, fear of crowds and |
| often work hand in hand with addiction. | | | | social phobia. Once addiction has a full grip on |
| If a person is highly addicted to a situation or | | | | someone the brain is unable to send a signal telling |
| substance then they will experience withdrawal | | | | them to stop using. |
| symptoms when they are separated. This normally | | | | If you know somebody who is trying to get off of a |
| causes symptoms that are both physical and | | | | serious drug addiction then you need to be sure they |
| psychological in nature. | | | | are extremely careful. Withdrawal symptoms can be |
| Before the addiction occurs a person simply uses a | | | | so severe that they can lead to permanent physical |
| substance for pleasure. A situational addiction works | | | | damage or death. Withdrawal should not be taken |
| in exactly the same way. A person will get | | | | lightly. There are many programs available that are |
| themselves into a situation that is pleasurable to fulfill | | | | specifically designed to help people get off of drugs |
| certain needs. After a certain length of time the goal | | | | and back to a productive and healthy life. |
| is to relieve the anxiety that is created from not | | | | |