Addictions

Addiction is so powerful and consuming that it can make people lose focus of other important aspects of life, for example, their health, work, or relationships.  Often all of these and more.

Other symptoms depend on the drug of choice, and may include cognitive issues, for example brain-fog, or memory issues.  You may also experience fatigue, depression, anxiety, or paranoia, to name just some symptoms.

When people are addicted to something, they feel compelled to seek out the drug, or activity they are addicted to.  For example, people can be addicted to shopping, or gambling.

As people become tolerant to something, whether that be a drug or an activity, they start to require more of it, or have to go further with the behaviour in order to get the same high or buzz.

Addiction is likely at work when you find that you cannot stop using or doing the drug or act, even though it has harmful consequences for your health, relationships, and even life overall.  You no longer feel in control of of your behaviour.

People who are addicted to something will often spend copious amounts of money on the object of their addiction, even if they can’t afford it.  They often spend beyond their means, but cannot stop themselves.

People can easily become preoccupied with obtaining the drug, or doing the thing they are addicted to.  It becomes important to ensure they have access to it.  This often becomes devastating to relationships, and life.

When people become used to a chemical, whether that’s in the form of a drug (including alcohol), or food, they can start to have cravings for it.  As our bodies get used to the drug, we develop tolerance, dependency, and addiction, resulting in physiological and psychological withdrawal symptoms if we attempt to reduce or stop consumption.