What is Addiction?
Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or engages in an activity (gambling) that can be pleasurable but the continued use of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work or relationships, even health. Users may not be aware that their behavior is out of control and causing problems for themselves and others.
The word addiction is used in several different ways. One definition describes physical addiction. This is a biological state in which the body adapts to the presence of a drug so that drug no longer has the same effect; this is known as tolerance. Because of tolerance, there is a biological reaction when the drug is withdrawn. Another form of physical addiction is the phenomenon of overreaction by the brain to drugs (or to cues associated with the drugs). An alcoholic walking into a bar, for instance, will feel an extra pull to have a drink because of these cues.
However, most addictive behavior is not related to either physical tolerance or exposure to cues. People compulsively use drugs, or gamble or shop, nearly always in reaction to being emotionally stressed, whether or not they have a physical addiction. Since these psychologically based addictions are not based on drug or brain effects, they can account for why people frequently switch addictive actions from one drug to a completely different kind of drug, or even to a non-drug behavior. The focus of the addiction isn’t what matters; it’s the need to take action under certain kinds of stress. To treat this kind of addiction requires understanding of how it works psychologically.
No matter which kind of addiction is meant, it is important to recognize that its cause is not a search for pleasure, and addiction has nothing to do with one’s morality or strength of character. Experts debate whether addiction is a “disease” or a true mental illness, whether drug dependence and addiction mean the same thing, and many other aspects of addiction. Such debates are not likely to be resolved soon. But the lack of resolution does not preclude effective treatment.
Understand all about Addiction. Read more…
- All about Addiction
- Symptoms of Addiction
- Causes of Addiction
- Treatment for Addiction
- Compulsive Addictive Behavior
- Online Psychotherapy
Find out about Symptoms of Addictions. All addictions have the capacity to induce feelings of shame and guilt, a sense of hopelessness, and feelings of failure. In addition, anxiety and depression are common conditions among those with substance and behavioral addictions. Find out more…
Read Articles from Psychology Today to find out more on Addictions
- The Good and Evil of Alcohol: article by Stanton Peele, Ph.D., J.D. Why do people drink? Why do they abstain?
- Characteristics of High-Functioning Alcoholics: article by Sarah Allen Benton, M.S., L.M.H.C. What is a High-Functioning Alcoholic?
- Two Forms of Alcoholism: One Which Warrants A Chronic Disease Model, and College: article by Adi Jaffe, Ph.D.Let’s not throw the alcoholic baby out with the bathwater.