All About Addiction

What is Addiction?

First, let’s break down addiction by its definition: Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.

Addiction is characterized by various symptoms including:

• Inability to consistently abstain
• Impairment in behavioral control
• Craving
• Diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships
• Dysfunctional emotional response.

Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission.Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.

If you have an addiction, you don’t have control over what you are doing, taking or using. When addicted to something, you are unable to control how you use it and become dependent on it to cope with daily life.

What is the difference between a habit and an addiction?

Sometimes, a habit may eventually develop into an addiction.  Here is the difference between the two:

• Habit—a habit is done by choice. You have the ability to choose to stop and stop successfully if you want to. The psychological/physical component is not an issue as it is with addiction.
• Addiction—with addiction there is a psychological/physical component. You are unable to control the aspects of the addiction without help because of the mental or physical conditions involved.

To put it simply, when you have a habit, you are in control of your choices. With an addiction, you aren’t in control of your choices.

An addiction to a substance or activities may lead to serious problems at home, work, school and your daily life. The different causes of addiction vary and are often not fully understood.  An addiction may be caused by a combination of physical, mental, emotional and circumstantial factors.

2^nd Chance Treatment Center offers an integrated treatment approach to help you overcome addition and return to the life you love. There is treatment for your addiction that will help you with a lasting recovery, with the lowest chance of relapses through the following methods:

• Maintenance medication
• Behavioral therapy
• Education and resources

Click here to find out how putting an end to addiction is just the beginning, and the steps you can take to move forward in getting your life back—now!