What is
Addiction?
There are many different
interpretations of addiction; we like to keep it
simple:
"Is drink or drugs costing
you more than money?Once the benefit of excessive
drinking or drug use has been out weighed by the
cost then the slide into problem drinking has
been made.
Problem drinking can then slide
quickly into alcoholism or addiction which is a
disease and needs clinical treatment to
overcome. The disease is often progressive
and fatal and is characterized by continuous or
periodic impaired control over drinking,
preoccupation with alcohol or drugs, use of
alcohol or drugs despite adverse consequences, and
distortions in thinking, most notably denial.
You do not have to drink or use everyday to
necessarily be an alcoholic or addict, alcoholics
and addicts can stop drinking for a period of
time, its staying stopped that is the
problem.
Alcohol or drugs are usually the
symptom of the problem but not the actual problem,
the real problem of addiction is how someone
thinks and feels which is so unpleasant that
alcohol and drugs are consistently used to numb
or anesthetises this experience. Once an
emotional re-arrangement has taken place and an
individual feels entirely different and begins to
see the world and themselves from a much more
positive point of view then the desire to drink
and use drugs is removed and a far more productive
and successful way of living is entered
into.
Alcoholics or addicts are
not bad people; they are sick people who need
treatment.
Ask yourself the following
questions?
1.Have people commented on
or criticized your drinking or drug use?
2.Have
you tried cutting down or stopping and failed
repeatedly?
3.Have you woken up feeling
confused, frightened or depressed on a regular
basis after drinking or using?
4.Have you
dropped hobbies or interests because of your
drinking or drug use?
5.Do you use drink or
drugs to self-medicate your feelings when you feel
uncomfortable, frightened or insecure?
6.Is
your alcohol or drug use becoming more frequent or
the amount you use increasing?
If you answer
yes to 3 or more of these question then you may
have a problem with alcohol or drugs and should
seek professional advice.
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