What are the psychological consequences of addiction?What are the psychological consequences of addiction?

What are the psychological consequences of addiction?

The consequences of addiction are sometimes very difficult for those affected and their families. They range from serious psychological problems (e.g. depression) and physical damage to premature death.

What triggers addiction in the brain?

Addiction is a disorder of the reward system in the brain. Drugs act directly in the brain and lead to an increase in dopamine release. A sense of achievement at work, in computer games or when gambling can also activate the reward system and become addictive.

How do you get into an addiction?

Addiction has many causes. Various factors intertwine in its formation and persistence. For example, previous life experiences, the social environment and the mode of action of a certain drug are important. As the saying goes, “Addiction comes from seeking.

What are the signs of addiction?

Common side effects are (depending on the substance consumed) insomnia, difficulty concentrating, depressive moods, weight loss, sweating, circulatory disorders, palpitations and neurological failures such as impaired balance, uncontrolled tremors, seizures …

What can you do if you are addicted?

“Seeking help is therefore an important first step in finding yourself again. A good way of getting initial information is by offering help over the phone. For example, there is the anonymous addiction and drug hotline with the nationwide number 1.

How long does addiction therapy last?

How long does weaning/rehabilitation take? In the inpatient area, long-term therapies of up to 10-16 weeks are carried out in the case of alcohol or drug dependence, depending on the concept of the rehabilitation facility. In addition, there are so-called short-term therapies of up to 8 weeks.

How can I prevent addiction?

Preventing AddictionAddictions usually arise from a mental need – for stress reduction and relaxation, stimulation or well-being. Stay away from substances that are quickly addictive. Limit yourself to occasional and, above all, conscious consumption.

Is an addiction a disease?

Addiction is a serious disease. Biological, genetic, psychological and social factors play an important role in their development. “An addiction is based on a misdirection of the reward system in the brain.

What is addiction simply explained?

One speaks of dependency or addiction when a person can no longer control a certain behavior. For example, if he has to take drugs again and again. But there are also people who are addicted to shopping, playing computer games or watching television.

What is addiction brief explanation?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines addiction as a “state of periodic or chronic intoxication brought on by the repeated use of a natural or synthetic drug”. The following criteria are decisive here: Indomitable desire to take and obtain the remedy.

When was addiction recognized as a disease?

According to the Federal Ministry of Health, around 1.3 million people were considered alcohol dependent in 2017. “In earlier history, addiction was classified as a mental illness. The World Health Organization first defined alcoholism as a disease in 1952.

When was alcohol recognized as a disease?

Alcoholism recognized as a disease

Is drug addiction a recognized disease?

It used to be considered a personal failure, now it’s recognized as a disease. In the preamble to its new substitution guidelines*, the German Medical Association describes drug addiction as a chronic disease requiring treatment.

Is alcohol a recognized disease?

Alcohol dependence (alcoholism) is a disease, not a moral defect. Addictive behavior is characteristic, i.e. the overwhelming desire for alcohol. The disease is characterized by physical, psychological and social symptoms.

What to do with alcoholics

Don’t drink with her or in her presence. Do not take on tasks for which she is responsible (unless she puts herself or others at risk by doing so). Don’t buy alcohol for them. Don’t help the person hide their drinking.

When do you realize you are addicted to alcohol?

There is a strong desire or even compulsion to drink alcohol. It is difficult or impossible to control the amount consumed. If you stop drinking alcohol or reduce it, you will experience physical withdrawal symptoms (e.g. tremors, rapid pulse, stomach pain).

Why are alcoholics called sick?

Perceive alcohol addiction as a disease and not as a character flaw. In addition to psychological and social influences, stress factors and genetic vulnerabilities play a major role in the development of addictions. An addiction is a disease whose correlates can be detected in the brain.

How do you die as an alcoholic?

Liver damage is the most common cause of death from alcohol The most common cause of death among alcoholics is liver damage, with 7812 cases. The second most common area affected is the pancreas. But the heart muscle, lungs or nervous system can also be damaged to such an extent that they fail.

Is Alcohol Addiction a Mental Illness?

Alcoholism is a serious mental illness. The development from consumption to abuse to addiction is insidious. Characteristic of addiction are, among other things, a strong desire for alcohol, increasing consumption and the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms.