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ADDICTION
Addiction is described as a pathological relationship with any mood altering event, experience, person or thing that has life damaging consequences.
Examples: people, gambling, sex, food, toxic relationships, internet, television, sleeping, exercise, work, religion, reading, sports, video games, achievement, spending/shopping, money, cleaning, scab picking, self mutilation, violence, raging, depression, children, spouse, boss, parents, approval, academic achievement, pornography, hoarding, clothes, cosmetic surgery, being nice, being helpful, sports, control, being right, stock market, making lists, isolation, being happy, being sad, being angry, being fearful, being helpless, etc, etc, etc.
SUBSTANCE ADDICTION
Substance addiction is misuse of psychoactive substances like alcohol, cocaine, prescription drugs, marihuana, methamphetamine (crystal meth), heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine, etc. Other addictive non-psychoactive substances include caffeine, sugar, nicotine, carbohydrates, anabolic steroids, chocolate, nicotine etc.
We make the distinction between substance abuse and substance dependency. See links for further explanation.
PEOPLE WITH ADDICTIONS FEEL
Worthless, guilty, inferior, angry at friends and loved ones, fearful, contempt for anyone who likes them, tired, depressed, bored and lonely in the midst of family and friends, miserable, moody, empty of energy, fragile, super sensitive, falsely prideful, feel wrong, attacked when confronted, resentful when confronted, spiteful, victimized, self righteous, envious.
Addicts blankly stare into space thinking what's wrong with them but mostly what's wrong with you
Hear your concerns for them as criticism
Are indignant when you suggest they may have a problem
Dwell on how poorly you treated them
Dwell on how great they used to have it.
Seek out lesser individuals who accept them as they are
Go on wagon for a while to prove they don't have a problem
Wonder why others do not use like they do
Are egomaniacs with an inferiority complex.
Whatever your addiction concerns are with you or someone close to you recovery is possible. Learn more about treatment, recovery stages and intervention among other topics in this web site. Awareness creates change.
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