A century of addiction research has helped to turn what used to be a somewhat mysterious condition into one that is much better understood. However, many average people may still do not realize what causes addiction and how it can persist even though a person suffering with an addiction disorder knows that they have a problem. This information is critical to know because it can help people know when it’s time to get help from an addiction recovery center for their substance abuse disorder.
What Causes Addiction? It Starts With a Physical Need
When trying to figure out what causes addiction, it is crucial to know how drugs impact your body. Taking a drug causes a series of reactions in the body and the mind. For example, opiates attach to the opioid receptors to release a substantial level of endorphin chemicals that cause a large amount of pleasure through the body – the “high” that you experience when taking drugs. As a person continues to use drugs, their body often becomes chemically dependent on them to feel a physical form of pleasure. For example, opiate drugs release a much higher concentration of endorphin chemicals than the body can naturally on its own. As a result, a person may think that they “need” to take opiates to feel pleasure, and their body can react by craving higher levels of this substance. Even worse, the body can start reacting adversely when it doesn’t have this substance. Withdrawal symptoms are, essentially, the body reacting to not having a substance that it thinks it needs. Headaches, nausea, confusion, delirium tremens, and more can all make an addiction feel impossible from which to escape and make a person stick to this abusive pattern without rehab. Just as importantly, emotional factors can also play into a person’s pattern of substance abuse. These issues must be treated concurrently with dual-diagnosis and other care options.
Emotions Heavily Influence Addictive Patterns
Now that you understand what causes addiction physically, it is critical to examine the emotional influences that may affect you. Often, people who get physically addicted experience a myriad of thoughts and excuses that they use to stay on drugs and not get substance abuse treatment. Drugs are tied to common emotions in the following ways:
- Anxiety may cause a person to abuse drugs for “relief”
- Depression may make addiction seem inescapable
- Manic episodes may seem easier to handle when calmed with depressant drugs
- Cocaine and uppers that may cause people to feel euphoric and on top of the world
- Personal relationships that may seem enhanced by drug abuse
These issues are all part of what causes addiction emotionally. Essentially, people come to believe that their emotional health is dependent on drugs. As a result, they will abuse them to stay “stable” and happy. Therefore, it is critical to take steps to manage this problem and prevent its worsening. Typically, drug rehab is the most vital step to consider here. What many people who are abusing drugs don’t realize is that their mental health is tied closely to their substance use. People use drugs or alcohol to cope with negative emotions, not realizing that this can trap them in a negative pattern of thinking. We understand how mental health is tied closely to addiction at Atlantic Recovery Center, and we treat all facets of the problem to help people achieve long-term sobriety.
The Cycle of Addiction and How It Changes for Others
When addiction creeps into a person’s life, it can be very easy to feel trapped and unable to escape. However, addiction is like any disease and moves in specific stages. As a result, it is essential to fully understand the cycle of addiction and the ways that it can impact you and others in your life. With this knowledge, you can use rehab to overcome addiction and become a happy and healthy person again. We understand that no one sets out to develop a substance user disorder, and seek to provide information to help people recover by understanding addiction and its triggers.
UNDERSTANDING THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION
The cycle of addiction is one that can be very complex and is one that is affected and influenced by a broad array of different factors. Therefore, it is critical to understand the various aspects that affect this process and how it may impact you. Let’s start by examining how a person gets addicted and the ways that they may stay dependent on drugs in their life:
- Initial use – The earliest stages of addiction often focus on experimentation and many people never pass from this stage
- Abuse and tolerance – As a person continues to experiment with substances, they start becoming tolerant of its effects and increase how much they use
- Dependence and addiction – Once a person cannot live without a drug – either physically or emotionally – they are thoroughly addicted
- Recovery – Most people with addiction will try to quit to regain their sobriety and a more stable and healthy life
- Relapse – When a person starts using drugs again after an attempt at recovery, they have relapsed and may begin increasing their intake of drugs again
The devastating nature of this cycle makes it one that can be very hard for some people to handle. The sad truth is that many people relapse after substance abuse rehabilitation and think that this means they are weak or incapable of quitting. That misconception is problematic because relapse is often just a part of recovery and can be used to overcome drug abuse for good. Holding people to standard of perfection is unrealistic, and often leads to negative outcomes. Instead, it’s best to understand that relapse can happen, and what family members and other support networks can do in an effort to prevent it.
WAYS DRUG REHAB CAN HELP
Drug rehab has become one of the most powerful ways to break this cycle. Though a relapse may occur after some treatments, you can use this information to understand your triggers better and to walk away from substance abuse for good. You can do this by understanding the physical and emotional impact of addiction and by changing the behaviors that reinforce these influences and keep the cycle of addiction turning — once you’ve developed an understanding of how it works, you can change your behaviors to help break it. All of these benefits make substance abuse recovery a process that you need if you are going through the cycle of addiction. By interrupting this cycle as it occurs, you can ensure that you are happy and healthy and can prevent the spread of addiction throughout your life and the lives of others.
Let Us Help You Recover
Do you want to break the cycle of addiction and regain a sober life? Then contact us at Atlantic Recovery Center. When you verify your insurance and call 1-866-824-5193, you get access to a professional recovery facility that will help you regain a sober life in an intimate and family-style atmosphere. We also offer aftercare that helps to prevent relapse and which can end your cycle of abuse for good.
Help is Critical for Addiction Recovery
If you need help discovering what causes addiction in you, please call 1-866-824-5193 today to learn more. At Atlantic Recovery Center, we have years of experience working with people like you and know how to provide you with the help that you require. Those who want an intimate, friendly, and caring atmosphere should verify their insurance and visit us ASAP to get help.