What Makes an
Addiction?
Addiction?
Physically addictive substances used daily can bring these uncomfortable physical symptoms
Withdrawal
The oldest known intoxicating substance used specifically for recreational purposes (even dating back to biblical times)
Alcohol
We experience these in our mind, heart and gut and it is important to learn how to manage our reaction to them
Feelings/ Emotions
This iconic pop artist, known for works like Campbell's Soup Cans, is thought to have dealt with social anxiety and struggled with feelings of isolation.
Who is Andy Warhol?
A strong addictive urge that can pull you in a way you may not want to go if you are not careful
Craving
It takes more and more of a substance to get the same effect which often fuels the desire and need for using larger amounts
Tolerance
Class of drugs used medicinally for thousands of years to relieve physical pain but nowadays often abused to relieve emotional pain
Opiates/Opioids
It is important to learn to manage this uncomfortable mental experience that can occur when we worry or stress over things
Anxiety
This legendary musician and singer-songwriter, known for hits like Rocket Man and Your Song, struggled with cocaine and alcohol addiction during the 1970s and 1980s but became sober in 1990 and now advocates for addiction recovery.
Who is Elton John?
You may have went backwards a little bit but still you didn’t completely relapse
Setback
Failure to recognize the truth about a problem, particularly an addiction, is often referred to as this
Denial
Even though life may be spiraling out of control with dependency clearly increasing, some people may believe that they are not addicted just because they may be obtaining drugs this legal medical way
Prescription
These changing temporary states of mind can be make us feel high, low and everything in between so it is important to be able to regulate these
Moods
This singer and former Disney star, known for her powerful voice and candidness about mental health, survived a near-fatal overdose in 2018 after years of battling addiction and now works to raise awareness about recovery.
Who is Demi Lovato?
Some people may try to deal with substance use issue by attempting use less, or change to a less harmful substance. If that isn’t working you may need to consider this more basic old option
Abstinence/Sobriety
Every bad choice we make can mean we have to face these later. Addiction can cause people to foolishly ignore these repeatedly
Consequences
The vast majority of people who use this legal plant use it as often as 10 or 20 times a day despite knowing it is the number one killer of all addictive substances in the world
Tobacco
It is essential to learn to eliminate this negative emotion which stems from holding on to anger and grudges
Resentment
This actress, famous for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, openly discussed her struggles with substance abuse and bipolar disorder in her memoirs, becoming a leading voice for mental health and addiction advocacy before her death in 2016.
Who is Carrie Fisher?
With more severe addiction, particularly opioid, if the withdrawal or cravings are overwhelming it may be wise to consider seeing a doctor for this
Medication or Medication Assisted Treatment
When you spend too much, use too much or too often and life problems are steadily piling up, it is a good sign you have lost this
Control
Stimulants such as cocaine, speed and methamphetamine, when taken for long periods can induce a mental state of hallucinations and extreme paranoid delusions called:
Psychosis (Or stimulant-induced psychosis)
Sometimes addiction can be directly linked to deeply disturbing or distressing experiences that occurred earlier in life all of which is referred to as: _____
Trauma/PTSD
This comedian and actor, known for his role in Mrs. Doubtfire and Good Will Hunting, openly discussed his battles with alcohol and cocaine addiction early in his career, remaining sober for many years before relapsing and seeking treatment.
Who is Robin Williams?
They say relapse doesn’t suddenly happen out of nowhere – It’s not an event, it is often much more of a gradual
Process