What Makes an Addiction?
Physically addictive substances used daily can bring these uncomfortable physical symptoms.
Withdrawal
We make dozens if not hundreds of these a day with our mind and one of the best ways to improve our lives is to practice making good ones.
Decisions/choices
We experience these in our mind, heart and gut and it is important to learn how to manage our reaction to them.
Feelings/emotions
The essential inner drive, focus and desire, that brings about positive change and attainment of goals.
Motivation
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
This describes overall the way we present and express ourselves. If we have a negative one we should want to change it to grateful and positive.
Attitude
It is important to learn to manage this uncomfortable mental experience that can occur when we worry or stress over things.
Anxiety
The ability to look inside yourself honestly and truthfully: self-awareness.
Insight
You may have went backwards a little bit but you still didn't completely relapse.
Setback
Failure to recognize the truth about a problem, particularly an addiction, is often referred to as this.
Denial
This categorizes and includes all that is most important in your life and, what you care about the most, and what has the most worth to you.
Values
Moods
Something just about everyone needs when overcoming a difficult challenge, because it is so difficult to do it alone.
Support
Some people may try to deal with substance use issues 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.
You can have ups and downs along the way but what matters most is that you keep moving forward. If that is true then you are steadily making this.
Progress
It is essential to learn to eliminate this negative emotion which stems from holding on to anger and grudges.
Resentment
Building insight and motivation lead to this powerful experience defined by a strong sense of positive mental stimulation to try and make things better.
Inspiration
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 (MAT)
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
This involves all the people, places and things that you surround yourself with and that you choose to be connected to.
Associations.
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
If you find and discover this it can help you define your goals and add meaning and direction in your life.
Purpose
They say relapse doesn't suddenly happen out of nowhere- It's not an event, it is often much more of a gradual ________
Process