What makes an 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
This phrase is used to describe situations where friends or family members try to get someone to drink by saying things like, “It’s just one drink” or “Come on, it will be okay, everyone is doing it.”
Peer Pressure
We experience these in our mind, heart and gut and it is important to learn how to manage our reaction to them
Feelings/ Emotions
(2000’s) This artist was referred to as the King of Pop, died due to complications from prescription drugs in 2009
Michael Jackson
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
External triggers can include people, places, objects and these:
Events
It is important to learn to manage this uncomfortable mental experience that can occur when we worry or stress over things
Anxiety
(1990’s) Singer of one of the most popular grunge bands in the 1990’s shot himself in the head in 1994 at the age of 27, addicted to heroin
Kurt Cobain
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
Succumbing to one’s triggers, or the initial or continued transgression of problem behavior after a quit attempt is defined as this
Relapse
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
(1980’s) John Belushi was a legendary actor and comedian who shocked the world when he overdosed and died from mixing cocaine and heroin in 1982 at the height of his fame. He was on the original lineup of what longstanding TV show (Still airs today)
Saturday Night Live
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
This is the phrase used to describe the cognitive experience focused on the desire to use a substance and is often related to the expectancies for the desired effect of the drug
Craving
It is essential to learn to eliminate this negative emotion which stems from holding on to anger and grudges
Resentment
(1970’s)This iconic musician is one of the top earning dead celebrities today, still earning over 50 million/year for his music despite dying from complications of prescription drug addiction back in 1977
Elvis Presley
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)
H.A.L.T. is a practice people trying to abstain from alcohol can use to help resist the urge to drink when feeling triggered. They check in with themselves and ask how they are feeling using prompts that start with H, A, L, and T. What feelings do each of these four letters stand for?
Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired
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
(1960’s) This world famous movie star shocked the world in 1962 from a barbiturate overdose which some say was accidental, some say was suicide and others say was murder
Marilyn Monroe