Addiction is a serious mental health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a compulsive behavior that makes a person unable to control themselves and makes them feel dependent on whatever substance or activity they become addicted to. Addiction starts with a person being exposed to something that releases pleasurable brain chemicals. This experience causes a person to seek out the behavior or substance again and again, and with time, the person is unable to resist the urge.
The process of becoming addicted involves multiple steps and varies from person to person. The most common process of addiction includes:
Premission and Initiation: During this stage, a person first becomes exposed to the substance or behavior they will later become addicted to. This could be through exposure to a friend, seeing the activity in a movie or even just trying it for the first time. Despite the origin of exposure, there is an initial feeling of pleasure or intrigue which drives people to explore it further.
Continuous Use: As a person continues to use or engage in the addicted behavior or substance, tolerance begins to build. This happens when the same amount of the substance no longer produces the same effect it once did. This causes people to take larger doses or engage in more extreme activities to achieve the same level of euphoria.
Dependence: Over time, a person will begin to depend on the addiction to function or feel pleasure. If a person doesn’t have access to the substance, they may experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches, nausea or depression. This is when addiction takes hold and a person is unable to resist the urge to engage in the activity or take the substance.
Compulsion: Many people with addictions find themselves feeling desperate and powerless to their own behaviors. They often try to quit but feel they are unable to do so because of a physiological and psychological attachment to the activity or substance.
Addiction is a serious psychological illness and should be treated as soon as possible. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, it is important to seek professional help. Addiction can be treated with a variety of methods and there is hope for those suffering to start on the path to sobriety.