What Really is Addiction?

What is Addiction?

🤯Addiction is a brain disease that can be understood as a long-term attachment to drugs, no matter the negative consequences or a desire to stop using drugs. Addiction is a brain disease because drugs change the brain’s structure and how it works💊
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🧬Who is at risk for addiction? One factor that affects addiction is biology. Some people have more sensitive reward centers in their brains, resulting in a greater sense of pleasure during drug use. Additionally, inherited traits and environmental influences from family members can increase an individual’s predisposition to addiction👨‍👩‍👦
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🧠Another factor that affects addiction is someone’s mental or emotional state. Drug use can come from wanting to escape reality or wanting to relieve anxiety and depression. For addicts, this is typically the cause of their continued use - their brain is so accustomed to the drug that if they were to stop using, they’d experience an unbearable amount of pain, anxiety, and/or depression❌
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🏋️‍♂️🧠Addiction is characterized by physical and psychological dependence. Physical dependence is the body’s constant need for a drug to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Psychological dependence is the desire for a drug and the concern if it is not available🍸
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😥Signs of addiction include: the constant need to seek and consume a drug, the inability to limit the intake of a drug, and having withdrawal symptoms after stopping the use of the drug. Withdrawal symptoms include: anxiety, sweating, fatigue, shaking, insomnia, depression, and seizures😖💊
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❤️ If you believe yourself or a friend may be suffering from addiction, please reach out to us via confidential DM or email. We have resources available to support you in accessing help, free from judgement❤️