The Psychology of Addiction: How We Become Addicted and How to Break the Cycle

Any addiction develops as a result of a complex interaction of genetic, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Breaking the cycle of addiction requires taking some essential steps. Firstly, you need to acknowledge and accept that you have an addiction.

• After the unwanted feelings and then the triggers, a person may enter into the Addiction Cycle.
• An addict in this stage needs counseling and support to help them move to the next.
• The results also suggest an “increased demand for the drug,” says Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), who wasn’t involved in the NIDA-funded study.
• The reality is different, and as a society, we need to get rid of that common belief.

But it’s possible if individuals understand the nature of addiction and the stages it goes through. Addiction can cause individuals to lose control of get out of addiction cycle their substance use. It can negatively impact various aspects of someone’s life, such as relationships, professional careers, and overall health.

The Addiction Treatment Process

If you buy drugs, you should consider telling your dealer that you are quitting; ask your dealer not to call you and not to sell you drugs anymore. Also, you might want to consider talking to your health care provider about the method of quitting that is best for you. There may be medications that can ease the process for you and increase your chances of success. Breaking free from that harmful cycle can be challenging when someone struggles with addiction.

They enjoy the pleasure of their addiction and are yet to have a significant negative experience. This stage is also marked by defensiveness and justification of addictive behavior. Some people remain in this phase because they don’t have sufficient information about addictive behavior. The frustration from several failed attempts at quitting can also make a person believe recovery is impossible, keeping them stuck in this stage. Typically, a crisis moment brings some clarity and a resolve not to use the substance again. A period of abstinence follows until the individual encounters a trigger, and a craving for the substance overwhelms them.

Are You Married to an Addict and Need Help Now?

At this stage, the individual will progress to heavy substance use, leading to the next stage. Informed by her personal journey to recovery and support of loved ones in sobriety, Jessica’s empathetic and authentic approach resonates deeply with the Addiction Help community. Relapse is defined to have occurred regardless of whether the addict attempted https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to stop the drug themselves before seeking treatment or enrolling in a treatment center. Tolerance occurs when the brain or body of an addict has changed in response to the substance, requiring higher amounts to achieve the same effect. Detox focuses on helping people to stop taking the addicting drug as quickly and as safely as possible.