Addiction!, Addiction!!, Addiction!!!
What are you addicted to money, love, gossip, alcohol, movies, or Wattpad? Yes, some are addicted to Wattpad, I was before now. So today we would be going in-depth on addiction both good and bad, the causes, and the stepping out or getting out.
This topic got to me while I was meditating and my brain was writing a full article without jotting down anything and I had to say to myself, I need to concentrate on this meditation and my brain dares not distract me, now that I need to write the brain is on break 💁.
This field is new to me, and I would love to learn from you all, coupled with some studies I carried out on it. So kindly follow me through this journey.
What does Addiction mean? The word Addiction is so ambiguous. It is a complex and pervasive condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. It is characterized by compulsive and uncontrollable substance use or engagement in certain behaviors, despite harmful consequences.
Addiction can involve substances such as drugs (e.g., alcohol, nicotine, opioids) or activities such as gambling, gaming, or even excessive internet usage. Regardless of the specific form it takes, addiction can have severe physical, psychological, social, and economic ramifications for both the individuals struggling with addiction and their loved ones.
As I fore-mentioned we have good and bad addictions which would you be interested in first the good or the bad? Hmmm, I know you want us to get started with the bad addictions first. So yes, here are some of the bad addictions we know and some we don’t even know we do. So today we would be talking about 5 common bad addictions.
Which are FIGSS, I love acronyms that I think it is part of the strange addictions 🤣. Anyways let us get started.
Food Addiction
You won’t believe this, I was shocked at first but it is what it is. A lack of control over eating habits, binge eating, and emotional eating characterizes an unhealthy relationship with food. Some of us do this when there is a little shake in our emotions, we use eating what we like to try in resolving the current issue at hand, which of course doesn’t provide the needed solution but causes another one. I can say boldly that I am addicted to eating rice. I have this eating habit, I stated that once it is past 6 pm I won’t be eating anything until the next morning but if rice was prepared by 8 pm by one of my Sisters, I do break protocol and I was like is this normal because it doesn’t seem normal to me again 😩, I see it as an addiction that I am working on to overcome because I can’t let the rice to control me. Please I need help 😊.
Internet/Technology Addiction
Obsessive and excessive use of the internet, social media, video games, or smartphones, causes neglect of real-life responsibilities and social isolation. This is like a terminal disease of this generation, we stay more on social media platforms than we stay with ourselves or even family. It is a thing that everyone especially the Gen-Z can relate well with. Most people spend their day and night on socials, scrolling through different data and giving the brain a lot of data to process and reprocess because some would be eradicated by the brain, the brain doesn’t have enough time to reprocess the given information because we are always adding more unnecessary Information to it.
Gambling Addiction
Compulsive gambling leads to financial distress, strained relationships, and emotional difficulties. I want to specially say Hi to my Clifford guys, hope you guys are doing well and I hope you’ve not lost today. Most gamblers think they win when they get what they played for, but the truth of the matter is they entered a chain called try/risk again. Let me explain, for instance, if I gambled first with N1 and I gained N10, my brain enters what I call a calculative mood and starts the calculation that if I put in the whole N10, I would gain N100, which is a risk. In the second play, I lost the whole money with the capital, nothing was left. So I go home with nothing not even my money which is the invested capital. I know people say life is a 50/50 game, but I like a 70/30 where I know I have the upper hand not just a random result the life throws at me. A lot of people would be I am not ready to take risks, but I am, I just make sure I take a well-calculated risk.
Substance Abuse
Addiction to drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, or prescription medications.
Addiction to drugs or commonly called drug abuse is a very bad addiction that does not only take the person’s money but time and likewise health which leads to death or mental issues.
A lot of people are in situations they are not meant to be but all because they wanted to try new things or peer pressure(my friend did this I must also scenario) has caused a lot of their sanity.
Well, substance Abuse is not only on Drugs but also Alcohol. Too much of something is the end of it.
Drink responsibly if you think you cannot do without it because you have to put your liver and kidney into consideration.
Self-harm Addiction
Engaging in self-injury or self-destructive behaviors as a way to cope with emotional pain, results in physical harm and long-term psychological consequences. Some of us do think making our bodies undergo physical damage would resolve a lot, but it doesn’t, it just affect our mental health in the long run. Why not take a step back to think about the issue and reach out to people who can help you? or turn that energy to the gym and build muscles.
There are various things we get addicted to, knowingly or unknowingly, so with the above examples highlighted, I hope you’ve seen some of your addictions. A problem known is a problem half-solved. So let us talk about what causes addiction
Causes of Addiction
We would be talking about 4 causes of Addictions. We have PEMS:
- Personal characteristics: Certain personality traits or characteristics may contribute to addiction vulnerability. These can include a propensity for risk-taking, sensation-seeking behavior, low self-esteem, impulsivity, or difficulties in managing stress.
- Environmental factors: The environment in which a person grows up and lives can contribute to the development of addiction. Factors such as peer pressure, exposure to drugs or alcohol, availability of addictive substances, dysfunctional family dynamics, trauma, and stress can increase the likelihood of developing an addiction.
- Mental health conditions: People with certain mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may be more susceptible to addiction. Substance abuse can sometimes be a form of self-medication to alleviate symptoms or cope with emotional pain.
- Social and cultural factors: Societal and cultural influences can impact addiction rates. Factors like cultural acceptance of substance use, advertising and media portrayals of substance use, and social norms surrounding drug or alcohol consumption can all contribute to the development of addictive behaviors.
How to Resolve or Get out of Addiction
We would be talking about 4 ways to Get out of Addiction. They are BADS:
- Build a support system: Surround yourself with supportive and understanding individuals who can offer encouragement, motivation, and accountability. This can include friends, family, support groups, or mentors who have experience with addiction recovery.
- Acknowledge the problem: Recognize and accept that there is an addiction issue. Admitting the problem is the first step toward recovery.
- Detoxification: In cases of substance abuse, a medically supervised detoxification process may be necessary to safely manage withdrawal symptoms. Detoxification is typically followed by further treatment to address the psychological and behavioral aspects of addiction.
- Seek professional help: You must be playing if you think you can do it all alone (Just Dey Play), There are levels to addictions that can be handled by oneself. Consult with healthcare professionals, such as doctors, therapists, or addiction counselors, who specialize in addiction treatment. They can provide guidance, create a personalized treatment plan, and offer necessary interventions.
Thanks for joining me today and I hope you’ve been able to learn one or two. If any common addictions haven’t been mentioned. I am open to learning from you, kindly drop your view in the comment section, likewise a real-life story is welcomed. Thanks.
And not to leave you without a backup plan, I have some books recommendation for ya.
- Clean: Overcoming Addiction and Ending America’s Greatest Tragedy by David Sheff.
- Addiction: A Disorder of Choice by Gene M. Heyman
- Addiction by Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas by Natasha Dow Schüll
- Addiction Recovery Management: Theory, Research, and Practice by John F. Kelly and William L. White
Do you believe you can overcome all of your bad addictions and turn them into good addictions? Yes, you can and I trust you on this journey. So put on the garment of trust in yourself, dear.
Thanks for taking some minutes out of your time to stay with me to the end.
I love you all dearly 🥰🥰🥰🥰.
