What Is Addiction?




Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease manifested by the use of compelling substances despite its harmful consequences. People with intoxication (serious substance abuse disorders) have a deep focus on the use of certain substances such as alcohol or drugs which can lead to their death.
Not long ago, addiction was considered a moral condition. Addicts have been seen as bad people, deliberately selfish and hedonistic, rather than individuals suffering from a mental and physical illness.After years of research, we now have a clearer understanding of addiction with the current model that reveals that addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease. In fact, addiction is sometimes referred to as a substance use disorder, which leads to comparisons with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia as common as diseases such as diabetes.
Recent studies on the nature of addiction have identified large cases of concomitant mental illness among people suffering from substance use disorders.

Is addiction a mental disorder?

By definition, the term "co-occurring disorders" is used to refer to the case of two diagnoses that occur in a single individual. Since the 1980s, research has continued to indicate that addiction disease has a high rate of coincidence with other mental illnesses, people suffering from addiction are about twice as likely to suffer from a mental illness in comparison. to the total population. Also, those with mental illness are about twice as likely to become addicted to chemicals.
Addiction itself could be considered a mental illness, but the concomitant physical nature of addiction prevents it from being classified only as a mental health disorder; however, part of the disease is psychological, people who develop addictions will have certain psychological symptoms in addition to physical and chemical addiction.

What Exactly Is the Connection Between Addiction and Mental Illness?


In terms of psychological well-being, individuals who develop addiction have an increasingly challenging set of expectations, suggesting that their ability to approach their self-interests. This is a picture that appears in unusual behavior, despite a number of side effects, including a decline in physical health, as well as legislation. However, addictions that cannot control their emotions are also a sign of many other mental illnesses. It is also important to note that substance abuse affects high levels of neurochemicals such as dopamine and serotonin in the brain, controlling one emotion elsewhere.In such cases, mental disorders often cause imbalance in these medications and often require an medication such as an antidepressant to correct the imbalance. Obviously, there are many links between addiction and mental illness.
The rates of co-mental illness are significantly higher in individuals affected by drugs than those with alcohol-related disorders by about 72 percent and 45 percent, respectively. Depression is a common feature among those who have a substance use disorder, but it is rare and it is widely available to alcohol-affected people, up to 67 percent of which are available. also in the context of depression, but 75 percent of those who are opioid-dependent find such a solution.Treatment providers report that 20–45% of addicts are diagnosed with concomitant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which adds credibility to the theory that traumatic experiences significantly increase the likelihood of alcohol or alcohol abuse. medicines. 10–15% of those treated meet the diagnostic criteria for social phobia, but are rarely reported to receive a true diagnosis during treatment. Disorders among addicts occur at an astonishingly high rate, and researchers have developed some theories on how addiction and mental illness can relate to each other.

Individuals who suffer from addiction suffer almost twice as much from mental illness.

First, we suggest that the development of alcohol or drug addiction may trigger symptoms of mental health disorders, as evidenced by the increased risk of psychosis among marijuana users. The second thought is that mental illness can trigger drug abuse and become addictive, illustrated by the tendency of trauma or violent crime victims to turn to substance use as a means of coping. The ultimate idea is the notion that addiction and co-occurring mental illness involve common or overlapping risk factors, which may include genetic or biological disorders, environmental triggers such as stress or trauma, involvement of similar brain areas, or some adolescent developmentIn fact, co-occurring mental illness and addiction are likely to occur due to some interaction of all three options. This is even more likely given the strong psychological basis of addiction and the symptoms with which addiction divides mental illness. In short, addiction can cause mental illness, be caused by mental illness, or develop simultaneously and independently due to overlapping risk factors.

Make Mental Health Treatment and Recovery a Priority

The brain is an enigma. Despite mounting and ongoing research, our understanding of the human mind is tentative and tenuous. However, we continue to develop a more complete understanding of the most complex organ of any organism on the planet. It is important to be aware of afflictions such as substance use disorder and its relationship with mental illness. This can enable the ability to help those suffering from such conditions to find quality treatment for their symptoms and achieve a better quality of life. 

I'm concluding my topic with some of ways to recover your Mental Health :
  • Pay attention to your body as well as your mind
  • Remind yourself that you are not alone
  • Take care of your body - even when you don't feel like it
  •  If your doctor prescribes medication, take it as prescribed
  •  Keep in mind your triggers
  •  Reach out to others.
  •  Get back to what you Love

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