I have questions about addictions?

Question

What are the patterns and traits and characteristics of a person who is addicted to drugs and alcohol? Why is it so hard for an addict to quit thier addictions and why is some cases the addict does not want to give up the addictive behaviors?

Answer 1

Some people don't want to stop their addiction. What makes it so hard to stop is the person gets comfortable with their habit they just can't go without it. Some addictions many people need stopping and can't do it alone. If a person uses a drug of alcohol for a long period of time they think it doesn't hurt them, but it is hurting them and the people they love and that love them.

Answer 2

Anyone who drinks everyday or uses a substance daily is addicted. If this substance is affecting their relationships and daily lives, chances are they are addicted to drugs or alcohol. People who recover from these addictions truly want to end their behavior and get control of their lives. Often people will not recover and will continue with this behavior because the habit is too strong and they do not have the willingness to stop. Patterns are hard to break and the motivation to stop not strong enough to end this behavior. If the drug or alcohol addiction does not negatively affect the individual to the point of considering stopping they do not have the motivation. Humans like to feel good and unfortunately, life is hard, and the crutch of addiction is very powerful. Everyone is different and the chemical affects people in many ways. Some are more apt to become addicted if these patterns are in thier family members. This is a very complicated topic with no concrete answers. Speaking with a physician who can provide specialists and facilities that have been successful in your area can be helpful. Fortunatley we all talk about this now and the stigma associated with this topic have lessened. Secrets are sins, speak up and let this subject out in the open. Making the first step is often the most difficult, but once made becomes easier. Good luck.

Answer 3

Is this a question for school, maybe your college psychology class?? lol just kidding.
I am not sure of the patterns, traits, and characteristics as I am sure they differ with each individual. Addictions can be hard to cut as the body develops a dependency on the drug(s) used. In some cases there are certain life situations which triggered the individual to begin using drugs. Often times the person is still dealing with the issue and see drugs as an escape from their problems, not realizing that it adds to them. I guess some addicts don't want to give up the behavior because they enjoy the way the high makes them feel, or their self esteem is so low that they begin not to care.
Hope that helps.

Answer 4

We, and I say we because there are many, many of us!
We want to alter the way we feel. Why? Because of mental insecurities. We are full of pride, anger, resentment,, self pity, depression, greed, envy, etc etc. Early in addiction, there may be no pattern, but once we start, we don't quit. It's a mental obsession, that then becomes a physical obsession. It's a progressive disease. Something in our brain screams, more, more, more. And our bodies cry, help, help ,help. We continue through the years, while our life and health fall apart. We're not oblivious to this, we just don't care! We feel that when we take that drink or drug or problem is solved again!
Over and over and over we do this.
We try to stop. Tell ourselves never again! But to no avail. The cravings are in-bedded into us.
Thank God there are rehabs & and recovery programs!
Through God and those people, recovery is possible!
The key to this is our own willingness. There is nothing in this world that would purswade us to stop! We have to be beat down to the point of being teachable. Sometimes near insanity!
Once an addict, or alcoholic always an addict alcoholic! To learn more you may want to attend a recovery based program. All are welcome! If you are wanting help for yourself, I strongly suggest that you continue attending. God bless you, and all who read this!!

Answer 5

Substance misuse is a net result of a complex interaction of a combination of biological, psychological, social and spiritual determinants. The population of misusers defies stereotyping and are heterogenous. How we think and respond to substance misuse follows a variable pattern over time, and the causes can be vague. Once someone is addicted, it is their "safe mode" or their crutch for life, breaking patterns and habits are difficult and change is a frightening thing for people. A heroin addict can use the complete abstinance approach, but it is difficult and not always successful, however it is dangerous for an alcoholic to try abstinance without careful monitoring and medical advice, it can cause cardiac arrest. Alcohol is a difficult one as most drug addicts will tell you what they do and when they do it and if they have relapsed, but an alcoholic lies to themself, never mind everyone around them. Addiction is a dehabilitating illness which can result in death, and causes unspeakable pain and suffering to the individuals family.

Answer 6

Someone who is addicted to alcohol or drugs becomes focused on getting their next fix. Work and homelife suffer. They won't be dependable and their money will dwindle. Some will even loose their jobs, loose their families and/or turn to crime.

It is hard to break the addiction because the body becomes dependent on the drug. They will have more than a mental craving, it will be physical and will become all they can think about. Going cold turkey will make them violently ill (DTs). I would imagine that addicts who want to stay addicts are either scared of going through that or don't want to give up the high.

Answer 7

A main characteristic of a person that has an addiction is that it interferes with their daily life. The substance or addiction is more important that children, friends, work, etc...
Someone is officially addicted when they cannot stop the behavior.
The addict does not want to stop because he or she is addcited and finds a source of comfort in teh behavior. The rational part of teh brain does not function, so, there is no point in telling the person: don't u know its bad? of course they know, but they have lost control. Drugs have addictive substances that create dependencies and triggerts the brain to crave the substance. for them to quit would involve extreme will power and withdrawal symptoms and its very very difficult because they have to go against what the chemicals in their brain are telling them to do.

Answer 8

Your question is complicated and covers multiple issues. You received a lot of good answers. I will offer one, from an addict who started at age 10, that is brief and a bit of a different symmetrical view point.

With all addicts’ substance users/abusers, the use of the substance is at the top of the surface; you see the substance abuse and its damming affect, however, I feel it is important to look under the use. Why is s/he using? This has become common now in the mental health arenas. Bottom line the user is attempting to avoid pain, usually psychological pain.

Best out come for the addicted; get help. Probably get on medications that help them "check in" rather than "checking out."

Answer 9

addicts can be very secretive and usually have a lot of excuses available (as to why they were "sick", ran out of money, etc) Most will become very defensive when questioned about any of their activities. Physically/emotionally- loss of appetite, irritability, mood swings, in alcoholics- the smell of the alcohol will come off of the person's skin, redness of the eyes, a red nose (sometimes with the appearance of "spider veins" too)

the list goes on...

As to why...generally people turn to drugs/alcohol for fun and experiment...or to self-medicate (go numb)...prolonged use (in some cases you only need to use it once) will lead to the body depending on it to feel "right"...the physical effects of withdrawl from some drugs can truly make someone feel as though they were dying...depression, etc...knowing that taking the drug will make them feel "better" starts the cycle of addiction.

Answer 10

There are categories of dependancy. Medically, dependancy ability that somebody desires to apply a substance to function regularly, like alcohol with an alcoholic. this would frequently be linked to actual dependency the place you easily get actual withdrawal warning signs in case you end taking the substance (alcohol, heroin, nicotine, caffeine etc.). dependancy is likewise frequently used for psychological dependence along with compulsive behaviour or substance abuse the place there is not any truthfully actual dependence. whilst somebody says they're addicted to pizza, until they'd desire to have pizza at conventional durations and without that they get cravings, insomnia, irritability etc. then they do no longer seem to be probable addicted - they only like it. human beings do get addicted to pizza, playing, even internet use (there have even been deaths). Medically, maximum could agree that dependancy is habitually doing something (be it substance abuse or some form of compulsive behaviour) to the detriment of wellbeing and social existence and having psychological withdrawal warning signs if the behaviour is withdrawn. contained on the topic of dependancy to bodily addictive drugs it is particularly much constantly coupled with actual dependence.