Humanity often likes to defend its right to freedom. On a global scale. At the same time, each of us is a prisoner of this or that addiction. For example, we cannot live without sweets, watching TV series, reading newspapers, etc. It would seem that there is nothing wrong with these innocent addictions. But, digging deeper, you can see that any bondage acts destructively: if not on the physical level, then on the moral and spiritual.
Addiction: what is it?
Every morning for most of us begins with aromatic coffee. We pour it into a cup, inhale the pleasant smell, slowly savor each sip. Are you saying it's not an addiction? You are wrong, because this is the real slavery. Try cutting out your favorite morning ritual, and you'll see that it takes exactly the same amount of effort as quitting smoking or drinking alcohol. Nerves, irritability and anger are what you will encounter in the early days. Farthersymptoms can already appear on the physical level: trembling in the hands, pressure surges, headaches.
Dependence is the need to periodically perform this or that action. On a simple example with coffee, we see that sometimes we have absolutely no control over the situation, rather, on the contrary, we ourselves are captured by it. Even if one or another of our addictions is completely innocent, it slowly destroys our "I", makes us not free, and in the future - weak and weak-willed. Addiction is always getting used to one or another object, action, phenomenon or person. Having lost the object of addiction, we do not find a place for ourselves. And sometimes it takes many years to get rid of unnecessary bondage.
Physical Addiction
Our unhe althy addictions manifest themselves in many ways. There are the following main types of dependence: physical and mental. The first type is the most dangerous, as it harms our he alth and leads to antisocial behavior. An addiction of this kind involves taking certain chemicals or other substances, as a result of which changes in the body occur, addiction and an urgent need develop.
The most common physical addiction is alcoholism. First, a person drinks to relax, relieve stress. But gradually gets used to the next dose of alcohol and "requires" it every day. The same thing happens when taking drugs, which can additionally cause hallucinations, mentaldisorders and insensitivity to pain.
Physical addictions also include drugs - taking drugs (sleeping pills, cough or pressure) in very large doses and a pathological unwillingness to give them up. And, of course, smoking is also a variant of "slavery", when the body cannot function normally without another dose of nicotine.
Psychic addiction
This is the endless craving of a person for a certain activity, a way of leisure. The most common manifestation of mental addiction is gambling, or the need for gambling. In this case, slot machines, roulette, cards, sweepstakes become the meaning of human life. The first reason why people start playing is the desire to get rich, to win a valuable prize. But gradually a person gets so involved that he spends all his money, sells property to win back, gets into debt, starts stealing, etc.
At the psychological level, there are also such types of addiction as workaholism and shopaholism. In the first case, a person simply dissolves in work, he spends time around the clock in the office and on business trips. Of course, career growth is important for each of us, but when it completely replaces family, leisure, hobbies and other joys of life, then we can talk about addiction. As for shopaholism, women are usually prone to it. The desire to acquire new things becomes obsessive, as a result of which absolutely unnecessary items are bought every day (clothes, cosmetics, jewelry, etc.).
Internet addiction in teenagers
This phenomenon should be discussed separately, since recently the problem has become so serious that it can be called a mass epidemic. Dependence on the Internet has its subspecies: web surfing, obsessive wandering from site to site, virtual communication in social networks, dating, correspondence, computer games. A teenager spends all his free time at the monitor, he stops sleeping and eating normally, skips classes, does not go in for sports and does not communicate with peers. As a result, he develops obesity, problems with vision and stomach, school performance declines, problems begin.
Internet addiction in teenagers can be prevented. Prevention is complete control over the child: you should always know what your son or daughter is doing on the Web. Also, parents can become a so-called guide for their child: show that there is a lot of interesting things on the Internet besides games and social networks. Organize the leisure of a minor, persuade him to sign up for various sports sections, and have an active rest with the whole family. In this case, the child's chances of becoming Internet addicted will be minimal.
Other types of slavery
The most common types of addictions have been described above. But psychological dependence also has other guises, rarer, but no less dangerous. For example, religious fanaticism. A person falls under the influence of a particular creed or sect. Dependent people not only follow the often meaningless laws of this or that associationfanatics, but also carry all their savings there. Recently, cases of such dependence are becoming more common. The same can be said about emotional bondage - the inability to live without a loved one, parents or children. A person is so strongly attached to them that this feeling becomes the basis of life. If there is a separation from the object of adoration, the addict falls into depression, ends up in a lunatic asylum, or commits suicide.
Psychological addiction can overtake a person in the form of bulimia - a pathological desire to constantly eat. A patient can absorb 10-20 kilograms of products in just one day. The causes of bulimia are often stress, nervous tension. Also, one cannot help but recall perfectionism - the manic desire to look perfect, as a result of which people constantly resort to plastic surgery. This is also an addiction, which is more often influenced by women related to show business.
Main symptoms
They manifest themselves differently for everyone, but there are common signs that are characteristic of all. For example, dependent behavior. It is characterized by the same type of actions of the patient. A person works out the same pattern of behavior over and over again, rejecting even the opportunity to re-evaluate the situation and react to it. Such actions are unproductive, they leave no way for creativity, self-development, possible social adaptation, the ability to find a way out of the current situation.
Let's take a player as an example. Even if hehe has already lost a large amount of money in the casino, he still continues to try to hit the jackpot. Every day he will make new bets, lose, but again return to cards or roulette. His behavior is fixated on the same pattern: a person does not allow the opportunity to stop in order to save the remaining finances and property. As for alcoholics, many of them claim that they drink because of depression. This condition, in turn, often becomes a consequence of excessive drinking, as a result of which people again reach for the bottle. Addiction is a mania that takes on the shape of a vicious circle.
Signs of addiction
Very often pathological cravings are incurable. Even if a drug addict or alcoholic does not drink for several years, he can break at any moment. For the rest of his life, he will not be able to control the use of psychotropic substances or alcohol: a he althy person who knows the measure and can always stop, he will no longer become.
Addiction is a disease. It develops gradually, has its stages. Addiction progresses, often like a snowball rushing down a mountain. With each new second, it flies even faster, acquiring new layers. Therefore, if the patient breaks down, it turns out that during abstinence, his addiction not only did not subside, but, on the contrary, gained strength.
Some forms of addiction are deadly. A drug addict can die from an overdose, get high in an accident, go crazy, commit suicide. Alcoholic is waitingcirrhosis of the liver or a fight in which he is stabbed with a knife. Very often, such people pass away much earlier than expected.
Can I stop?
Treatment of addiction is a very long and painstaking process. The most difficult thing is to get rid of cravings for drugs and alcohol. Usually the patient cannot cope with the addiction on his own, and he needs specialized treatment. Anonymous circles and specialized clinics have been organized for this group of addicts. Doctors and psychologists are developing a comprehensive treatment that will surely lead to a happy ending. The main thing is that the patient strives to get on the right path and work on himself.
Other types of addiction do not require hospitalization, in these cases only willpower is needed. For example, a person can quit smoking on his own, for this it is important to formulate the motivation for such an act. Gamblers, shopaholics, workaholics and other addicts need the help of close people who will distract them from harmful cravings, organize an interesting pastime.
