The Addictive Personality Part Two

Much has been written about genetic predisposition and its relationship to addictive personalities. Having an addict in the family does not guarantee that everyone in the family will become addicts. But many believe that hereditary factors can raise a person's level of vulnerability to substance abuse or other addictions. That may explain why some gamble in moderation and others compulsively-why some can drink for enjoyment and others become alcoholics.

It does seem as if those with the genetic predisposition will engage in some type of excessive behavior but will not necessary choose the same stimuli they have been exposed to. Adult children of alcoholics may never drink but they may become addicted to gambling. Children of drug addicts may exercise excessively or be workaholics.

There is no single gene that determines a person's susceptibility to addiction. Studies comparing identical and fraternal twins estimate that genetic factors account for 40 to 60 percent of the occurrence of the gene variation.

Researchers have discovered a number of genes that link to addiction through DNA testing. One gene causes dizziness and nausea from smoking and is more present in non-smokers than smokers. Alcoholism is rare in those who have two copies of the ALDH2 gene. Other genes have been linked to narcotic dependency.

Variants in certain genes have been shown to suppress dopamine signals in the brain. Those with these blunted receptors have the need to seek higher levels of stimulation to reach the same level of pleasure as those who don't have the variants. DNA testing can offer vital clues in battling addiction but the use of it is very controversial. The concern is that some may use this information for discrimination purposes.

It comes down to the nature versus nurture argument. Environment and upbringing are believed to be equally important in shaping the personality. Our life circumstances and emotional experiences may have more influence than our genetic make-up does. Under this theory no matter our chemical make-up, we still have the ability to choose and control our actions.

There are factors that may indicate a higher risk of developing a serious addiction. People who have difficulty thinking about the long term consequences of their actions are more susceptible to developing an addiction. So are those who do everything in excess and/or to extremes, and those who habitually substitute one compulsion for another. For example, stressed out workaholics may come home at the end of the day and start drinking to help them relax. They may use cybersex because they don't have time for real relationships. They may stress-eat.

Those with addictive personalities are most vulnerable during periods of heightened stress such as adolescence and times of transition. People who suffer from mental illnesses, emotional disorders, and personality disorders are highly prone to addiction as well. Without being aware that they have a condition, they may self-medicate to manage emotions using substances or behaviors to relieve whatever discomfort they may feel.

Nonconformists, non-achievers, and those with deviant personalities are also prime candidates for addiction. Many adult addicts report having been subjected to deprivation or overindulgence in their childhoods. Others report that they were negatively impacted by their parents' constant, unpredictable fluctuation between over-praise and over-criticism.

Addictions are unmanageable, excessive, and repetitive. The addiction activity begins harmlessly with a pleasurable experience, but over time more and more of the activity is needed to achieve the same effect. People become dependent on the high they get and find it difficult to stop the behavior. If deprived of their fix they will find a substitute. If forced to stop the behavior they will suffer physical or psychological symptoms of withdrawal that compel them to resume the addiction. Over time they lose the ability to cope with life without the addictive stimuli.

People with addictions will deny that what they're doing is detrimentally affecting them while work, family, and social relationships suffer and their health declines. Their desperation often lead them to take extremes in getting the fix, which ultimately creates financial and legal issues.

Addictions can be classified as hard or soft. Hard addictions, also known as substance addiction, are categorized by the rapid affect they have on many aspects of the person's behavior as well as the effect they have on everyone around him or her. Abuse of alcohol, barbiturates, and narcotics are usually the source of this type of addiction. This is different than substance abusers who use from time to time. Substance addicts spend every waking moment finding ways to buy and use drugs or alcohol.

With soft addictions the abuser uses activities that are harmless to most people. The consequences of those behaviors are not immediately felt. Cigarette smoking and coffee drinking are two commonly known examples of soft addictions. It is much easier to hide soft addictions and cover up the behaviors that result from them. But soft-addictions have the propensity to lead to more serious addictions down the road.

Gambling is another common example of a soft addiction. Gamblers with addictive personalities go through three stages. In the first phase, also known as the winning phase, the person has control over his or her behavior. The second stage is known as the losing phase. In this phase the person begins gambling alone, gambling large sums of money, and borrowing cash to pay off mounting debt. The third phase is called the desperation phase. In this phase the gambler engages in more risky, sometimes illegal behavior. In desperation he or she may borrow money from non conventional sources. Depression and attempted suicide are common in the third phase of gambling.

Other examples of soft addictions are eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive over-eating. Though there are other factors that contribute to this type of behavior, it can develop into pathological behavior that is very similar to addiction. The anorexic fixates on the goal of losing weight. Once the person begins dieting he or she finds it very hard to stop. Those with bulimia are after the same goal as those who are anorexic, but the mode of operation is different. Instead of limiting their diet they binge on large amounts of food and then purge it before their bodies have the chance to digest it. Compulsive eaters are not concerned with weight loss or weight gain, though the disorder often results in obesity. They have a compulsive urge to eat, whether hungry or not.

Something as beneficial as exercising can become a preoccupation or addiction to those who are predisposed to having one. Running is the most prevalent; runners are known to get a runner's high and can become dependent on it. This is attributed to mood-enhancing chemicals called endorphins that are released during exercise. An addiction occurs when the exercise activity is used as an escape or a coping mechanism. It's a problem when it becomes so excessive that the body suffers injury, and when it negatively impacts relationships.

Compulsive buying falls under the category of soft addictions. Those who do it are addicted to the buzz it gives them. It has nothing to do with what they are buying, it is simply their drug. They buy only for the sake of buying without ever intending to use it. Those with this disorder often suffer from other disorders such as depression, mood swings, and anxiety. Buying gives them temporary relief, but after they do it they feel heightened anxiety and intense guilt. One study showed that twenty percent of compulsive buyers suffer from an eating disorder as well.

The two newest additions to the soft-addiction category are Internet abuse and cell phone abuse. They are more prevalent in younger generations, though there is a significant number of older people who develop these addictions as well.

Those who have an Internet addiction, also known as pathological Internet use, find they cannot control their usage of it. They may be drawn to online games, social networking sites, or other online sites, and will spend an excessive amount of time there. The use becomes an addiction when withdrawal symptoms such as mood changes are suffered when they are away from it.

Some people become addicted to cyber relationships. A problem occurs when these relationships are used to avoid face to face, interpersonal interactions. This addiction can lead to social, psychological, and work or school problems.

A recent study shows that those who are addicted to cell phone use display behaviors very similar to those with addictive personalities-low self-esteem, approval seeking, insecurity. Cell phones have become indispensable in our lives, but they can reinforce the tendency of over-attachment for those with addictive personalities.

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Hope Is In The Air

Addiction has been termed a "soul sickness." Doctors deal with the physical symptoms and ease the turmoil of withdrawal. Some insist the drinker go through it without helpful meds to "teach the alcoholic a lesson."

With alcohol, withdrawal can be fatal and should only be done under medical care. Alcohol cannot erase negative emotions, it suppresses them. When liquor is removed, all those feelings rise to the surface. One drinker described stopping as "slamming the breaks on a car full of emotional baggage."

With one in ten at risk and 88,000 Americans dying each year from "alcohol use disorder," doctors are finally looking at new ways to treat the addict while the government approves new forms of therapies. Trauma, auto accidents and organ failure are claiming so many lives. Relapse rates and multiple trips to rehabilitation clinics show that current methods need to be re-invented.

Ten percent of the population is too many to write off as "morally weak." As an alcoholic who couldn't stop, I didn't want to stay here any longer. I found life harsh and unrelenting. The greed, selfishness and indifference I found in some people took the wind out of my sails. A drinking lifestyle became an irritant to my soul.

New treatment options saved me. Eight years in AA provided some sobriety and a wonderful support system but I was an alcoholic that needed more. MAT-medication assisted therapy-allowed me to overcome the cravings and maintain long-term success.

Carl Jung said "Spiritum Contra Spiritus," which translates to "fight fire with fire." I begged God over and over to remove my desire to drink, all the cravings and any residual feeling of "turning to the bottle" to cope.

Up until recently, the first line of treatment for an addict seeking help was a list of nearby 12-step meetings. Alcoholics Anonymous had the corner on the recovery market because it was the only option offered. Today, some physicians understand the need for unique programs that directly meet the needs of the user.

No one woke up and decided to become addicted. Until the chemical hooks are deeply embedded, most don't know that they are hooked until stopping is attempted. Multiple 'serious' tries to get and remain clean are usually part of every addict's path.

Drugs, alcohol, illness, stress: all distort vision like a bad pair of glasses so one can't "see" what the right thing to do is. New ways are on the horizon and some are just beginning to enter the treatment world. Attitudes are shifting and fewer people damn the addict for self-medicating. Life itself brings the hope to heal.

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Who Is Your Master?

You're a slave and don't even know it.

According to Websters dictionary a slave has two prominent definitions. The first states the following: "A person held in servitude as the chattel of another. The second definitions goes even deeper. It states the following: " One that is completely subservient to a dominating influence."

Addiction does just that. It becomes your task master and you become its slave. Addiction requires that. Complete unadulterated devotion, worship, and servitude. It requires great sacrifice and even then it is not satisfied. It says that you must do everything and anything to feed its appetite. It's cravings are more fierce than the largest grizzly bear, or the mighty lion. Because of our servitude we abide by whatever addiction asks.

We never count the cost. We never think of what we are losing in order to feed this domineering force. I have seen mothers forsake their children and sacrifice that righteous bond for a needle in their arm. I have seen fathers sell everything they own including their very soul to keep the high for just a little longer. Addiction does not care. It says that there is nothing above it. It is no respecter of person. It wants to kill everyone the same. It holds you in its clutches until it takes your life. Even then it wants more. It will carry on to someone else seeking their souls as well.

Wow we are slaves and don't even know it! We don't see the condition that we are truly in. We have become N.U.M.B. This acronym stands for Not Understanding My Behavior. When we are locked into the grips of addiction we become desensitized by it. We don't understand what our behavior is doing to ourselves, or those around us. The drugs create a box that keeps just it and ourselves locked in and chained together. To begin the process of healing we need to come to terms with our condition. We need to own it. "Look at what my life has become, look at what I have done." When we recognize it, and own it, we can begin to change it.

Yet how do we get to that point of cognitively recognizing our condition? When do we become aware or awake. I have seen parents lose their children to the system. Even that would not trigger that light bulb of self-realization. That look at my world. Look at the reality I have created. I have made a mess of things. That didn't do it. I have seen several people overdose and thanks to the life saving Narcan administered by a police officer lived to see another day. Even then that would not do it. So what does? What brings a person to that point of self realization and the yearning to change? It takes brokenness.

Brokenness comes when you become sick and tired of being sick and tired. The unfortunate reality is that some never get that opportunity. My own uncle died from a drug overdose in 2015. He was only 39 at the time. According to toxicology he had tried Fentanyl for the first time that night he died. It was determined that he died from a toxic mixture of Morphin and Fentanyl. Since that time there has been thousands who have died nation wide from drug overdoses. Thousands who never found the victory that comes in brokenness. See when we are broken, it does not show that we are defeated. It shows that we are set for a comeback.

Everyone loves a good comeback story. A tale of someone beating the odds. Someone who has overcome adversity to find victory just on the other side. That can happen even when your locked in the bonds of slavery to addiction.

In 1831 there was the Nat Turner Rebellion. It was a slave rebellion that took place in Southampton County, Virginia. During this revolt the slaves led by Nat Turner turned on their masters and eventually killed from 55 to 65 people. The slaves had become tired of their condition and treatment and rose up against their masters. We must come to that point as well. See there is a righteous anger to be found within the arena of brokenness. It is that anger that motivates us to make the necessary changes to begin recovery. We can't just recognize the problem and leave it to sit and become like cancer. Malignant and continuing to spread. We must become equally as aggressive to beat our master as we were to serve him. It is important for us to remember to use our anger in positive and creative ways to overcome the task master of addiction. It is not an easy path to take but it is one that leads to absolute victory.

When we realize that our life has become unmanageable we have taken the great first step to lasting recovery and complete healing. Now you have called out your enemy. You see him for the first time clearly. Now it is time to break free, and say I'm not going back. Addiction though does not let go quietly. It puts up a fight. It runs after you. It stalks you around every corner waiting for just one moment of weakness. It is important to find those you can lean on while on the path to recovery.

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The Invisible Line

It's called crossing 'the invisible line.' One moves toward it with every drink or hit until the offending chemical changes body chemistry towards addiction. It isn't felt until it has a full hold. That's the catch. A person doesn't know he/she is hooked until stopping becomes difficult.

There are online sites coming from every angle when it comes to addiction education and resources. Many support groups have begun or thrived due to the influx of new 'customers.' Online meetings make connecting in some form available to almost everybody.

Only a few years ago, a list of 12-step meetings was the first line of defense when addiction or alcoholism was diagnosed. Many caught in the chemical trap of pain pills or liquor have tried a multitude of ways to stop with a wide range of results.

Due to the amount of people dying, the situation with America's relationship with drugs/alcohol is front page news. President Trump declared it a 'minor emergency' which limited resources for rehabilitation but it's a nod at the problem.

When dealing with the enigma of chemical abuse, an enormous amount of time and resources could be spared if recovered addicts were placed in key positions to organize treatment programs. If addicts are going through programs 10-20 times before recovery, they are not effective.

Other countries are having impressive results with alternative methods of coping with addicts and the fallout including diseases, accidents and lost work potential. Portugal and parts of Europe are both showing a model of recovery that works.

The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it is connection. Abstinence is the path to get there but if removing the addictive substance is the only remedy, the problem still lives and will strengthen.

Dual disorders. Poly-addictions. Single source abuse issues-alcohol, opiates, speed-type drugs. Trauma-related addiction. There are many ways to disconnect in the world. Loneliness, pain or tragedy combined with chemical hooks creates a recipe for disaster.

A user must be separated once and for all from the offending chemical so the body can begin the long process of adjustment that will re-connect neural pathways and cleanse bodily fluids. Alcohol, for example, stays in the body fluids for up to a year.

With 10 percent of the U.S. population currently suffering from an 'alcohol use disorder' and the opiod epidemic in high gear, the situation has now been triaged to the front. Addiction must be treated as an imbalance that starts spiritually, becomes mental and manifests physically before killing its victim or we will continue to fill morgues, jails and hospitals.

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7 Alcohol Rehab Success Tips For Faster Recovery

According to the World Health Organization, the consumption of alcohol is responsible for many common diseases, disabilities and deaths in the world. If you binge on alcohol and want to get rid of this addiction, you may want to enter a rehab. This will help you stay clean and sober. Let's know more.

1. Be Honest

You don't need to make a promise with your family, friends or loved ones before you enter a rehab. All you need to do is be honest about what you want to do. First of all, you need to ask yourself a few question to find out if you really drink too much of alcohol. If you do, you need help.

2. Get rid of the Stigma

In 1956, the American Medical Association (AMA) stated that alcoholism is a disease. Aside from this, the WHO considers that alcoholism is one of the biggest health issues in the here and now. So, it's safe to say that this addiction is a disease.

You need to keep in mind that if you drink too much doesn't mean you are a bad person. You just need to get help. No matter how worse your problem is, you can benefit from the right type of treatment.

3. Participate

If you want your alcohol rehab to work for you, make sure you give it a go first. What you need to do is take part in your own recovery in addition to go to a rehab. You have to get involved in order to make it work. You have to get involved if you want to create a solid base for your recovery.

4. Build the Base for Success

No two people are same from all aspects. The success of alcohol rehab depends upon a treatment plan that can help you for a long term. If you have trained professionals to help you, you can put together a plan that can help you stay healthy after a successful treatment at a rehab.

5. Make A Treatment Team

Again, the treatment professionals and counselors at the rehab clinic will help you achieve success. It's also a good idea to make friends with meeting attendees and other patients. However, you should not take it too fast.

6. Don't develop wrong relationships

During your rehab period, we suggest that you don't make new relationships, especially ones that are dramatic and intense. It's not a good idea to think about romantic ideas and elation. As a matter of fact, elation can be beneficial. However, you will find it hard to stay clean and sober if you start a relationship with the wrong person. But there is no harm in starting a positive relationship.

7. Adopt Healthy Activities

You also need to make a list of some healthy activities. For instance, you can read a book, take a walk, listen to music or watch movies. As a matter of fact, drug rehab provides you with a safe environment to try out new things to get pleasure. Drug rehab also gives you a place so you can resolve your other problems.

Hopefully, these alcohol rehab success tips will help you recover fast.

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Addiction and the Role of Exercise in Managing It

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), less than half of world population (38.3%) actually drinks alcohol. Those who do drink consume on average 17 liters of pure alcohol annually. Moreover, the harmful use of alcohol results in 3.3 million deaths each year. Beside, at least 15.3 million persons have drug use disorders.

These and some other statistics are quite unnerving to the friends and family members of people, who have some kind addiction.

Addiction is a chronic disorder, for which many biological, psychological, social and environmental factors are accountable. About half the risk for addiction is genetic. Genes affect the quantity of reward that an individual experiences when initially using a substance e.g., drugs, alcohol or engaging in certain behaviors e.g., gambling. A heightened desire to re-experience use of the substance or behavior, potentially influenced by psychological (e.g., stress, history of trauma), social (e.g., family or friends' use of a substance), and environmental factors (e.g., accessibility of a substance, low cost) can lead to regular use, leading to brain changes.

The brain changes include alterations in pre-frontal cortex and sub-cortical limbic system regions involving the neuro-circuitry of reward, motivation, memory, impulse control and judgment. This leads to an increase of cravings for addiction and an impairment of the ability to control the impulse, regardless of the knowledge and experience of its consequences.

Role of exercise in managing addiction -

Most treatments for addictions involve some kind of counseling that focuses on helping the person to figure out why he or she engages in the addictive behavior.

Some studies have provided convincing evidence to support the development of exercise-based interventions to reduce compulsive patterns of drug intake in at-risk populations.

Exercise helps in the following ways:

It releases endorphins - On recovering from an addiction, one's the body and mind misses a high feeling caused by it, resulting in depression during the withdrawal phase. Since exercise causes the release of endorphins, which acts as a natural high, especially after a good sweat session, it's possible that working out can help an individual cope with the recovery process.

It alleviates stress - Moreover, regular exercise is a great stress buster, resulting in diminishing stress-related cravings. Therefore, sticking with exercise long-term might even diminish drug seeking behavior.

It acts as a distraction - For some, exercise might just serve as a distraction. While exercise alleviates some of the symptoms of withdrawal, it may not improve long-term abstinence.

It acts as meditation - Exercise can be described as meditation in motion. This concept underlies the ancient tradition of Hatha Yoga exercises. By concentrating on physical movements of exercise, we can experience the psychological and emotional benefits of meditation. A good workout leaves one feeling more rejuvenated and optimistic, which can make recovery much more manageable.

It improves outlook on life - Those, who exercise regularly, have increased feelings of self-confidence and reduced feelings of depression and anxiety. In addition, regular exercise provides improved sleep, greater energy, and enhanced feelings of well being, thereby changing positively the outlook on life.

The Crux -

Addiction is a problem of global dimension, influenced by many factors e.g. biological, psychological, social and environmental. About half of the risk for addiction is genetic. Though counseling and treatment form the mainstay of management, regular exercise also positively influences it making its management more effective. The people, who engage regularly in exercise, are less likely to give in to the temptations of addictions even though they may be genetically prone to them.

Addiction is a deadly chronic disorder that has a number of risk factors underlying it. In the majority of instances, bad genes play their role in predisposing people to addiction, who harbor them.

Nevertheless, the problen can be effectively managed, regular exercise playing a very significant role in its management.

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Alcohol Addiction - Care and Treatment Tips

This is a term that is often used to describe the emotional and physical dependency on alcohol. When someone drinks alcohol they are really taking a sedative drug, which has the potential to create a physical dependence on alcohol. It can also cause different withdrawal symptoms should someone decide to stop drinking alcohol completely. For many who drink it creates a feeling of relaxation and euphoria along with lowering their inhibitions. Because of these feeling some may develop an emotional dependence on alcohol because they like these feeling. If you start to have such a strong craving for alcohol and you are unable to emotionally and physically resist having several drinks this is often described as alcohol addiction.

Usually when a person is addicted to alcohol they will find that emotional addiction goes hand-in-hand with physical dependency. It is unusual to find one and not the other. Many times a person will find that if they are not able to have alcohol they become depressed and find that they are not able to face any daily tasks until they have a few drinks. One of the earliest signs of alcohol addiction is the increased tolerance to alcohol. What this means is that the person may find that it takes more alcohol each time they drink to get the effect they desire and want. If they do not consume enough alcohol they could start to show symptoms of alcohol withdrawal like anxiety, sweats, and trembling. Even if they planned on only drinking a little they find themselves actually drinking massive amounts of alcohol.

When a person has an extreme emotional dependency on alcohol they may find it difficult to overcome their addiction because they do not actually want to quit even if it is destroying their lives. Sometimes when a person is abusing alcohol it could be their way of avoiding their life problems. Alcohol addiction could lead to destroyed careers and broken relationships because their consumption of alcohol is beginning to interfere with their daily activities. When a person has an alcohol addiction problem the first step to becoming an ex-alcoholic is the desire and want to quit drinking.

If person truly wants to overcome their alcohol addiction the first thing they will do is remove all the alcohol from their home to help reduce the temptation to quit. Some are able to quit drinking on their own while others will need to seek an alcohol rehab center for help for their addiction, especially the withdrawal symptoms. There are many programs that can help with this problem such as Alcoholics Anonymous where they use the 12-step program. In this program they would get a sponsor that they can call to help them get through difficult days when the craving is strong.

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7 Tips to Help You Stay Sober

Do you find it hard to stay sober? If you want to recover easily from your addiction, you can use the tips given below. These tips will make it easier for you to control yourself and stay calm.

1. Addiction is a disease

You should keep in mind that addiction is just like a disease. And for success, you have to be sober. Just like a disease, addiction makes it harder for you to achieve success. So, engaging in an addictive behavior is not a good idea.

2. Get support

You need to get support from other. This support can come from peers, group meetings, online forums or phone calls. As a matter of fact, over the past few years, getting support from online forums has become popular. If you are unable to find out where you can get support, we suggest that you ask your doctor or counselor for assistance. It's also a good idea to ask someone who knows how to achieve the goals you have set.

3. You are not alone

If you are trying to recover from an addiction, know that you may have an isolating experience. But you should understand that you are not alone. Many people have had similar experiences. Some recovery programs include a type of group therapy where you can benefit from others who had to go through struggles in order to get over their addiction.

4. Control your mind

The feelings and thoughts that you may have effect the way you stay sober. Therefore, it's important that you control your mind. What you need to do is monitor your feelings, moods and thoughts. Once you have learnt to do that, you are good to go.

5. Practice mindfulness

If you get rid of negative thinking, you have to learn to stay present minded. As a matter of fact, there are many techniques that fall under the category of mindfulness. With this practice, you can stay sober in many ways. As soon as you have learnt to be mindful, you may find it easier to stay sober. One negative thought may lead to another negative thought. However, if you are mindful, you can only focus on the thoughts that may benefit you.

6. Get into your body

You should make it a routine to swim, workout and walk. As a matter of fact, physical activity makes it easier for you to clear your mind. Aside from this, it's better if you go for a walk with a friend.

7. Make some lists

You may want to make a list of things that you find good. For instance, you can make a list of your goals or things that can help you lead a better life. By setting your intentions, you will find it easier to stay clean.

To cut a long story short, if you want to stay sober, we suggest that you follow the tips given above. This way you can be normal once again and your addiction will be gone for good.

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How Alcohol Impacts Health

"That's the problem with drinking, I thought, as I poured myself a drink. If something bad happens you drink in an attempt to forget; if something good happens you drink in order to celebrate; and if nothing happens you drink to make something happen." ― Charles Bukowski

This is how Charles Bukowski, a renowned writer and poet, summed up the thoughts of a person addicted to alcohol. The quote aptly highlights the plight of the people suffering from alcoholism. For, Bukowski was one of those who himself knew how alcohol takes the prime slot in an alcoholism patient's life. For them, they have no reason to drink.

Besides driving a wedge between loved ones, persistent drinking leads to increased dependence on alcohol and eventually addiction. Alcoholism is a chronic disease characterized by uncontrolled drinking patterns and preoccupation with alcohol. In fact, people become so obsessed with alcohol that other priorities take a back seat. They witness the downfall in all aspects of life.

Apart from dependence and above consequences, unrestrained alcohol consumption leads to various health problems, such as:

• Cardiovascular diseases: Though there are studies claiming the antioxidant resveratrol in red wine is associated with lower risks of heart aging, heavy drinking weakens the heart muscle. As a result, the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently cardiomyopathy. Besides causing cardiomyopathy, heavy drinking leads to premature death due to heart failure.
• Cancer: Alcohol is also associated with the risk of developing cancer. With the identification of alcohol as a carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), it is clear that it increases the risk of cancer. Some of the commonest cancers associated with alcohol consumption are that of neck, esophagus, liver and breast.
• Diabetes: Excessive drinking increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Moreover, in case a person is already diabetic and is on medications for controlling the level of blood sugar, the consumption of alcohol can have an adverse reaction, such as a massive decline in the sugar level due to hypoglycemia. Since people with diabetes are on a strict diet, every morsel and calorie intake matters. Therefore, any form of alcohol is dangerous.
• Inflammation of pancreas: Alcohol is also detrimental for the functioning of pancreas. Prolonged and hazardous level of drinking can cause pancreatic inflammation or pancreatitis. Many a time, the damage is irreversible in nature.
• Increased waistline: Though an evening cocktail may sound harmless, it is loaded with calories and responsible for causing the same weight gain as caused by a large burger with fries on the side. Studies have shown that binge drinking is associated with an increased waistline. When one starts drinking heavily, he or she is more likely to end up with a massive paunch and a surefire hangover the morning after. The same applies for beer. It is a gross misconception to consider beer as light, as a can of light beer has an excessive amount of calories.
• Depression: One of the common misconceptions about alcohol is that it is great for beating the blues. Moreover, it is assumed that the problems get sorted automatically when one is high on alcohol. The seemingly tongue-tied person suddenly becomes talkative, which is seen as one of the wonders of alcohol. When one has alcohol in his or her system, the person feels invincible and on top of the world. Unfortunately, the crash follows soon after. One of the commonest symptoms that follows binge drinking is depression and guilt-trip. Being a depressant, one of the harshest side effects of chronic alcoholism or alcohol dependence is clinical depression.

Recovery from alcoholism

Alcohol addiction is a chronic disease that disengages the individual from life. Fortunately, with timely help one can easily overcome the condition. People suffering from alcoholism should not feel embarrassed to seek help or treatment and share their problems with loved ones. Rather than feeling low due to the stigma attached to alcoholism, individuals should accept the reality and take effective measures against the problem.

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Rehab Can Give You Another Life

Rehab is not just a place to treat any addiction, but it is a place which helps a person to regain control over his or her life. Rehab can give you another life by helping you get rid of your addiction in a systematic and organized way.

People are getting lesser and lesser time for their families and involved in a technological wave which has swept nearly all people of all age groups. The fast increasing exclusiveness and pressure in the world are pushing people at the door of various addictions.

Types of addictions people are facing in their life

1. Drugs like cocaine, heroin, and marijuana - it is taking a heavy toll on the life of people. The start of addiction generally happens under the pressure of friends, colleagues. Sometimes the emotional pain and stress push the person to take drugs, just to ease out the pain and tension and slowly it becomes an addiction.
2. Alcohol addiction - This is the most common type of addiction in people. Earlier it was most prominent among males, but now females are also struggling with alcohol addiction. Started under the peer pressure it usually becomes the severe addiction affecting even family and friends.
3. Sex and porn addiction - This addiction has various forms. A person can feel guilt, even embarrassment after indulging himself/herself into any kind of sexual activity. The desire for sexual activity and daydreaming could also be termed an addiction. A person does not feel satisfied with their partners leading to quarrel and violence.
4. Internet and video game addiction- Cases of children addicted to video games and internet surfing are increasing. Parents usually give their children computers, mobile phones, and laptops for educational purpose and sometimes children get addicted to internet and games spending unstoppable hours. Studies and life of children get hampered. Adults are also not safe from this kind of addictions.
5. Food and eating addictions - The continuous eating and losing control from own habits lead to food addiction. These kind of addictions are less in comparison to other addictions, but it also can be treated successfully in rehab.

IS REHAB REALLY USEFUL?

There is not a doubt that rehab treats people holistically. Rehabs are equipped with trained psychiatrists and staffs to care for the patient. Not only medications are included in treatment, but also counseling sessions and dialogue & discussions follow among patients.

Patients are counseled at regular intervals and brought into active sessions involving games, good daily routine habits, and debates. This holistic structure of treatment tries to bring in every aspect of the problem and treated at a single point at rehab.

Some rehabs also provide aftercare counseling at home when the patient faces the world again. The families and friends have a very important role to play after the patient returns home. The love, care, compassion and support is what is needed most and expected from near and dear ones.

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Beyond Addictions to Health, It's Not About Willpower

As we all know, many people in our country are suffering from obesity and major health issues. It's interesting to explore this in terms of intent.

When a person eats too much or eats junk, the intent is to control. The person is using food to suppress pain - to have control over not feeling painful emotions.

Wounded Self: Control Over Avoiding Emotional Pain

While most people would say that their health is important to them, and they might even say that without their health they have nothing, often something else is even more important - having control over avoiding emotional pain.

Health problems can certainly come from a variety of causes other than substance abuse, such as heredity, extreme childhood abuse, polluted air or accidents. But the chronic and degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and autoimmune diseases, are often the result of the abuse of food, nicotine, drugs or alcohol.

If a person says he or she wants to be healthy, but continues to eat badly, drink too much, smoke or take dangerous drugs, then obviously the part of this person who is in charge of their choices is more interested in avoiding feelings than in being healthy.

Our wounded self is always more interested in avoiding pain than in loving self-care. This is who the wounded self is - the part of us that wants to have control over feeling safe from pain. One of the reasons that we have such a high rate of obesity and chronic health problems is because, in most people, the wounded self is in charge.

I was a sickly child and I hated being sick. In my early twenties, I discovered the subject of nutrition and began to attempt to eat in a very healthy way. But because I didn't have a loving adult in charge of my eating, eating well was a huge challenge. I would write down everything I ate in the hopes of gaining control over my sugar and carbohydrate addiction. I would go from one diet to another in the hopes of losing weight and staying thin. I went from weight doctor to weight doctor to find the magic pill that would give me control over my weight and health. I would eat well for a while, and then suddenly I would binge on sugar and junk. I just couldn't seem to find the will power to consistently eat well.

Beyond Will Power To True Power

This went on for years, until Spirit brought us Inner Work and I began to develop my loving adult. Now I know that a consistent and devoted practice of Inner Bonding will eventually develop enough of a loving adult to truly care more about health than about avoiding pain. Now I know that learning how to manage and learn from painful feelings is the key to weight loss and health.

It is not about will power. The wounded self tries hard to have control by exerting will power, but always eventually fails. It IS about true power - the power of your higher self that comes through when you have a deep intent to learn about what creates health and wellbeing.

Each of us needs to decide which is more important - avoiding pain through our various addictions, or striving for excellent health. When you make the deep decision that creating a healthy body for your beautiful essence to live in is vitally important to you, you will discover the power that comes from Spirit, the power that enables you to let go of substance addictions, eat clean healthy food, and get daily exercise.

Ask yourself now which is more important to you - avoiding pain or creating excellent health? If you find yourself continuing your substance addictions, then you might want to explore why avoiding pain is more important than health and wellbeing.

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Addiction and Neurotransmitters

What are neurotransmitters?

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are naturally excreted in the brain, they are acetyl choline, dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, dopamine and GABA (Gamma-Amino-Butyric-Acid).

They function in the transmission of the nerve signals throughout the body. They also function in many processes that our bodies carry out such as sleeping, memory regulation, mood and behavior. They also regulate the body's stimulation and the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction when they are secreted by the brain's reward system.

But, how is addiction related to neurotransmitters?

Neurotransmitters perform all of their functions together through different secretion ratios in the brain. But not all of us have equal amounts of neurotransmitters secreted in our brains, imbalances are so common, for example, nearly 85% of the population have low levels of serotonin secreted in their brains which makes them more tending to get addicted to a substance or a behavior to replace the missing neurotransmitter and feel better.

The imbalances of neurotransmitters cause many problems and balancing those helps a lot to overcome these problems which are: severe headaches, migraine, ADHD, addiction, sleep issues, anxiety, depression, focus and memory problems. But detecting neurotransmitters levels is helpful in rebalancing them in order to treat the situation.

We think that those imbalances of neurotransmitters are mainly due to early deprivation, abuse, trauma, dysfunctional attachment and genetic disorders and on the long term lead to addiction.

Neurotransmitters are classified according to their action in to inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters, each type is affected by addictive drugs through a special mechanism. Their normal levels in the brains are crucial for good brain health.

Explained as follows:

Inhibitory neurotransmitters:

They are neurotransmitters that inhibit the stimulation of neurotransmitters, examples of them are: GABA and serotonin.

GABA and serotonin are involved in bringing calmness and pleasure, they are secreted in parts of the brain to prevent excessive stimulation, and the decrease in the level of GABA causes involuntary motor actions including tremors, seizures and anxiety. While decreased amount of serotonin secretion causes depression.

Taking inhibitory drugs as alcohol lead to more and more decrease in the secretion of these neurotransmitters.

Excitatory neurotransmitters:

They include Dopamine which is involved in motivation, emotion, feelings, learning and also pleasure feeling when released by the reward system of the brain.

Dopamine secretion increases after taking addictive drugs like alcohol, cocaine, and other stimulants, but after many successive dosages of the drug, the level of dopamine secreted decreases gradually so the addict doesn't experience the pleasure feeling he's used to, leading to a biologic demand to the addicted drugs to replenish the depleted dopamine leading to the dependence to the drug.

Treatment of addiction:

Up till now all the trials used to reactivate the receptors of different neurotransmitters have failed. And a group of agonists are being used.

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Addressing Pain Without Feeding Addiction

The opioid addiction epidemic in the United States is claiming more lives than guns or cars. Today, fatal overdoses exceed deaths by shooting rampages and road fatalities across the country. According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM), millions suffer from chronic pain each year, leading to a skyrocketing rise in healthcare and rehabilitation costs and a steep decline in productivity. The need of the hour is to understand the nationwide chronic pain problem, and the detrimental impact of medications used to treat the condition.

Analgesics, such as codeine and morphine, and prescription drugs, like Vicodin and OxyContin, work wonders in numbing the intense pain signals by inhibiting the neuron cell receptors in the brain. But the neuron cell or opioid receptors that respond to pain signals also regulate emotional impulses, such as feelings of euphoria, urges to get high and the desire for reward. Such a correlation increases the risk of addiction.

Knowing factors that fuel opioid addiction epidemic

A habitual drug use may produce noticeable behavioral or personality changes, including irritability, restlessness and anxiety. Several factors are responsible for the rampant use of opioids among Americans, some of which are:

Easy availability of drugs: Medical practitioners and doctors prescribe a variety of addictive drugs, such as pain relievers, relaxants, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications to patients. While they prove to be beneficial to some, there are others who do not need such drugs. They generally tend to leave unused portions in their medicine cabinet, which can be easily obtained and abused by anyone.

False notion of security: Normally, first-time drug abusers assume that anything prescribed by a registered physician is safe to use. This could lead to potential abuse, as they might not be aware of the side effects of prescription drugs.

Legitimate pain leading to addiction: Even after experiencing healing, there are many who find it tough to quit prescription painkillers as they are addicted to these drugs. There are others who need larger doses as they tend to develop tolerance to the medicine.

Tips to minimize addiction to opioids

The body of a person with drug addiction problem builds a tolerance to the increased levels of dopamine, causing long-term changes in the brain's reward system. Drug dependence can have far-reaching impacts, affecting almost every organ in the human body. But, certain self-help strategies can help combat the urge.

Identifying vulnerability levels: Before prescribing any medications to manage pain, doctors must weigh the factors that could lead to addiction, such as family history of addiction to various substances or a history of mood and personality disorders.

Considering alternative options: Those susceptible to addiction should be recommended other alternatives to manage pain, such as physical therapy, psychotherapy, acupuncture, tai chi and other non-opiate medications.

Using medications as directed: Care should be taken not to misuse medications as a coping tool for unrelated problems.

Seeking help: Addiction to medications is highly unpredictable. Advice from a specialized doctor can help eliminate any kind of addiction.

Storing medications safely: Keeping opiates away from the reach of others, including children, teenagers or adults, can help avoid their misuse.

The way forward

An addiction may interfere with an individual's ability to make decisions and can lead to frequent cravings. This is when a person needs professional help to get rid of this devastating habit and lead a normal life.

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A Fitness Regimen Helps in Recovery From Substance Abuse

The fact that fitness is an all-important part of one's life is beyond any debate. Everybody knows the importance of following a fitness regimen to remain healthy. Now, a recent recovery program at the University of Kentucky has claimed that fitness during recovery from addiction helps patients recuperate quicker and gain sobriety faster.

The University of Kentucky's Adolescent Health and Recovery Treatment and Training clinic says that goal setting during fitness programs go a long way in helping patients of addiction recover smoothly.

Goal setting can form an integral part of recovery

Experts believe that setting goals form an integral part of a treatment plan for adolescents who are into substance abuse. Many psychiatry clinics for adolescent substance abuse accord credence to setting goals by participants.

Every week, when patients in these clinics set goals and when they manage to accomplish them, they are rewarded as a recognition of their achievements. This, in turn, propels their confidence level to a new high. Another important attribute and tool in such treatment programs is peer support. Some peer support specialists even live their experience so that they relate in a better way with the participants.

In such programs, fitness regimen is part of the goal setting, when participants set fitness goals and strive to achieve them. Depending on an individual's physical capabilities, fitness programs or goals are set which the participants try to accomplish as part of their recovery program. It leaves them exulted when they manage to accomplish the desired goals. Gyms and fitness centers are assigned to these recovering adolescents who also get a workout buddy in the form of a peer support specialist.

How it works

Groups of participants from these clinics along with clinicians and a peer specialist visit the local gyms for workout and conversation. Since the setting is outside the rehab clinic, it provides a relaxed atmosphere and there is greater camaraderie between clinicians and participants. The participants find it easy in opening up in gyms and this helps in the treatment. Here, the adolescents also feel comfortable in sharing their thoughts and the relaxed environment sets the tone for a casual conversation which is necessary for recovery. Adolescents can always find time to chat in between the runs on the treadmill.

Participants themselves look forward to such initiatives during recovery programs as they feel more energetic and excited about starting anew. They admit to feeling better about themselves after participating in such programs. These feelings are in sharp contrast to what they used to feel during active addiction. After attending such fitness programs, the participants also feel good about themselves which in turn encourages them to continue with the treatment and to stay miles away from addiction. Staying fit prevents adolescents from going back to addiction besides bringing in a host of other health benefits. Thus, these fitness programs can be the harbinger of a bright new life for patients of addiction.

Recovery from substance abuse

Substance abuse is a debilitating disease which can cripple even the strongest of people. Chronic addiction has snuffed out millions of lives globally. However, it can be cured with proper and timely intervention and one can regain a healthy life to start all over again. A healthy lifestyle can help in feeling rejuvenated, which can steer the patient away from the thoughts of addiction.

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Understanding Addiction Treatment

You are said to have a drug addiction when you are unable to control the drug's intake. Despite experiencing the negative effects of the drug, you continue seeking and taking it. Addiction begins with a habit where you regularly take the drug or consume alcohol. As your body gets used to the drug your ability to stop the consumption is compromised. The addiction is as a result of changes in the brain that interfere with your behavior.

Addiction treatment

The good news is that if you are suffering from any form of addiction you can get treated. Since the condition is chronic, it takes time for you to fully recover. Addiction treatment begins with you accepting that you have a problem that needs to be fixed and then enroll into a treatment program. The treatment program that you enroll into should help you to stop using the drugs, stay free of the drugs and be a productive member of the family, workforce and the society at large.

All addiction treatment programs follow a series of steps that begin with detoxification. Drug or alcohol detoxification involves the removal of the drug from your system. Here the drug that you are addicted to is taken away from you and using medications, the doctors keep you in check so that the dangerous withdrawal symptoms don't kick in. During detoxification, your psychological addiction remains but tolerance to the drug is greatly reduced. Follow-up treatment is put into place to ensure that the entire addiction goes away.

After detoxification, the next step is counseling. Since addiction is mental, the doctors work at motivating you to continue with the treatment and work hard at ensuring that you don't go back to your old ways. The counseling sessions are both individual and group oriented. Group sessions provide you with social reinforcement as you know that you aren't the only one going through the condition. During the sessions, you are asked to make a promise to the group members that you aren't going to go back. This promise keeps you grounded to the treatment as you don't want to fail your group members. The individual sessions are meant to address the private struggles that you might be going through. You have a session with a professional counselor who helps you to overcome the challenges.

The next step is the medication step. You are given medications that help you manage the withdrawal symptoms, prevent relapse, and treat any other conditions that you might be having. In most cases, medications are used when you are suffering from tobacco, opioid or alcohol addiction. Commonly used medications are: methadone, naltrexone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram.

It's common for drug addicts to suffer from other mental conditions such as depression and anxiety. The doctors will evaluate the condition that you are suffering from and treat it. Once you are through the program and clean, the doctors will arrange how you will be regularly visiting the health facility for regular checkups meant to follow up on your condition and prevent relapse.

Conclusion

Drug addiction is real but treatable. For ideal results, you should visit a reputable addiction treatment center that will guide you to drug freedom.

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Behavioral Addiction

Addiction as commonly known is the dependency to a psychoactive drug accompanied by some symptoms that appear on the addict. However addiction is not only linked to the ingestion of a drug like alcohol or cocaine, addiction can also be considered as the development of a behavior that produces stimulation to the reward system such as gambling, social networking which is a behavior driven by the FOMO effect and even work-holism.

In fact humans are creatures with addictive tendencies. We are developing tolerance to many behaviors. You know that you are addicted to certain behavior when that behavior changes from a habit into an obligation, you struggle to avoid doing a habit and you may have social and mental problems.

At the beginning, you start to experience a rush of pleasure when you carry out a new activity, so you start doing that behavior over and over again, then this behavior turns into a habit that is hard to quit.

A behavioral addict experiences the same bad consequences of a drug addict minus the physical effects of the drug on his body.

Signs of behavioral addiction:

• You are obsessed by the activity you are carrying out.
• You may have social problems.
• You are doing this behavior over and over again and find it hard to stop regardless of its consequences.
• People around you are demanding you to seek professional help.
• You always hide doing this behavior.
• You always feel depressed.
• You feel anxious when not doing that behavior for enough time.

About treatment: it is still arguable about the cause and the method of treatment of addictive behaviors like gambling or social networking. Many think of behavioral addiction or also called process addiction as a disease while others don't think so.

Professionals debate about whether good control of the behavior such as scheduling it or something like that or medication is necessary to overcome the problem. That lack of agreement among experts causes problems with prevention and treatment methods for addictive behaviors.

What happens in your brain?

When you start doing an activity you like, an increase in the level of dopamine and serotonin (the neurotransmitters responsible for pleasure as mentioned in this post) is increased in the brain making you feel high. And that what brings you back.

How to overcome process addiction?

• At first you should take care of your overall health; good sleeping and nutrition have strong impact on how your brain works.
• Seek help and encouragement from people around you.
• Search for a healthier habit to replace your addictive habit.

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Myths About Addiction

 

Common Myths About Substance Abuse

There are a lot of myths that get circulated around regarding substance abuse. These myths often perpetuate unfair and destructive beliefs about people who live in active addiction and those who are in recovery. When society can get rid of the stigma and shame surrounding addiction, people can move forward to live happy and healthy lives in recovery.

Drug Use is Voluntary

Some people believe that those who engage in drug abuse are acting strictly from choice. The truth of the matter is a bit more complicated. While it is true that people who first start using drugs often do so out of choice-over time that is not the case. As people continue to use drugs, they will rewire an individual's brain and render him or her unable to make the choice whether to use or not.

That said, people who live in active addiction will do whatever it takes to satisfy their need for the drug. This is known as the disease model of addiction. Specifically, drug addiction is a chronic disease that does not have a cure. People who have an addiction will need to work the rest of their lives in order to live in freedom.

Drug Addiction Only Impacts Poor People

Everybody can face a drug addiction, not just the poor. However, drug addiction often takes people who are wealthy or well off and makes them poor. This happens because people who are otherwise in good shape financially will start to take risks in order to obtain their drugs. These risks could impact their financial standing and lead them down the road toward poverty.

However, it's important to remember that anybody can find themselves facing addiction. It doesn't discriminate. Addiction happens do to a confluence of factors, but the bottom line is that it can happen to anyone.

Only People Who Want Treatment Will Receive Effective Treatment

It's rare to find people who actually want treatment. People generally seek out treatment because they were ordered to by the court or their family member begged them to get help. However, no matter the reason why someone goes in, people who enter a drug treatment facility have a great chance of getting the help they need and setting on the path of recovery.

Also, once in a drug treatment facility, people who otherwise wouldn't want treatment might come around to the idea when they see how it can benefit their lives.

Drug Addiction is a Character Flaw

This is one of the most persistent and damaging myths that surrounds drug addiction. It is simply not true that people who have an addiction possess some sort of character flaw. Drug addiction is a brain disease. It is something that rewires the way a person thinks and it doesn't discriminate-it impacts anyone. One of the main ingredients of developing an addiction is trauma and trauma doesn't necessarily happen to bad people. People's behavior might change in reaction to their brain's changing due to addiction, but that does that make them bad people, just sick with addiction.

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Tips for Holding an Intervention

Having a family member who is living with a drug addiction can cause you a lot of stress. This rings especially true when you don't know how to get them help. You can feel powerless and trapped in your situation. Fortunately, you don't have to feel that way. Holding an intervention is a great way to help your loved one enter a treatment facility.

Holding an intervention can seem scary because it means confronting your loved one. Below are some tips to help make the intervention go smoothly and hopefully, get your loved one into treatment.

Hire an Intervention Specialist

The first step to holding an intervention is hiring an intervention specialist if possible. An intervention specialist is a trained addiction expert who can add perspective to the process. An intervention specialist also serves as a neutral third party, which can prove crucial. A lot of the times, people who live in active addiction manipulate those around them, which makes it hard for those manipulated to have a chance of getting them help.

Construct an Effective Team

An intervention's success depends on your loved one conceding to the fact that they have a problem and need help. Family members who the loved one cares about will have the best chance of seeing that he or she gets help. You want to make sure to avoid any people who your loved one has a negative relationship with as it might trigger him or her. If you trigger your loved one, he or she could feel defensive and not want to continue with the intervention.

Find a Formal Location to Hold It?

When you decide to hold an intervention, it's important to try and figure out where to hold it at. It's tempting to try and hold an intervention at your house another family members. However, this environment can derail the intervention. First of all, the loved one may have a lot of counter-productive memories associated with the house. In formal spaces, people are more likely to behave than in a house where they feel comfortable.

Have Rehearsals

Before holding an intervention, you should develop a script. The script will outline the order and provide the family with what to say. It's important that the family stick to the script. It's easy to get caught up in the emotion of the moment and say whatever feels right at the time. However, it's important to practice what you are going to say and stick to the script so that the intervention doesn't come off the rails.

Reserve Judgement

It's important to remember that addiction is a mental health issue, not a sign of bad morals. When your loved one acts out of character, he or she isn't trying to hurt people on purpose-your loved one is sick. Therefore, in the intervention, the best advice is to make sure that you reserve judgement. You don't want to push the person deeper into his or her addictive trap with your judgmental attitude.

Interventions provide a host of challenges. When you decide to hold one, you may feel like you have to get the person into treatment in order for you to feel like it was a success. However, the intervention is a process, not an event. When you host an intervention, you are planting a seed and it can take a couple interventions to get them to seek out help.

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Instant Happiness and Addictions

Addiction does not have any boundaries. It can be in several forms. If a person eats too many hot dogs in a day, he or she will also be labeled as addicted to it. What is weird is when people associate addiction only with drugs, alcohol, tobacco, porn or sex. It's much to do with the fact that we only find those things harmful which are taught to us by the society. We never focus on the other things which make us weak and vulnerable from inside. Strangely isn't?

What is the connection between instant happiness and addiction?

Anything which helps us move through the difficult times can be considered as instant happiness. For an example -: if a person who just had a breakup, would surely be looking for ways and means to divert his mind from it. And the process of doing something to get a move on to achieve the temporary happy state can lead to wrong choices resulting in addiction. It all depends on an individual to what choices he or she needs to make keeping in mind the consequences attached to it.

There can be so many examples of it. We always have had people around us who shop more or probably eats more in depression. Isn't also a kind of addiction? Did we ever think why they do it? It's because we don't notice these things as long as we see them putting an effort to get through.For some reason, it is the effort which catches our attention not the path attached to it.

Food addiction is a very common example these days because it gives you a good and satisfying feeling by consuming certain food but having a constant urge to eat it when you are not even hungry brings a lot of serious consequences to it, it could be physical, social or even emotional. The result of over indulging in that particular food which brings you joy could be digestion problems, low self - esteem, depression etc.

Let's talk about relationships. We all have seen and experienced the immense pleasure of being in love. But relationships can't be taken for granted, we never know when it will get over and when it does, what can we do to get over it. I would like to mention about this friend of mine who would do anything to be in a relationship.Whenever he goes through a breakup, he would look for another person to fall in love with. This completely shows that he can't remain single for a long time. Maybe by being in a relationship, he gets his happiness. But how many times a person can fall in love, it sure looks like he is addicted to relationships. But does he know that?

We are definitely aware of the fact that not all the choices leading to the instant happiness result in the addictions but most of the times we tend to dwell in wrong choices. Isn't worth pondering about?

The question here is can we see us becoming addicted to something behind the curtains of instant happiness? It's the pain which we suffer makes us go to any depths to recover from it and thus leading to the dangerous path of unknown addictions.

Most of the times it is very difficult to foresee the consequences of efforts we put in to go for the instant happiness which we seek and desire. I am sure the circumstances play a pivotal role in the choices we make but at the end of the day, we must accept that we are strong enough to control the circumstance.

The only thing that can be done is to be more observant about the choices we make to move through the difficult times. One should never think of finding the short cuts for it, rather we should all embrace the difficult times as a challenge for better future without having to face any unexpected and oblivion ramifications of our need for instant happiness. It is difficult but absolutely a secure way of permanent happiness.

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