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Addiction is described as a continuous and intense urge to engage in doing something or using something. This urge can happen immediately, such as when you first try alcohol or years down the road. The common thread is that it causes immediate and natural reward, even if it results in harm or negative consequences to the person or those around them.
Both brain chemistry and overall functioning are key areas impacted by addiction. When someone is suffering from an addiction, their brains understand the concept of reward based on the substance or behaviour. This can change how they are motivated, their memory, and their control over their decisions. Over time, more of the substance or behaviour is needed to achieve the same “level” of reward.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), addiction, often referred to as a substance use disorder or behavioural addiction, involves patterns of use or behaviour that disrupt daily life, relationships, and health
An addiction is distinctly different from what you might consider a habit. The key difference is an addiction involves changes in brain circuitry that impair self-control and judgment, meaning individuals struggle to stop the addictive behaviour on their own.
This condition might include physical dependence alongside psychological aspects such as cravings, compulsive behaviour, and a loss of control. Despite knowing the risks, the power of addiction means choices and actions are driven by changes in brain reward pathways.
People suffering from addictions might rely on drugs, alcohol, or other behaviours that trigger the reward system in their brain, like gambling, internet gaming, shopping, and food addiction.
How is it that some people can drink or use the internet without issue, while others can’t control themselves around alcohol, a slot machine, or porn? What separates addictive behaviours from “normal” ones?
To answer this, we’ll start by explaining the difference between a hobby and an addiction:
If you have a hobby, you can pick it up or put it down when you need to. But if you feel strong cravings to do something that is beyond your control, you may be dealing with addiction issues.
Many people who are engaged in an addiction will organize their lives around their engagement with that substance or behaviour. This is another telltale sign that a hobby has turned into an addiction.
Addictions are influenced by your environment and your genetics. But to understand how they develop, let’s look at the brain:
When you consume an addictive substance or engage in addictive behaviour (like sex or gambling), your brain releases a surge of dopamine. This neurotransmitter makes you feel intense pleasure. Other activities also cause dopamine release, but addictive ones create the most.
After that, your brain remembers how good you felt from that substance or activity. You start to crave it and make plans to do more of it, even at the expense of your health or responsibilities.
There are so many theories about why people develop addictions. The human brain is incredibly complex, and no two people are the same.
Some believe that there is a genetic basis for addiction. If you have a family member with an addiction, you may be more likely to develop one yourself. And if you grew up in a household or with a friend group where that behaviour or substance abuse was normal, you’re also at risk.
Other times, stress is the main factor that leads someone to develop an addiction. Many people use drugs, gambling, and alcohol to cope with stress.
A traumatic life event can lead to an addiction, such as losing a loved one, being in a toxic relationship, or suffering abuse.
Those with mental health concerns are twice as likely to develop an addiction.
Even if you’re at risk for developing addiction issues, your fate is not set in stone. We offer addiction counselling to help you regain control and develop healthy habits.
Without knowing the full scope of the addiction or the unique characteristics of the person themselves, it’s challenging to say. Rewiring the brain from addiction is a complex and individualized process. It’s influenced by the type of help the person receives, such as counselling, in addition to the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to new experiences and learning.
When a person stops using a substance or engaging in addictive behaviour, the brain starts to reorganize and slowly recover its normal functioning. However, this process can take varying amounts of time. Factors like duration of use or behaviour and the presence of co-occurring disorders (e.g., anxiety, depression) can impact the time it will take to rewire the brain.
Stopping an addiction starts with admitting you have a problem. Having this self-awareness means you recognize the impact the addiction is having on your life and opens the door to the opportunity to seek help.
While support from family is crucial, going through a professional rehab program or seeing an addiction specialist are some of the best ways to address the various aspects of addiction in a constructive way.
At One Life, we walk the path of recovery with you. With our guiding support, your therapist can help you form new cycles and take back control of your life.
If being able to use your insurance benefits is an important factor in your selection, our team would be happy to recommend one of our therapists who's services are covered by most insurance plans. Please be sure to confirm in advance if insurance coverage is preferred.
Our standard fees are aligned with the recommended fee schedule from the Psychologists' Association of Alberta’s recommended schedule. However, we offer the added value of 60-minute sessions in contrast to the recommended 50-minute session for this fee.
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