Understanding the Cycle of Addiction
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They stop abusing substances for a period of time — weeks, perhaps even months — before stress, anxiety, emotional pain, or an event that serves as an emotional trigger causes the cycle to start up again. It typically takes a lot of time for it to occur as the brain and behaviors change. Repeated substance abuse that happens over a period of time leads to these changes. Every person’s experiences are a bit different, but nearly all of them will have some level of the following cycle.
In doing so, an addict’s self-esteem and confidence get stronger and they become better equipped to handle the ups and downs of life without toxic coping skills. Before someone’s relationship with drugs or alcohol becomes an addiction, it begins as misuse. It happens when someone who is experiencing emotional or physical pain turns to drugs or alcohol for relief. It is normal to do this once in a while, but misuse looks like a habit.
The Maintenance Stage
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- Moreover, the motivations to use drugs and alcohol can determine the overall danger during this stage of addiction.
- Inevitably, a user will need more to keep the symptoms of withdrawal away, which leads to dependence.
- Addiction Cycle will continue to destroy the life of your loved one unless you decide that you won’t let substance ruin their life anymore.
- It happens when someone who is experiencing emotional or physical pain turns to drugs or alcohol for relief.
At this stage, the person no longer drinks alcohol for the pleasurable effects (“high”), but rather to escape the “low” feelings to which chronic alcohol cycle of addiction misuse has contributed. After a period of time, the pain returns, and the addict begins to experience the fantasies of using substances again.
How to Break the Cycle of Addiction
The non-addicted brain has great difficulty imagining that it could become an addicted brain, or what that would be like – just as it is for the addicted-brain to understand a sober lifestyle. No person begins using drugs thinking that they will become an addict. Nonetheless, there are millions of Americans suffering from substance abuse disorder each and every day in the U.S. However, when it becomes a full-blown addiction, the experience feels like enslavement.
- It’s never too late to recognize the cycle of addiction for what it is.
- Often, the use of the substance “ramps up” – becoming more frequent, or more intense -using the substances in higher doses, in an attempt to mask unfavorable feelings and symptoms.
- Always remember that whether you are a family member or sufferer there is no rock bottom!
- Over time, drug or alcohol misuse may be viewed as normal and seemingly harmless.
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