How Do I Know if I Have an Addiction?
There are many reasons why an individual does not get the addiction help that they need. One is denial. Another is that an individual truly does not know that they have an addiction. This is why it is so important to be vigilant and know the signs and symptoms of addiction. Once an addiction is detected, there are many effective means, methods, and modalities to help one recover. However, that can never happen if an addiction goes unnoticed.
Better Understanding an Addiction
Addiction is much more common than many people may realize. Millions of people struggle with addiction every day and millions of people die of addiction every year. Yet, many people are still unfamiliar with what addiction actually is. Addiction is a disease.
Many people feel like addiction is some sort of problem that is brought about intentionally by the individual. This is not the case. When it comes to addiction, an individual has lost any choice to drink or use substances; they must do it. Any “choice” has long ended. No, addiction has less to do with choice, and more in common with other chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Addiction is also a “family disease.” This terminology can be confusing. One may ask, “How can an entire family have a disease?” The answer is that addiction affects everyone involved, not just the individual who is struggling (especially the family). It is often said that addiction is like a tornado that destroys everyone and everything in its path. This is also true of all addictions, whether they be substance-related or behavioral.
Types of Addictions
The most well-known type of addiction is substance addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. These brain changes can be persistent, which is why drug addiction is considered a ‘relapsing’ disease – people in recovery from drug use disorders are at increased risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug.”
One of the most common types of substance addiction is alcohol use disorder (AUD). According to the peer-reviewed journal Alcohol Research & Health, “Alcohol consumption, particularly heavier drinking, is an important risk factor for many health problems and, thus, is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. In fact, alcohol is a necessary underlying cause of more than 30 conditions and a contributing factor to many more. The most common disease categories that are entirely or partly caused by alcohol consumption include infectious diseases, cancer, diabetes, neuropsychiatric diseases (including alcohol use disorders), cardiovascular disease, liver and pancreas disease, and unintentional and intentional injury.”
The least understood addiction out there is behavioral addiction. This is because many people feel like these behaviors can be controlled. However, just like with alcohol and substances, individuals with behavioral addictions have lost their ability to control their actions. There are many types of behavioral addictions, such as gambling addiction, sex addiction, gaming addiction, shopping addiction, and overexercise. Many people with behavioral addictions also struggle with mental illness.
Addiction and Mental Illness
Addiction and mental illness occur more commonly than many people may understand. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “More than one in four adults living with serious mental health problems also has a substance use problem. Substance use problems occur more frequently with certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, [and] personality disorder…. It can be hard to identify a Substance Use Disorder sometimes because people can have a wide degree of functioning and often can hide their alcohol or drug use.”
This last aspect of “hiding alcohol or drug use” is critical when it comes to understanding co-occurring disorders because many people are under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed because their symptoms mimic each other. This is why connecting with a dual diagnosis specialist can be so critical. It is also important to know the various signs and symptoms of an addiction.
The Warning Signs and Symptoms of an Addiction
Now, of course, the warning signs and symptoms of an addiction are going to vary based on the individual. However, there are many universal signs and symptoms that one should look out for. The following are just a few of those warning signs and symptoms:
- Exhibiting excessive mood swings
- Feeling excessively anxious, nervous, or “stressed out”
- Engaging in risky behaviors
- Harming oneself or others
- Having feelings of depression, including loneliness and hopelessness
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
- Struggling with lack of sleep, or sleeping too much (insomnia and hypersomnia)
- Loss of appetite
- Having suicidal ideations
Clearly, these are serious warning signs and symptoms, which is why if any, many, or all of these symptoms are present, it is critical that professional help be sought as soon as possible. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. It is also important to heal at the cellular level.
What Does It Mean to Heal From an Addiction at the Cellular Level?
Healing from an addiction at the cellular level is all about healing holistically. This means whole mind-body-spirit healing. It is not enough to just recover in one aspect of life. One must heal physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Healing at the cellular level is also about using as many means, methods, and modalities as possible for recovery. This is the only way that one can ensure every issue is addressed. For example, one may use psychotherapy to address one’s mental state, yoga therapy to address one’s physical issues, and mindfulness meditation to address one’s spiritual malady. The key to using multiple modalities is to make sure that those modalities are tailor-made for the individual.
The Importance of Treating an Addiction With Individualized Care
The addiction treatment and recovery industry is now worth billions of dollars. This is telling in multiple ways. One, it shows that there is a greater need for recovery than ever before. Two, it shows that there are more places than ever for people to get help. But, three, it has also opened up opportunities for predatory recovery centers that are more focused on their own bottom line than their client’s well-being.
These “bad actors” are also the same recovery centers that are only going to offer “one-size-fits-all” “cookie cutter” treatment plans that don’t take the individual into account.
Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we know that these types of treatment plans rarely work. We also understand the importance of the multi-angled approach.
The Multi-Angled Approach: The Importance of Treating an Addiction With Comprehensive Care
Now, there are countless varieties of recovery modalities. There are psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). These work well when it comes to addressing an individual’s mental and emotional issues related to their addiction.
There are also less conventional types of recovery methods. These include experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy, surf therapy, and horticulture therapy. Other modalities live more in the holistic realm like yoga therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, aromatherapy, and mindfulness meditation. All of these modalities can also be highly effective at getting to the root/core causes of addiction.
Underlying Issues: Getting to the Root/Core Causes of an Addiction
While there is never a definitive answer, there are many known causes of addiction. Often, these causes occur during youth. According to the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, “Adolescent substance-related attitudes and use patterns have evolved over time, informed by adult and peer behaviors, public policy, media messaging, substance availability, and other variables…. Adolescence is a critical developmental phase involving significant physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral changes. The neurobiological alterations underlying these complex developmental processes may predispose adolescents to initiate substance use, to develop substance use disorders, and to experience potentially serious and long-lasting substance-related adverse consequences.”
These issues that formulate during youth will often lead to issues as an individual grows older. This is true whether these issues are overt or end up laying dormant and under the surface. The important thing to remember is that what happens when one is younger can greatly affect how one acts later in life. This is especially pertinent when it comes to individuals who struggle with an addiction.
So, whether manifested in youth or not, how can these underlying issues best be addressed? One way is via psychotherapy like trauma-informed therapy.
Treating an Addiction With Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can be particularly effective because it allows an individual to get more in touch with their underlying cognitions (thoughts) and emotions (feelings). For an individual with an addiction, these thoughts and feelings are quite often negative (both inwardly and outwardly).
Trauma-informed therapy is highly effective because many people struggle with trauma and don’t even realize it (just like that childhood trauma previously mentioned). According to SAMHSA, “Many individuals experience trauma during their lifetimes. Although many people exposed to trauma demonstrate few or no lingering symptoms, those individuals who have experienced repeated, chronic, or multiple traumas are more likely to exhibit pronounced symptoms and consequences, including substance abuse, mental illness, and health problems. Subsequently, trauma can significantly affect how an individual engages in major life areas as well as treatment.”
Trauma-informed therapy also works very well with other types of modalities. This is especially true with experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy and art therapy.
Treating an Addiction With Experiential Therapy
Experiential therapy is much like its namesake expresses; it is more about having real-life experiences than it is about having psychotherapeutic discussions (though this can be a big part of it). There are also many types of experiential therapies such as horticulture therapy and surf therapy. These are also optimal therapies to engage in on the Hamkua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island.
Surf therapy can be highly beneficial because it helps an individual with physical strength, mental stamina, and emotional conditioning, and it can help one make an essential natural spiritual connection. This type of therapy is also ideal at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab because a mere 15-minute journey away from our luxury 30-acre property sits one of the best surf breaks on Hawaii’s Big Island.
Another exceptional experiential therapy that can be utilized on our luxury 30-acre property is horticulture therapy. This is a therapy where one can get their hands dirty and engage with the rich earth of Hawaii’s Big Island. Horticulture therapy can help one find a sense of serenity, a renewed focus, and better mental clarity. It also utilizes some of the techniques of meditation.
Treating an Addiction With Holistic Healing Methods
Holistic healing methods like yoga and meditation have existed for thousands of years. Originally, they were solely utilized as religious and/or spiritual practices but they have since moved into many other areas. This includes the realm of recovery.
The renowned Buddhist monk and spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh famously said, “Meditation can help us embrace our worries, our fear, our anger; and that is very healing. We let our own natural capacity of healing do the work.” This is symbolic of how meditation can help one recover from an addiction. Meditation also offers many other benefits.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), “Meditation and mindfulness practices may have a variety of health benefits and may help people improve the quality of their lives. Recent studies have investigated if meditation or mindfulness helps people manage anxiety, stress, depression, pain, or symptoms related to withdrawal from nicotine, alcohol, or opioids. Other studies have looked at the effects of meditation or mindfulness on weight control or sleep quality.”
Working With Others and Attending Meetings to Treat an Addiction
Now, while meditation may be an individualized pursuit, it is important to remember that addiction recovery is a team effort. This is why working with others is so important when it comes to long-term success. The good news is there are many ways for people to connect with each other to help both parties stay sober.
Perhaps the most popular (and successful) way that people in recovery meet and work together is via recovery meetings. These may be secular recovery meetings or religious/spiritual recovery meetings (both are offered via 12-Step recovery programs). It can also be very helpful to connect to other people in recovery via group therapy.
Group therapy is an ideal way for people to both recover and build a sober network that they can rely upon when times in recovery may get triggering. This is especially true post-COVID-19 pandemic. According to the peer-reviewed journal Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process, and Outcome, “In addition to effectiveness in reducing symptoms, group [therapy] offers members a sense of belonging, purpose, hope, altruism, and meaning throughout treatment. These additional outcomes are especially important considering the COVID-19 pandemic and national/international conflicts, given the trauma, disruptions, and losses people have experienced. Applying recent developments in positive psychology to group therapy can enhance treatment.”
Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab
Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why all of our treatment plans are individualized and comprehensive with a focus on the future.
Thich Nhat Hanh also famously said, “People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?” For those struggling with an addiction, there is a chance to bloom on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island.
Recovery is possible. The key is to go after it. The time is now. We can help.
There are many warning signs that an individual can look out for to see if they have addiction issues. There are also many steps to take if addiction is present. The good news is that with the right treatment program and recovery center, these steps can lead to an effective solution. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about addiction and possible solutions, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.