Millions of people struggle with addiction every day. Addiction destroys lives and the lives of those around it. Also, many people don’t realize that addiction affects more than what they can see. Yes, it is a physically destructive beast, but there are also spiritual, mental, and psychological effects that can be devastating. Now, the good news is that hope is possible, even if it cannot be seen right away. The key is to take the first step, even if you cannot see the rest of the stairs.
What Are the Psychological Effects of Addiction?
Addiction is a multi-front offender. It can destroy your physical body, devastate your mental capacity, and stifle your spirituality. There are also many negative psychological effects of addiction, not the least of which is a psychological dependence that keeps the cycle of addiction going. That is why psychological effects must be addressed so that the cycle can be broken.
Ultimately, addiction can alter the very way in which we think. According to the peer-reviewed journal Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, “Drug addiction manifests clinically as compulsive drug seeking, drug use, and cravings that can persist and recur even after extended periods of abstinence. From a psychological and neurological perspective, addiction is a disorder of altered cognition. The brain regions and processes that underlie addiction overlap extensively with those that are involved in essential cognitive functions, including learning, memory, attention, reasoning, and impulse control.”
These cravings are also often responsible for relapses in recovery. The reality is that relapses can be part of the recovery process, but they don’t have to be. However, they are more common than many people think. According to the peer-reviewed thesis Addiction Relapse Prevention, by Doctors Guenzel and McChargue, “One primary concern in addiction treatment is the high rate of relapses within a short period after even the most intensive treatment. Many studies have shown relapse rates of approximately 50% within the first 12 weeks after completion of intensive inpatient programs that often last 4 to 12 weeks or more and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.”
Better Understanding Addiction
Addiction is one of the most prevalent diseases affecting the globe today, and, yes, it is a disease. Many people unwittingly stigmatize addiction by categorizing it as some sort of moral failing or “choice.” This is simply not the case.
The scientific community focused on addiction as a “brain disease” to combat the stigmas previously mentioned. According to the peer-reviewed journal, Neuropsychopharmacology, “These attitudes created barriers for people with substance use problems to access evidence-based treatments, both those available at the time, such as opioid agonist maintenance, cognitive behavioral therapy-based relapse prevention, community reinforcement or contingency management, and those that could result from research. To promote patient access to treatments, scientists needed to argue that there is a biological basis beneath the challenging behaviors of individuals suffering from addiction. This argument was particularly targeted to the public, policymakers, and health care professionals.…”
Ultimately, addiction has more in common with other chronic diseases than it does with a “choice.” According to the Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience (JPN), “[Addictions] are clinically relevant negative states (‘signs and symptoms’) following from vulnerability traits that intersect with diverse factors (‘etiologic agents’) to yield replicable neurobiological changes (‘anatomical alterations’). They share characteristics with other medical diseases, yet have their own unique features. As with type II diabetes, hypertension, and many cancers, there are genetic, biological, and environmental influences.” It is also important to note that there are many types of addictions, including process addictions.
Types of Addiction
There are primarily two types of addictions. These include substance addictions like alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorder (SUD), as well as process addictions like gambling addiction and online shopping addiction. However, both of these addictions can cause the same types of negative psychological effects.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two types of addictions is that process addictions tend to lack most physical side effects (though behaviors can certainly lead to physical issues). According to the International Journal of Preventive Medicine, “Behavioral addiction, such as internet addiction, is similar to drug addiction except that in the former, the individual is not addicted to a substance but the behavior or the feeling brought about by the relevant action. In addition, the physical signs of drug addiction are absent in behavioral addiction. Others have stated that behaviorally addicted individuals have certain symptoms and will undergo the same consequences brought about by addiction to alcohol and drugs, as well as other obsessive behaviors.”
The definition and classification of substance addiction tend to be more concise and categorized. According to the peer-reviewed journal World Psychiatry, “Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly prevalent and exact a large toll on individuals’ health, well‐being, and social functioning. Long‐lasting changes in brain networks involved in reward, executive function, stress reactivity, mood, and self‐awareness underlie the intense drive to consume substances and the inability to control this urge in a person who suffers from addiction (moderate or severe SUD). Biological (including genetics and developmental life stages) and social (including adverse childhood experiences) determinants of health are recognized factors that contribute to vulnerability for or resilience against developing a SUD.”
The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
Now, because there are many different types of addiction, there are also many different signs and symptoms. Thus, making a definitive symptom list becomes very hard. However, there are some more universal signs and symptoms that one can look out for (including psychological symptoms). The following are just a few of those signs and symptoms:
- Losing interest in hobbies and activities once enjoyed
- Feeling overly anxious and/or depressed
- Isolating away from family and close friends
- Experiencing mood swings
- Negative changes in appetite
- Struggles with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (insomnia)
- Physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
- Not being able to stop using substances or drinking once started
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Aggressive feelings toward oneself and/or others
- Having suicidal ideations
These are the types of symptoms that must be addressed as soon as possible, if one is to heal at the cellular level. Seeking professional help as soon as these symptoms arise can make a big difference. It can mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. Also, it can alleviate the emotional strain of addiction that is felt by both the individual and the family.
The Emotional Strain of Addiction
There is little doubt that addiction can add emotional strain to one’s life. This is because addiction is intrinsically linked to stress. People struggling with addiction often fall into stress cycles due to the negative consequences of their addictive actions. For example, many people wind up in financial dire straits due to their addiction. This leads to stress and emotional strain.
It is also true that the family experiences significant emotional strain associated with their loved one’s addiction. According to the peer-reviewed journal Social Work in Public Health, “The family remains the primary source of attachment, nurturing, and socialization for humans in our current society. Therefore, the impact of substance use disorders (SUDs) on the family and individual family members merits attention. Each family and each family member is uniquely affected by the individual using substances, including but not limited to having unmet developmental needs, impaired attachment, economic hardship, legal problems, emotional distress, and sometimes violence being perpetrated against him or her.”
This is why addiction is also often referred to as a “family disease.” The family can be devastated by the turmoil that addiction brings into the home. This is why many people call addiction a “tornado that destroys everyone and everything in its path.” It is for this reason that the whole family needs help during the recovery process to ensure the most well-rounded outcome. Also, it greatly reduces the chances of a relapse.
Addressing the Negative Psychological Effects of Addiction
To address the negative psychological effects of addiction, one must first start the process of recovery. This may begin with an intervention that can help the family state their case and set necessary boundaries if a loved one is unwilling to get help. An intervention can also be just the right motivation to get someone into a safe and secure detox.
Detoxing from alcohol and substances can be psychologically draining. This is because detoxing can bring with it significant levels of anxiety and depression. Connecting with detox professionals can help to keep these negative psychological effects in check, while also ensuring that the individual is safe. It is important to note that detoxing can be dangerous and even deadly if attempted on one’s own (especially with alcohol).
A safe and secure detox also ensures that one maintains healthy hydration and nutrient levels. Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we use pharmaceutical-grade supplements to ensure that all of our clients are physically and mentally functioning at optimal levels. A detox is also where you can connect to the next stages and modalities of your recovery.
The Multi-Angled Approach: Means, Methods, and Modalities for Recovery
Now, the key to healing at the cellular level is to ensure that a recovery program is both individualized and comprehensive. This means taking a multi-angled approach to recovery. The reality is that the recovery industry is now worth billions of dollars. While this may be positive in that there are more facilities available, there is also a greater chance that someone will end up in a recovery center that puts their financial bottom line over their clients’ well-being. These are also the recovery centers that tend to offer overarching “one-note” recovery plans that don’t focus on the individual.
Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we find that this type of recovery rarely works. That is why we utilize a multi-angled approach that pulls from all avenues of recovery. This includes psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, group therapy, experiential therapies like surf therapy and horticulture therapy, and holistic healing methods like mindfulness meditation.
Addressing the Negative Psychological Effects of Addiction With Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can be particularly effective at addressing negative psychological effects due to addiction. This is because psychotherapy can get to the underlying psychological issues that lead to addiction. As is often said, “It is not the drink or the drug itself, but rather why one takes that drink or drug in the first place.” EMDR can work particularly well at addressing these underlying issues and then managing the addictive behaviors afterward.
Ultimately, EMDR specifically addresses the life experiences that cause psychological trauma. According to the peer-reviewed journal Permanente Journal, “EMDR therapy is guided by the adaptive information processing (AIP) model. Developed in the early 1990s, this concept posits that, except for symptoms caused by organic deficits, toxicity, or injury, the primary foundations of mental health disorders are unprocessed memories of earlier life experiences. It appears that the high level of arousal engendered by distressing life events causes them to be stored in memory with the original emotions, physical sensations, and beliefs.” Now, it can also be beneficial to work through psychological issues with others who have had similar experiences.
Addressing the Negative Psychological Effects of Addiction With Group Therapy
There is little doubt that addiction recovery works best when done in the company of other people. This is one of the reasons why recovery systems like 12-Step recovery have been so successful. It is also why group therapy tends to be so effective at helping people work through psychological issues associated with addiction.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “The natural propensity of human beings to congregate makes group therapy a powerful therapeutic tool for treating substance abuse, one that is as helpful as individual therapy, and sometimes more successful. One reason for this efficacy is that groups intrinsically have many rewarding benefits – such as reducing isolation and enabling members to witness the recovery of others – and these qualities draw clients into a culture of recovery. Another reason groups work so well is that they are especially suitable for treating problems that commonly accompany substance abuse, such as depression, isolation, and shame.” Working with others has also been shown to reduce the potential for relapse.
Addressing the Negative Psychological Effects of Addiction With Horticulture Therapy
One of the first things people notice when they walk on our luxury 30-acre property at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ is our amazing landscape, which is rich with plantlife. There are amazing rows of citrus and coconut trees, guava bushes, pineapple patches, and bursting vegetable boxes. All of this vegetation is ready and waiting to be cultivated by clients while engaging in horticulture therapy. Here, our clients learn to reconnect with themselves as they reconnect with the Earth.
Besides psychological well-being, horticulture therapy offers a myriad of other benefits. According to the peer-reviewed journal Systematic Reviews, “Increasingly, access to green spaces has meaningful therapeutic applications, especially for people with mental health conditions. These therapeutic applications also extend to those with physical conditions who might benefit from the physical activity side, but also might experience emotional and cognitive benefits. The positive aspect of gardening is that it efficiently combines physical with recreational activities, impacting on emotional, physical, and social well-being.”
Addressing the Negative Psychological Effects of Addiction With Mindfulness Meditation
Holistic healing methods are also great for addressing negative psychological issues. These methods, like yoga and meditation, have been practiced for thousands of years, but have only recently entered the realm of recovery.
Mindfulness meditation can be particularly beneficial for addressing psychological issues. This is because it can help to “calm the mind,” reduce racing thoughts, introduce serenity, and create a sense of mental balance. When utilized in tandem with yoga therapy, it can also help an individual with strength and flexibility, stress, respiration, and spiritual awareness. Ultimately, holistic healing methods can be a great addition to any evidence-based recovery plan. The key is to find what works for you and stick to it.
Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™
There is an ancient proverb that goes, “It’s okay if you fall seven times, as long as you get up eight.” Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™, we know that, with the right support, anyone can recover. We offer individualized and comprehensive plans to ensure long-term success.
If you are psychologically sick and tired of being psychologically sick and tired, then the time to recover is now. You can do this! We can help.
Many people understand the physical effects of addiction, but forget about how it can affect you psychologically. It is important to understand those psychological side effects in order to heal from them at the cellular level. The good news is that there are many effective means, methods, and modalities for treating the psychological side effects of addiction. If you are struggling with addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about healing from the psychological side effects of addiction, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ today at (808) 775-0200.
