What Causes Addiction?
What is Addiction?
Addiction is the result of changes that happen in the brain due to repeated uses of a substance or repeated behaviors that cause you to develop a physical and psychological dependence on a substance, becoming unable to stop using the substance on your own.
Fortunately, addiction is a condition that can be managed through:
- Finding new ways to respond to cravings when they occur
- Learning how to deal with distress, discomfort, and other unpleasant emotions and sensations without returning to the substance to escape
- Addressing the underlying causes of addiction such as mental health issues, deep trauma and pain, and sociological factors
At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we can help you remove the toxins from your body, develop new, healthy habits and patterns, and give you the tools to avoid relapse long-term in our 30, 60, or 90-day luxury inpatient rehab program in Hawaii.
Experience True Healing
Our deeply-caring staff and the surrounding natural beauty offer an unparalleled healing experience.
Risk Factors for Developing Addiction
Addiction is not just a lack of willpower. What causes addiction is a combination of your personal history, mental health, genetics, and environmental factors. Some reasons people become addicted to drugs include:
· Exposure to trauma at any time in your life
- Trying to control symptoms of an undiagnosed mental health issue like mood disorders, ADHD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or PTSD
- Your family and the environment you lived in when you were growing up can affect substance use later in life
- Personality factors, such as being a more risk-seeking individual or someone who has positive associations with being “the life of the party” may develop an addiction
- Your history of substance use can also affect your current self’s tolerance and can skew what you feel is “normal” amounts of substance use
Trauma and Addiction
Underlying trauma is one of the most prevalent factors in addiction. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can include hyper-vigilance, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts that can become debilitating if untreated. Using drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications to escape unpleasant feelings and thoughts, and to sleep better is common, but can quickly lead to addiction if untreated.
Underlying Mental Health Conditions and Substance Abuse
Many people who are suffering from mental health issues like social anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder may use drugs or alcohol to try and self-medicate. This means you may drink to feel comfortable in social situations, lean on drugs to help you relax, feel calm or, in the case of depression, create false feelings of joy. You may not even know you have a mental health issue and believe that the substances are what you need to feel “normal”.
Some people with latent psychosis or other conditions may make these issues worse by using drugs, and certain substances can also interfere with psychiatric medications. Having a mental health issue also makes it difficult to perceive the full spectrum of risks that are involved in drinking and drug use. For these reasons, a full psychiatric screening is a good idea when entering a treatment program, so you can treat both issues at the same time if necessary.
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Environmental and Social Factors
If you grew up in a household where drinking and drugs were normalized, you will be much more likely to become addicted to substances later on. It is also more likely that you will develop an addiction if you:
- Grew up wealthy
- Live in a country where alcohol use is not taboo
- Are more educated
- Not strictly religious
- In a high-stress or high-risk career
There are certain places and times in our lives where drinking and drug use are seen as socially acceptable. In the United States, your college years are seen as the time where you should drink and party, and for many, this is the time where addictions begin. People in high-pressure jobs and those who are in the public eye are in industries that are held to different standards and have different norms than the public, with drugs like cocaine, alcohol and even benzo or opiate use are much more accepted in day-to-day life.
The Importance of Treating the Root Causes of Addiction
At Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we believe that treating the root causes of addiction is the only way our patients can fully heal and move into long-term recovery. Through our integrated program that combines evidence-based therapy, holistic treatments, and medical care, you will not only stop using drugs and alcohol, but you will also address deep pain, underlying trauma, and mental health issues while letting go of old patterns and behaviors that no longer serve you in life.
Addiction is a complex disease that is different for everybody, so we do not use a program of “steps” to try and fit you into a one-size-fits-all program. Rather, we ask questions and empower you to find what you need with our strong guidance and support, providing you a balance between your physical health, mental health, and spiritual wellness in a luxury, resort-like environment. Contact Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today to learn more about how we can help you address the underlying causes of your addiction as you detox and rehabilitate in a tropical Hawaiian paradise.
Experience True Healing
Our deeply-caring staff and the surrounding natural beauty offer an unparalleled healing experience.