Humanity often loves to assert its right to freedom. On a global scale. At the same time, each of us is captivated by one or another addiction. For example, we cannot live without sweets, watching a series, reading newspapers, etc. It would seem that there is nothing wrong with these innocent addictions. But, digging deeper, you can be sure that any bondage acts destructively: if not on the physical level, then on the moral and spiritual.
Dependence: what is it?
Every morning, most of us start with aromatic coffee. We pour it into a cup, inhale a pleasant smell, slowly savor each sip. Say it’s not addiction? You are wrong, because this is real slavery. Try to erase your favorite morning ritual from life, and you will see that it will require exactly the same efforts as when quitting smoking or drinking alcohol. Nerves, irritability and anger are what you will encounter in the first days. Further symptoms can manifest themselves already at the physical level: trembling hands, pressure surges, headaches.
Dependence is the need to periodically perform an action. In a simple example with coffee, we see that sometimes we have absolutely no control over the situation, rather, on the contrary, we ourselves are in captivity. Even if one or another of our addictions is completely innocent, it slowly destroys our "I", makes us not free, and in the future - weak and weak-willed. Dependence is always an addiction to a particular object, action, phenomenon or person. Having lost the object of addiction, we do not find a place for ourselves. And sometimes it takes many years to get rid of unnecessary bondage.
Physical Dependence
Our unhealthy addictions manifest themselves in different ways. The following main types of dependence are distinguished: physical and mental. The first type is the most dangerous, as it harms our health, leads to asocial behavior. Addiction of this kind involves the intake of certain chemicals or other substances, as a result of which changes occur in the body, addiction and an urgent need develop.
The most common physical dependence is alcoholism. First, a person drinks to relax, relieve stress. But gradually gets used to the next dose of alcohol and "requires" it every day. The same thing happens when taking drugs, which can additionally cause hallucinations, mental disorders and insensitivity to pain.
Physical dependence also includes drug - taking drugs (sleeping pills, coughing or pressure) in very large doses and pathological unwillingness to abandon them. And, of course, smoking is also a variant of "slavery", when the body cannot function normally without the next dose of nicotine.
Mental addiction
This is an endless craving of a person for a certain activity, a way of leisure. The most common manifestation of mental dependence is gambling, or the need for gambling. The meaning of human life in this case becomes machines, roulette, cards, sweepstakes. The first reason people start to play is the desire to get rich, to win a valuable prize. But gradually a person becomes so drawn in that he puts down all his money, sells his property in order to recoup himself, gets into debt, starts to steal, etc.
At the psychological level, such types of dependence as workaholism and shopaholism are also distinguished. In the first case, a person simply dissolves in work, he spends time around the clock in the office and business trips. Of course, career growth is important for each of us, but when it completely crowds out family, leisure, hobbies and other pleasures of life, then we can talk about addiction. As for shopaholism, women are usually susceptible to it. The desire to acquire new things becomes intrusive, as a result of which absolutely unnecessary items are bought every day (clothes, cosmetics, jewelry, etc.).
Internet addiction in adolescents
This phenomenon should be discussed separately, since recently the problem has become so serious that it can be called a mass epidemic. Dependence on the Internet has its subspecies: web surfing, intrusive wandering from site to site, virtual communication on social networks, dating, pen pal, computer games. The teenager spends all his free time at the monitor, he ceases to sleep and eat normally, skips classes, does not engage in sports and does not communicate with peers. As a result, he develops obesity, vision and stomach problems, school performance decreases, problems begin.
Internet addiction in adolescents can be prevented. Prevention is complete control over the child: you should always know what your son or daughter is doing on the Web. Also, parents can become a so-called guide for their child: show that on the Internet, in addition to games and social networks, there are many interesting things. Organize the leisure of the minor, persuade him to enroll in various sports sections, actively relax with the whole family. In this case, the chances of the child becoming Internet addicted will be minimal.
Other types of slavery
The most common types of addictions have been described above. But psychological dependence also has its other guises, more rare, but no less dangerous. For example, religious fanaticism. A person falls under the influence of a particular creed or sect. Dependent people not only follow the often meaningless laws of one or another association of fanatics, but also attribute all their savings there. Recently, cases of such dependence are becoming more common. The same can be said about emotional bondage - the inability to live without a loved one, parents or children. A person becomes so attached to them that this feeling becomes the basis of life. If there is a parting with the object of adoration, the addicted becomes depressed, gets into a madhouse or ends his life with suicide.
Psychological dependence can overtake a person in the form of bulimia - there is always a pathological desire. A patient can absorb 10-20 kilograms of food in just one day. The causes of bulimia are often stress, nervous tension. Also, one cannot fail to remember about perfectionism - the manic desire to look perfect, as a result of which people constantly resort to plastic surgery. This is also a dependence, the influence of which is more often affected by women related to show business.
Main symptoms
Each of them manifests themselves in different ways, but there are common signs characteristic of all. For example, dependent behavior. It is characterized by the same type of patient action. Man again and again fulfills the same pattern of behavior, rejecting even the opportunity to re-evaluate the situation and react to it. Such actions are unproductive, they do not leave ways for creativity, self-development, possible social adaptation, and the ability to find a way out of the current situation.
Let's give an example of a player. Even if he sent a lot of money into the casino, he still continues to try to hit the jackpot. Every day he will make new bets, lose, but again return to cards or roulette. His behavior is fixated on the same pattern: a person does not allow the opportunity to stop in order to preserve the remaining finances and property. As for alcoholics, many of them claim that they drink because of depression. Such a state, in turn, often becomes a consequence of excessive drinking, as a result of which people are again drawn to the bottle. Addiction is a mania that takes on the shape of a vicious circle.
Signs of addiction
Very often, pathological cravings are incurable. Even if an addict or an alcoholic does not drink for several years, he can break at any moment. Already until the end of his life, he will not be able to control the use of psychotropic substances or alcohol: he will not be a healthy person who knows the measure and can always stop.
Addiction is a disease. It develops gradually, has its stages. Addiction progresses, often like a snowball rushing from a mountain. With each new second he flies even faster, overgrown with new layers. Therefore, if the patient breaks down, it is discovered that during abstinence his addiction not only did not subside, but, on the contrary, gained strength.
Some forms of addiction are fatal. A drug addict can die from an overdose, crash in an accident "high", go crazy, commit suicide. An alcoholic is waiting for cirrhosis of the liver or a fight in which he is stabbed with a knife. Very often, such people die much earlier than they should.
Is it possible to stop?
Treatment for addiction is a very long and painstaking process. The most difficult thing is to get rid of cravings for drugs and alcohol. Usually the patient cannot cope with addiction on his own, and he needs specialized treatment. Anonymous circles and specialized clinics are organized for this group of addicts. Doctors and psychologists are developing a comprehensive treatment that will lead to a happy ending. The main thing is that the patient strives to take the right path and work on himself.
Other types of addiction do not require hospitalization, in these cases only willpower is needed. For example, a person can independently give up smoking, for this it is important to formulate the motivation for such an act. Players, shopaholics, workaholics and other addicts need the help of loved ones who will distract them from harmful cravings and organize an interesting pastime.