Not all people can cope with their own emotions. As a psychological defense, they use habits that are initially quite innocent. But if you give yourself free rein, constant action will acquire the features of painful obsession, turn into dependence. This is detrimental to the quality of life. Studying the psychology of addiction, a person is capable of alarmingly alarming signals, preventing the moment when the situation gets out of control.
Addiction: Understanding the Problem
People are prone to developing bad habits, as they seek to protect themselves from unbearably painful feelings. Often all this leads to an uncontrollable uncontrolled state, when the only way to feel good is to give in to temptation. Awareness of a difficult situation occurs when an individual is aware of a problem that needs to be addressed.
Addiction psychology (addictology) is a discipline that examines the deviant behavior of people, mechanisms, the reasons for its development and dynamics. So, addictions are formed when a person does not feel his own importance, does not value himself and gives up, not reaching the previously set goal. Often the problem is the lack of attention and love from others. For this reason, young people are prone to alcohol abuse or computer games in order to have fun with fun and fill their inner void.
Over time, the way to relax and have fun develops into a bad habit. This is the psychology of addiction: it’s hard for a person to get rid of part of everyday life, since it took leisure and eliminated unpleasant memories, clashes with reality. As a result, he prefers not to change anything.
The biggest mistake is to refuse one addiction in favor of another. For example, a person stops drinking and begins to eat a lot. A short victory will not have the desired effect if, over time, awareness of a new addiction comes. A solution to the situation is possible only with fixing the source of spiritual emptiness and prolonged work on its filling.
Problem root detection
To begin with, a person needs to stop lying to himself. Only at first does the first step seem to be easy. Some people have forgiven their habits for years and turn them into a daily "hobby." But if you stop and pay attention to your own shortcomings, you can learn how to get rid of addiction. Psychology in this case recommends asking the right questions to yourself:
Do you feel loved? Necessary?
Do you believe in God or other higher powers?
Do you find yourself interesting, attractive?
If a person answers negatively to the last question, then this will indicate serious problems with self-esteem. It is recommended to really look at the situation or consult a psychologist.
It is possible that the problem arose on the basis of dependence on a person. The psychology of relationships between people is very complex. We must calmly weigh the advantages and disadvantages of such a loss. Humility will require several sessions where the patient does not need to forgive the offender, just try to mentally let him go. Continuous self-improvement reveals the situation from different angles and allows you to understand yourself.
Solving the problems underlying addiction is the key to completely eradicating it.
Types of Addictions
Bad habits are divided into groups. For example, chemicals are directly related to regular consumption of alcohol, drugs, or drugs. Intermediates are based on hormonal surges - this is adrenaline addiction or the desire to "seize" problems. Behavioral are responsible for the conscious response of the body to the situation.
The Russian scientist Korolenko Ts. P. classifies the psychology of dependence at a non-chemical level:
Gambling and other types of cash games.
Love, sexual habit. Attempts to avoid meeting a person.
Workaholism.
Technical addiction: addiction to TV, computer, set-top box, personal gadget or the Internet.
The tendency to regular cash spending.
Time dependent. His pathological shortage, the inability to properly plan the schedule and complete all the work.
Sports addiction. It is accompanied by a constant thirst for performing regular exercises, increasing the complexity of the workout.
The tendency to seek a spiritual beginning. Not the most popular species. It is in detail described in 2004: patients tried to practice conversation with higher forces and to cause ghosts.
The feeling of permanent war. Inability of the former military to come to terms with past events. There are cases when soldiers dug trenches in the yard to sleep peacefully, or had an unhealthy risk appetite.
In addition to these types of addiction, in psychology there is a social classification of addictions. In this case, they are divided into condemned (drug addiction, alcoholism), as well as acceptable (overeating, anorexia, workaholism). Quite often, after therapy, the feathers are replaced by the second. The psychologist recommends focusing on work, sports, new relationships.
Romantic addiction
It is important for people to feel important in the eyes of others and loved ones. However, the psychology of love addiction is not considered healthy, because a person ceases to pay attention to himself and focuses on the object of adoration. Often such actions are too intrusive and pleasant not for everyone.
The significance of one’s own life is eroded. Many familiar things, interests, hobbies cease to matter. Such behavior leads to the fact that "addicts" abandon most of their life aspects, and mood changes are associated with a partner.
In psychology, love addiction does not only apply to romantic or sexual experiences. For example, excessive custody of the mother over the child, even when he becomes an adult, can become a addiction. Strong friendship between people, in which contacts with others are perceived as betrayal, is also not entirely normal. Moreover, a “drug addict”, craving attention, can have any age, religion or life beliefs. Even children are at risk, because they are often jealous of their parents for younger brothers or sisters, if they are given more time.
The main fantasy of a person with addiction is a false expectation of limitless care, a partner solving problems and a constant positive attitude towards everything. When their unreal needs are not met, love addicts experience a sense of resentment and create conflicts with others.
People often develop these kinds of habits because of past experiences. Freud devoted an impressive part of his work to the study of addictions related to childhood experiences. With a long analysis of a minor, you can identify such acute problems as:
Attention deficit.
Lack or excess of care, love.
Flattery without cause or frequent praise of children.
Regular loneliness when adults are at work.
Lack of friends.
Often, these factors affect self-esteem and form a misconception about attachment. In psychology, dependence on men is considered the same problem as any other addiction. Her symptoms at first do not inspire concern: the girl misinterprets the usual actions, understands politeness as signs of attention and sympathy. But in the end it turns out that the "lover" did not even think about courtship. The girl perceives this as a betrayal, a deception. As a result, having stumbled several times, a person closes himself from others, which leads to a conscious fear of intimacy.
Remedies
Self-knowledge is the key to the process of breaking the habit. This will require specific measures:
Overcome denial and acknowledge the problem.
Get rid of the harmful effects of addiction.
Most likely, one cannot do without the intervention of another person to interrupt the endless cycle of repetition.
First of all, it is required to accept a difficult reality, where the object of adoration does not like the "addict." After all, this is the bitter truth. Experienced emotional pain will put many things in their place.
In psychology, dependence on a person is considered only as an individual case of addiction. The psychologist will be based on the personality of the patient, looking for a severe moral shock or the point of development of a habit. Often people experience withdrawal symptoms. For this reason, it is recommended to seek the support of a specialist who will help to cope with an oppressive feeling of fear, emptiness or pathological attention deficit.
Food addiction
Feeling of satiety is accompanied by satisfaction. At first, a person feels contented and happy, full of strength. In a constant desire to receive a new dose of “happiness”, a dependence on food is developed. The psychology of a “food addict” is not unique. A person behaves in the same way as any other addict - they satisfy their passion to the maximum extent. For example, it absorbs all the products that are in the refrigerator, even if it does not feel hunger.
The causes of addiction are several factors:
Physiology. Dependence can be triggered by hormonal imbalance, medication.
Psychology. An event, a difficult situation, or trauma causes a feeling of vulnerability, fear, or a desire to hide from others. Usually the individual is not able to accept the problem.
Sociology. The influence of loved ones, friends, who similarly cope with the situation through food, also affects the perception of a person.
The habit is associated with a negative perception of oneself, low self-esteem and deep emotional experience. In the future, this can lead to severe obesity, due to which love for your body will completely disappear.
Overcoming addiction
If a person does not know how to get rid of addiction in food, psychology indicates the need to recognize the problem. This is the first step. After this, it is recommended to adhere to some rules:
Start a notebook and think over the menu for a week, adhering to it without exception.
Go for a healthy diet. For example, eating greens has a good mood and promotes a quick metabolism.
Brush your teeth often. Taste is the reason people eat regularly. The aroma of mint interrupts the feeling of enjoying food.
Leisure and hobbies. Addiction is manifested in the regular repetition of any classes. Such situations are widely described in psychology. Dependence in behavior can be overcome by being distracted by other exciting things.
Meditate or play sports. It will take about an hour to complete the exercises. The advantage will be the fact that after physical exertion, appetite decreases.
Doctors also recommend consuming plenty of clean water per day. The fact is that when the body is dehydrated or hungry, it sends similar signals to the brain. Sometimes a glass of water solves the problem, not a pie.
Virtual addiction
Some people develop bad habits when using a computer. The psychology of gaming addiction is based on the desire to avoid problems in real life, to cope with stress, which in the future looks like the only relaxation method. Often, vulnerable, lonely or shy people who encounter a lack of understanding in the environment fall into dependence on the Web.
The psychology of dependence on virtual space has the following habits and experiences:
Feelings of guilt or unjustified well-being.
Unsuccessful attempts to quit or restrict computer use.
Losing an impressive amount of time.
Neglecting a company of friends, family in favor of being online.
Lies about time spent on the Internet.
A feeling of anxiety, depression, or irritability when you cannot sit at a computer.
Using the Internet as an escape from reality when sad, lonely, or as sexual satisfaction.
Thoughts and plans related to a computer when a person cannot access it.
Problems in the educational institution or at work, because there is no time left for activity.
Physical signs of virtual addiction are:
Discomfort in the back and neck.
Sleep disturbances. Insomnia.
Severe headaches.
Dry eyes or poor eyesight.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness, burning in the hands, which can spread to the wrists, elbows and shoulders).
Computer addiction arises from the fact that in the age of technology, people repeatedly use virtual space as a way to get rid of stress. Instead of facing the main problem, they create new ones. Others abuse the deferral of important events that they are actually afraid of.
Helping the Obsessed
It is difficult to remain indifferent when a loved one cannot cope with the situation and take everything under control. For this reason, intervention is required to help get rid of computer addiction:
Find a comfortable company where the Internet is not the only way of leisure.
Talk heart to heart. It is important to consider that the conversation should not be one-sided.
Involve a person in a new hobby - go to a joint consolation, go to the match.
If we are talking about a child, then demonstrate an example of using a computer as an exclusively working tool.
Provide support in emotional experiences. Never be judgmental, as it will break established trust.
The main task is to reduce your stay in virtual space to a minimum. However, on your own, without outside help, it is difficult to build a comfortable zone for life around a dependent person.
It can happen to anyone
Often, when people think about drug addicts, an association with an abandoned person at the bottom appears in their head. This idea is incorrect, because addiction is found in people of different age categories and social status.
The boundary between habit and addiction lies in the fact that the last individual is not able to stop at will. For example, alcohol addiction in psychology is recognized as the most frequent in comparison with others. Regular drinking is addictive and develops a craving for "continuation of the banquet."
Addictive behavior can develop in any person. It is a repeating process that is used to temporarily distract from a deeper problem, pain, or shock. The real source of addiction is in the soul, and each person should pay attention to the fine line that separates the habit from the painful craving. This is the only way to notice the problem on time and get rid of it.