WHAT IS ADDICTION
The term "addiction" is used in many contexts to describe an obsession, compulsion, or excessive physical dependence, such as: drug addiction, alcoholism, compulsive overeating, problem gambling, computer addiction, etc. In medical terminology, addiction is a state in which the body relies on a substance for normal functioning and develops physical dependence, as in drug addiction. When the drug or substance on which someone is dependent is suddenly removed, it will cause withdrawal, a characteristic set of signs and symptoms. Addiction is generally associated with increased drug tolerance. In physiological terms, addiction is not necessarily associated with substance abuse since this form of addiction can result from using medication as prescribed by a doctor. However, common usage of the term addiction has spread to include psychological dependence. In this context, the term is used in drug addiction and substance abuse problems, but also refers to behaviours that are not generally recognised by the medical community as problems of adiction, such as compulsive overeating. The term addiction is also sometimes applied to compulsions that are not substance-related, such as problem gambling and computer addiction. In these kinds of common usuages, the term adiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life.WHAT IS DRUG ADDICTION ?
Drug addiction is a complex brain disease that can be treated. It is characterised by compulsive, at times uncontrollable, drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences. Drug seeking becomes compulsive, in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain functioning and on behaviour. For many people, drug addiction becomes chronic, with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence.SMOKING ADDICTION?
Smoking addiction begins when one of the following habits is formed:
* nicotine dependence occurs through smoking cigarettes
* drug addiction occurs through substances like cannabis (marijuana), cocaine, and heroine.
When the smoking of these harmful substances becomes habitual and compulsive, an addiction develops. If the substance is subsequently withheld, a smoking addict experiences withdrawal symptoms because the body has to re-adjust itself to function without the substance.
Scientific research has shown that most young smokers were influenced to begin the habit by observing their friends or older siblings smoke. A teen’s susceptibility to peer-pressure is also affected by his parents’ approval or disapproval of smoking. Likewise, advertising may reinforce the smoking habit. Media marketing techniques can create the impression that smoking is a socially acceptable norm.
Smokers quickly become addicted to the nicotine in tobacco. A MORI survey indicates that teenagers have similar levels of nicotine dependence as adults. One third of smokers light up their first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking. One in twelve light up within the first 5 minutes. Over half said they would have difficulty going without smoking for a week, while 72% thought they would have difficulty giving up altogether.
Young people who try to stop smoking, especially during the early stages, experience similar withdrawal symptoms as adult smokers. Read one man’s story of how he quit.
FOOD ADDICTION
Food addiction is a contemporary term used to describe a pathological disorder; the compulsive, excessive craving for and consumption of food. This condition is not only manifested by the abnormal intake of food, but the intake and craving for foods that are, in themselves, harmful to the individual. While society and the medical profession have readily understood alcoholism and drug abuse, it is only in recent years that there is an equal acceptance of the fact that persons may be addicted to food in the same way. When any substance is taken into the body regardless of its potential for harm or in excess of need, that substance is said to be abused. Individuals who abuse substances in such a way are addicts; these persons become physiologically and mentally dependent upon certain substances, in this case food.
One need only ask themselves a few key questions to determine his or her addiction:
* Do you eat when you are not hungry or when you feel low or depressed?
* Do you eat in secret or eat differently in front of others than when you’re alone?
* Do you consume inordinate amounts of food and then purge later with vomiting or laxatives to get rid of the excess?
* Are there foods that are harmful to you, but you eat them anyway?
* Do you feel guilty after eating?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions than you are likely addicted to food.
Food Addiction – Causes and Manifestations
Food addiction, as with any other addiction, is a loss of control. The individual understands that their way of eating is harmful, but continues the destructive behavior. The phenomenon of food adiction is both physiological and psychological.
Many individuals have what may be termed “food allergies.” These are trigger foods which when ingested cause negative symptoms and changes in the body but at the same time provoke cravings. The individual, for instance, the diabetic, may be made “sick” by the intake of sugar, but will still continue to crave it and eat it in excess, with adverse effects. Studies are also continuing regarding certain proteins in milk and wheat which when ingested produce narcotic-like effects. These chemicals mimic the body’s natural painkillers, endorphins, and have thus been termed “exorphins.” Individuals may be suffering from depression, low self-esteem or loneliness; they will find a high when ingesting large quantities of food or certain foods such as salt or chocolate. The immediate high gives way to a sick feeling or guilt, leading to more depression. Because the addict is out of control, he or she will turn once again to the same eating patterns in a conscious or unconscious effort to feel better.
Food addicts come equally from all age, race, and gender groups. They are overweight, underweight, and some of normal weight. They are linked by their obsession with food. The obese individual suffers humiliation due to excess weight; they may be lethargic and sedentary unable to move around freely. The underweight person may be bulimic; though they eat obsessively, they are so afraid of becoming overweight that they will induce vomiting, take laxatives, or exercise compulsively to prevent weight gain. They may also alternate with periods of anorexia, reframing from food to control their weight. The person of normal weight while appearing normal may be obsessed with food, constantly thinking about what to eat or how much they weigh. The entire subject of food is a misery to them; they count calories compulsively, eating without enjoyment.
Food Addiction – Is There Any Hope for Recovery?
Food adiction is a serious condition with many adverse health consequences. Obesity, psychological disorders, diabetes, and gastric anomalies are just a few.
The first step to recovery is, of course, the realization and acceptance of the problem. Medically, individuals must identify which foods -- the trigger foods -- cause allergic symptoms and cravings.
There is no easy way to combat food addiction; it will require intense discipline in modifying eating patterns and lifestyle. A manageable exercise program should be embraced along with dietary changes that may be maintained. Ambitious attempts to change eating patterns abruptly or to lose weight quickly rarely have long-term success.
de-adiction is very easy.
I would like to say one thing finally that de-adiction is very easy. But you have to try for de-adiction. If you have no good interest in de-addicting your self what ever the method you choose to de-addiction will be result less. Meditation is a best practice that can be used to build concentration on de-adiction. Meditation relaxes mind from stresses and divert your self to concentrate on some thing else. Addiction is best understood as an individual's adjustment, albeit a self-defeating one, to his or her environment. It represents a habitual style of coping, albeit one that the individual is capable of modifying with changing emotional and life circumstances - Stanton Peel Addiction is a feeling of "I shall continue it as long as I can" despite having devastating effects on oneself or others - Arnot Oregon Medical center Although there are many kinds of addictions, no matter what the addiction is, every addict engages in a relationship with an object or event in order to produce a desired mood change.Labels: Adiction, Addiction, de-adiction, de-addiction, smoking, alcohol.