Addictions
Addictions comes in many forms & shapes, The common or most spoken of are: Alcohol & Drug addictions. Then follows with the very common process addictions, Gambling, Spending money, Collecting, Sex Addictions, Pornography, Relationships, love Addiction, Dating Sites, Social Media Site addiction, Facebook, Twitter, Internet Addiction.
All addictions have a common theme, avoidance & denial. Avoiding clear discernment and focusing on the object or process that perpetuates the avoidance.
Those objects in many ways serves the individual by temporarily soothing the itch, or the desire, that is seemingly intolerable and or numbs the individual satisfying their craving.
Most often the individual has very little control over these urges, in fact the body is attempting to find balance all of the time which makes it even more challenging.
The underlying urges are really feelings of desire to be liberated from the want & desire to be happy and or free of annoying thoughts & personal judgments.
The body is always attempting to gain Homeostasis or balance. In all if not most cases there are underlying feelings and thoughts that tend to move the individual to take less then constructive measures to soothe their need. The desire to seek relief and comfort is so great, that it clouds judgment.
Will power is not enough and the support from therapists & treatment centers are needed.
Levels of use: Abstinence, Experimentation, Social recreational, Abuse.
Addiction Tolerance: The body is forced to change or adapt to develop tolerance. The tolerance is the tendency to use larger and larger amounts in order to have the same effect on the system.
Dependence: Tissue dependence results from the biological adaptation of the body due to prolonged use of drugs or behavior. The body compensates by resetting normal homeostasis levels for certain drugs and behaviors which changes the body so much so that tissues and organs become dependent Psychological dependence is recognized as an important factor in the development of addictive behaviors, users begin to to rely on the psychoactive drug or behavior to deal with their challenges.
In a very strange way they have a love object that is always there as long they use or continue the behavior. It Alters and effects the behavior of an individual and can alter ones state of consciousnesses.
Withdrawal: Upon stopping use of the drug or behavior, the body attempts to re-balance itself after cessation of or prolonged use of psychoactive drug or compulsive behaviors.
Various symptoms manifest as result depending on the drug or behavior as well as length use. If you are challenged in any area of your life and finding yourself repeatedly seeking relief by the use of medication or a process addiction please seek professional support.
Steven Shaps Marriage & Family Therapist 310.666.8807 www.stevenshapsmft.com
Addictions | Steven Shaps | 
December 23, 2011 3:22 pm | 
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