As a society, we’ve made great strides to combat the stigma of mental health disorders.

However, there is still one major hurdle that hinders our understanding of addiction—substance abuse is often viewed as a choice and regarded as a personal failing.

Our personal experiences with substance abuse and how strongly we believe in the “right” choices for others often keep us from making direct connections with those suffering from addiction.

While the war on drugs and other social issues related to addiction has been long framed by the media as if it’s a simple choice between “good” and “bad” people, in reality, addiction isn’t a choice but rather a disease. It takes hold of people’s minds and bodies, affecting their ability to think clearly or perform professional and personal functions.

This is why understanding that addiction doesn’t discriminate and that it’s a disease rather than a crime is an important in ensuring recovery for many addicts.

What Is Defined As An Addiction?

The term “addiction” is a clinical word that describes behavior that has been repeatedly linked to negative consequences in people who engage in it.

The truth is, most addictions are simply a result of psychological and social factors combined with biological predispositions that make it very difficult to overcome them. It’s a disease that affects nearly 21 million people in the United States alone.

As with any other disease, addiction has its own set of symptoms and signs that need to be recognized and treated properly. But unlike most diseases, the symptoms of addiction are often hard to spot in the early stages of the illness. This is because addictions tend toward complexity and hide their true nature for a long time before they become obvious.

Here are some of the common addictions:

1. Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is a major health and social problem. Some people may not feel any ill effects from consuming large amounts of alcohol but gradually begin showing signs such as memory loss, blackouts, etc.

People who suffer from alcohol addiction often find themselves in a cycle of drinking and then feeling bad about themselves, which leads them to drink more to relieve their anxiety or depression.

2. Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is one of the most common chronic diseases in America. It is estimated that 1 in every 12 adults battles with drug dependence or abuse.

Drug addiction can be described as an intense craving for a specific drug, accompanied by compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to health or social functioning.

When someone has been addicted to drugs for long periods, they may develop tolerance to the drug’s effects and require increasing amounts of it to achieve intoxication.

3. Smoking

Smoking can cause addiction due to the presence of nicotine and tobacco.

The nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive because it stimulates the pleasure center in the brain.

Tobacco contains hundreds of chemicals that can increase your risk for heart disease and lung cancer, two of the leading causes of death in the US.

So, if you or your loved one needs help dealing with addiction, get in touch with Rekha Shrivatastava, a hypnosis expert who offers smoking cessation and drug and alcohol addiction programs in Rochester, NY.

Schedule an online appointment, or meet with her in person by reaching out to her today or calling us at 585-281-2988.