Addictions

It takes courage and strength to face up to any type of addiction, whether it’s alcohol, drugs, nicotine, gambling, the internet, or self-injury, etc. But no matter how bad the addiction or how powerless you feel, there is hope and help available. Don’t give up, even if you’ve tried and failed before.

Signs That You May Have an Addiction

It is important to emphasize that addictions effect and produce consequences in every facet of a person's life. In line with this logic, the following list represents some of the more common and recognizable effects of an addiction:

• An inability to relax or to have fun without the addiction
• Produces relationship problems
• Expressing feelings of exhaustion, hopelessness, or depression
• Frequently selling possessions, borrowing money, or stealing things from school, work, or from home
• Health problems
• Engaging in suspicious or secretive behaviors, such as making numerous trips to the restroom, basement, garage or other isolated areas where an addiction can take place
• Legal difficulties
• Spending less time with friends or family
• Noticeable degradation regarding one's physical appearance and grooming
• Irritability, wide mood swings, manic behavior, or angry outbursts
• Financial difficulties
• Talking incoherently or making inappropriate remarks
• Needing to partake in the addiction first thing in the morning
• A preoccupation with the addiction and constantly talking about it and pressuring others to join in

You don’t have to wait until you hit rock bottom; you can make a change at any time. Recovery is a process, and there’s bound to be some bumps in the road. But you can overcome your addiction by learning how to cope in ways that are constructive rather than destructive to yourself and others.