The addiction anguish for those around you means very little to those who have become totally dependent upon their ‘poison of choice’.
An addict’s need for their next fix overrides everything. They are not blind, but choose not to see, they are not deaf, but choose not to hear. Harsh words indeed, but very true all the same.
If you are currently addicted to any substance it is time to stand up, admit to yourself and your loved ones how serious your problem is, and take positive action by seeking the help of professional rehab services.
Let’s take a step back and understand how your addiction is affecting not only you, but those closest to you.
Dabbling with drugs:
Like all addicts you clearly did not intend to become addicted when you first started using various drugs. It was all ‘a bit of fun’ and something you were sure could be turned on and off as easily as a tap.
Then the occasional toot turned into something more regular, and fairly quickly you found life wasn’t really fun without your drug of choice, or that particular drug wasn’t really ‘doing it for you anymore’.
Obvious solution: Try something a little different, a little more potent, a bigger hit or high. One thing is for sure your ‘friendly dealer’ will always be on hand to ‘suggest’ something that would suit.
The rest as they say is history:
These stronger substances certainly did give you a better rush IN THE BEGINNING! They also gave you a stronger need to decrease the time between each hit and increase the amount consumed. The end result being dependence and addiction.
When do you realise drugs are taking over your life?
There are many pointers that indicate you are now dependent upon your drug of choice. The fact that you choose to ignore these signs does not hide them. In fact it only deepens the addiction anguish for those around you.
Here are just 5 of the many signs that should tell you drugs are now in control of you and not the other way around:
All consuming:
The most important thing on your mind is when you will take your next hit, where it will come from and how quickly you can secure that deal.
Anxiety:
Anxiousness is part and parcel of an addict’s life. This is one of the many unwanted effects your drug of choice creates. Another reason for increased anxiety levels is related to your constant concerns about where your next hit is coming from.
Fear and depression:
Again this is related to your ability to ‘score’. You will become tense and worried if your stash is getting low, or you cannot secure the drugs you need. This can lead to depressing periods until you have managed to find that much needed supply.
Mood swings:
Your mood can change like the wind. While the hit is hovering in and around its height you may well be over effusive, bright and excessively cheerful. You will go through periods where you appear ‘normal’ and times when you will be grumpy, unresponsive and even aggressive.
Such erratic mood swings are a major source of addiction anguish for those around you.
Appearance:
Your appearance changes. This can be from a physical and a personal grooming aspect. Many addicts have a drawn and haggard look about them, others take very little interest in their personal hygiene or manner of dress.
Your situation will NOT improve on its own:
It is vitally important for anyone who is dependent upon drugs to realise that things are not going to improve on their own. Indeed it will only get worse unless you confront your issues and seek long term rehab assistance.
The reason for this is ‘tolerance’. We will briefly explain how your mind and body’s tolerance levels are affected by repeated drug use, and also put tolerance in a different light that is not so often mentioned:
Tolerance – 2 sides to the story:
Tolerance – The User: When you start using drugs the ‘rush’ or ‘hit’ you feel is very pleasant. Your mind and body tell you this. The problem is that you can quickly become tolerant of the drug.
This tolerance means that to achieve the same high as previously you need to take a larger dose. Many who are now addicted discovered their ‘original’ drug of choice was not giving them as big a ‘high’ as they wanted.
The response to this is to start using something stronger. Again, the body and mind quickly take to the stronger drug, but tolerance follows and you find yourself using more often and taking larger quantities to achieve similar highs.
In short: A very vicious circle!
Tolerance – Addiction anguish for those around you: This is a much overlooked point when it comes to those closest to a person dependent upon drugs.
They tolerate your behaviour and attitude, they tolerate your requests for money, and above and beyond the call of duty they will tolerate your lies and deceit. They will defend you when others criticise, and they will stand by you even though you give them no reason whatsoever to do so.
BUT, their love, loyalty and desire to protect you has its limits. Everyone has a breaking point and if this is reached you really will be alone.
Professional help is required – Professional help is available:
If you are currently dependent upon drugs you know deep down the physical and psychological damage you are doing to yourself. You also clearly see, but choose to ignore the addiction anguish for those around you.
It is very understandable that you are scared to seek professional rehab assistance. This is due to your fear of life without your drug of choice.
Nevertheless, you must take the very brave step of admitting to yourself and to your loved ones that you need help.
There are some excellent inpatient rehab establishments that are completely geared to assisting you overcome your drug dependence issues in a professional and structured way.
This will be achieved through physical, psychological and spiritual sessions that have proven successful to many men and women who have been in ‘the same place’ as you currently find yourself.
It is not just short term help:
What is vital for an addict to understand is that during the recovery process physical ‘scars’ should heal quite quickly, but the psychological problems can remain far longer.
This is why a professional rehab centre will offer a variety of aftercare options, and you will make a joint decision with your counsellor which one is best for you.
Such aftercare is aimed at ensuring that once you are ‘clean’ you will stay ‘clean’ for the foreseeable future.
By seeking help in coming to terms with your drug issues you are also taking a huge step in relieving the addiction anguish for those around you.
Such a step is the least they deserve, and it will hopefully begin the healing process in terms of repairing damaged relationships.
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