The best way to prevent an addiction to a drug is not to take the drug at all. If your health care provider prescribes a drug with the potential for addiction, use care when taking the drug and follow instructions. Examples include methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also called MDMA, ecstasy or molly, and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, known as GHB. Other examples include ketamine and flunitrazepam or Rohypnol — a brand used outside the U.S. — also called roofie. These drugs are not all in the same category, but they share some similar effects and dangers, including long-term harmful effects. However, there are distinct differences between physical and psychological addiction.
Psychological Dependence
Before beginning detox and tackling physical dependence, healthcare providers will design a fully bespoke tapering schedule to ensure the process is comfortable. Though not known for their addictive potential, antidepressants used to reduce anxiety and low mood can cause physical dependency. Even if someone has found their antidepressant to be effective for many years, they can still suffer from increased tolerance and physical dependency, seemingly out of nowhere. Often used to manage chronic pain, opioids like codeine have been on the medical scene for decades, and are known for their addictive potential. Physical dependence is thought to be a common physiological response to prolonged opioid use. When physical dependence takes over someone’s life, it’s usually evident to those who are closest to them.
How Does Stigma Affect People with Addiction?
Social factors like peer pressure and family dynamics can also play a role. The desire for acceptance or the presence of unhealthy habits within our close circles can nudge us toward dependence or addiction. It can occur even with prescribed medications when used as directed and doesn’t necessarily signify a loss of control. In extreme cases of withdrawal, intoxication, or overdose, a person may also require emergency care before they receive treatment for SUD. Barbiturates are a group of drugs that have calming effects on the body.
What is Psychological Dependence? Definition, Symptoms, and Examples
It may cause one’s stress to increase up to levels that would turn difficult for one to handle. These ailments can result in unhealthy coping mechanisms, which eventually might increase the likelihood of sadness, depression, and anxiety in one’s later years. One can successfully deal with physiological dependance difficult life situations if they have a strong sense of personal resilience. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly expanded the use of video conferencing.
Frequent substance use can mean that there’s less time for being productive at work, looking after the home, or spending quality time with loved ones. However, because their system is wired to prioritise seeking whichever substance they are used to taking, their priorities may be skewed. Our brains have the power to convince us of all kinds of things, and in the case of dependency, this can be that drug-taking is more important than eating, staying hydrated, or showering. Faced with this disturbance, the brain will adapt its chemical processes to try and maintain normal function in the presence of a said drug. It’s like a chameleon, blending into the background of everyday life until it becomes too big to ignore.
Physiological, or physical dependence refers to being physically, emotionally, and mentally dependent on a mind-altering substance. This means that someone not only feels as though they need drugs or alcohol to function but experiences a physical need for the substance, too. For instance, an individual in the throes of a physical dependence may feel like they cannot physically carry out tasks such as getting out of bed or getting dressed for the day. They may feel like they mentally cannot cope with the day’s potential stressors without using drugs or alcohol.
Types of Addiction
It’s a testament to human resilience and the power of support, medical intervention, and personal determination. It’s crucial to differentiate physical addiction from psychological addiction, though they often go hand in hand. While physical addiction involves bodily dependence, psychological addiction is rooted in emotional and mental reliance on a substance or behavior. However, the lines can blur, making addiction a complex beast to tackle.
How to Spot the Signs of Physical Dependence
We also recommend building positive relationships to form a strong foundation for support. By doing these, we can empower people to seek help without fear, support their journey towards recovery, and ultimately build healthier, more resilient communities. These centers, which are often in-patient facilities, specialize in treating SUD.
- It can be uncomfortable and even dangerous to attempt detox alone, especially for substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines.
- Furthermore, people with psychological dependence will experience strong and recurring urges to use drugs, even when they want to stop.
- It is essential to seek professional guidance and support to navigate the path to recovery successfully.
- This method allows individuals to simplify complex emotional states into manageable concepts that can be easily integrated into their recovery plans.
- The islets of Langerhans of the pancreas secrete the hormone insulin, which is vital for controlling metabolism and storing fat.
Also, group therapy prevents self-isolation, which is common amongst those recovering from substance dependency. Let’s take a closer look at psychological dependence to determine what it is, how it compares to physical dependence, and how it should be treated. Many people believe they require certain substances to help them function properly. They may turn to a psychoactive substance to help them sleep, relax, or elevate their mood.