After Detox, Now What?

    Video One

       What is Addiction?

                 Summary of YouTube and Podcast One

Addiction is not a moral issues, a financial issue, an ethnic issue, or cultural issue.

Addiction is an epidemic crossing all religions, races, and financial boundaries.

I assert that addiction is a multi-layered very individualized disease with mental, physical, and spiritual elements. Addiction is progressive and fatal illness.

Addiction is a behavior that becomes more frequent until it becomes a significant part of life causing conflict in daily living negatively altering relationships, careers, families, health. Judgment is impaired as the primary goal of each day is now getting a drug of choice.

After detox is not the end, even if the body has now gone through withdrawal of the actual drug of choice there is much work to do on the road to recovery.

There are two types of Addiction
Substance and Behaviors

Substance Abuse

       DRUG NAME and WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

Marijuana
Irritability
Trouble sleeping Decreased appetite Anxiety

Prescription Opioids
Restlessness
Muscle and bone pain Insomnia
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Cold ashes with goose bumps Leg movements
Prescription Sedatives & Tranquilizers
Seizures
Shakiness
Anxiety
Agitation
Insomnia
Overactive re exes
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature with sweating Hallucinations
Severe cravings

Prescription Stimulants
Depression Tiredness Sleep Problems
Steroids
Mood swings Tiredness Restlessness Loss of appetite Insomnia Lowered sex drive Depression

Tobacco
Irritability Attention problems Sleep problems Increased appetite

Behavior Addiction

Sex, porn, shopping, over eating, gambling, working, hoarding, stealing, skin picking, hair pulling, video games, internet

Effects of Behavior Addiction

Preoccupation with the behavior.
Diminished ability to control the behavior.
Building up a tolerance to the behavior so the behavior is needed more often or in greater intensity to get the desired gratification.
Experiencing withdrawal if the behavior is avoided or resisted.
Experiencing adverse psychological consequences, such as depression or anxiety symptoms, when the behavior is avoided or resisted.

(That is why no one has a right to judge or condemn anyone as the majority of the population is struggling with substance abuse issues.)

Questions to ask yourself:

 

What makes you excited?_________________________________________________________________________________

Do you get irritable when trying to cut back on that behavior?__________________________________________

Even when you try to control, stop, or reduce the behavior is it difficult to do so?______________________

What helps you relieve stress?____________________________________________________________________________
Do you find yourself concealing, hiding, or lying about what you do?____________________________________
Is this activity negatively affecting relationships, jobs, education?_______________________________________
Do you consistently ask others for financial help to get you out of trouble?_____________________________

What is your experience? Do you believe addiction is a brain disorder or a choice?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Podcast