Every year, thousands of Americans struggle with drug and alcohol addiction. Young and old alike, addiction knows no age bracket, race, religion, or personal boundary of any kind. During their time on this Earth, every person in America will likely have addiction touch their life or the life of a loved one in some way or another. Addiction can ruin lives and its effects can be felt for generations. Understanding addiction and getting to the root of its causes is key in helping one to regain their sense of self, and overcoming the destruction that addiction can bring to one’s life. In this article, we seek to help you answer the question: am I an addict? Along with this, we will examine the causes of addiction while helping you to recognize its signs and dangers. Finally, we will detail ways to combat addiction and help you regain control over your life.
Am I an Addict?
Many people who struggle with addiction have a difficult time identifying their own addictive habits and behaviors. Recognizing addictive behaviors in oneself is not always easy, but it can be crucial in taking the next steps toward recovery. Ask yourself this question: am I an addict? Once one has identified oneself or a loved one as an addict, one can begin the process of healing and recovery. Recovery from drug and alcohol addiction can give one the opportunity to live a fulfilling life free from the pains of dependency.
Signs I am an Addict
Knowing how to accurately spot signs of addiction in both oneself and others can help save lives. The signs of addiction one may experience can be wide-ranging but generally fall into two main categories: behavioral and physical. Behavioral signs of addiction manifest in the form of outward relations with others or the environment. Behavioral signs of addiction may include but are not limited to:
- Disregard for consequences
- Impulse control
- Obsessive behaviors
- Denial of misuse
- Negligence
Physical signs of addiction manifest in the form of one’s body and its functions. Physical signs of addiction include but are not limited to:
- Slurred speech
- Loss of motor functions
- Bloodshot eyes
- Irritability
- Unkempt or disheveled appearance
- Abnormally small or enlarged pupils
- Delusions
- Insomnia
- Hypersomnia
Recognizing these signs in yourself or others can be the first step in recovering from the adversity of addiction.
Dangers of Addiction
Addiction can be a pathway to devastation. Those who fall victim to drug and alcohol addiction often suffer far more than just the consequences of their usage. Sufferers of addiction often lose loved ones and close friends as their addiction becomes more and more prevalent in their lives. Maintaining a healthy mind and body can become next to impossible when faced with the tribulations that dependency brings. Rapidly deteriorating mental and physical health are not uncommon in those living with the horrors of addiction.
The loss of one’s job, car, and even home becomes exponentially more likely as one seeps deeper into the despair of addiction. Aside from losing loved ones and physical possessions, the greatest loss one can experience due to addiction is that of one’s own life. Choosing to face addiction head-on and get the help needed can mean the difference between a new lease on life and tragedy.
How to Treat My Addiction
After answering the question “am I an addict?” one can begin to understand the process of how to treat addiction. Treatment of addiction is a life-saving process by which one decides that they are no longer going to allow the chaos of addiction to continue hindering their success. This being said, there are several ways by which one can go about how to treat their addiction.
The best option with the highest recovery rate is by seeking medically-supervised detox along with a proper addiction treatment program that incorporates therapeutic interventions such as group counseling. Treating addiction with the help of qualified addiction specialists greatly increases one’s odds of success and recovery. Undertaking the process without adequate support and structure statistically leads to a higher likelihood of relapse.
Seek Addiction Recovery in Memphis, TN
Here at Detox West Tennessee, we are waiting with open arms to help you regain control of your addiction and your life. Located in Memphis, TN, we provide a comfortable, professional, and compassionate residential drug and alcohol detox where you can regain your independence. We at Detox West Tennessee understand the complex nature of drug and alcohol addiction and just how impactful it can be on one’s life. Because of this, we have dedicated ourselves to professional treatment that can reverse much of the damage done by substance misuse. Our medically supervised, evidence-based detox programs help make it much easier to maintain sobriety after treatment. There has never been a better time to take control of your addiction and your life. Give us a call or visit our admissions page today to take the first step in your recovery journey.