The Damaging Effects Of Addiction and How To Overcome It

No-one sets out with the intention of developing an addiction. But it happens all the time and before you know it, an innocent habit can turn into something that you rely on just to get through the day. Most of us have addictions in some form or another- coffee, shopping, sugar, most of the time we’re not even aware we’re addicted. It comes in many forms, but more harmful addictions can seriously destroy a person’s life. Here are some of the ways addiction can be damaging, and why it’s so important to beat.

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Physical Health

In the case of a substance addiction, your physical health will suffer enormously. These kinds of dangerous chemicals (which include alcohol) can lead to hormonal changes, organ damage, high blood pressure and cause destruction to just about every part of your body over time. It can weaken the immune system meaning you get ill more often and can be seriously affected by other illnesses. Even psychological addictions can lead to a deterioration in your physical health, as when your mind is occupied with addiction you’re less likely to be looking after yourself. You might stop taking care of your oral hygiene or stop eating properly which can cause numerous problems.

Mental Health

Substance abuse and mental health issues go hand in hand. In some cases people become addicted because they’re feeling low and want an escape, in others the substance itself can lead to mental health issues. Addiction can cause depression, mood swings, anxiety, and even lead to paranoia, psychosis and schizophrenia. Feeling low like this can even lead to further poor decisions and risk taking behaviour, which could lead to injury or physical harm.

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Relationships and Friendships

Seeing a loved one battle through addiction can be extremely tough. Addiction often changes people, and it can be hard for friends and family to watch a person that they care about deteriorate. When someone has an addiction, it will often come before everything and everyone else- meaning friends and family can either be pushed away or taken advantage of which can be a difficult thing to deal with.

If you’re battling with an addiction, the first step is to admit you have a problem and reach out for help. You could talk to your GP, a friend or even phone up a helpline. From there you can work out the steps to recovery to get back on track. The right treatment will depend on your addiction as well as your current health and your personal situation But spending time in a rehab center such as Avalon Malibu can help you detox, and gain a whole new perspective.

Addiction can be a troubling time, but you’re not alone. Hundreds of thousands of people across the world battle with all kinds of addictions, and with the right help many of them go on to lead happy and successful lives. Once you beat addiction every area of your life will improve, and you can go back to feeling like ‘you’ again.

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