Get a free mental health assessment and find out what treatment options are most suitable for you. We Level Up Florida can help with inpatient primary mental health therapy. Depending on the extent of secondary behavioral disorders such as addiction we can first help assess your condition and thereafter guide you to suitable treatment options.
Are you worried you are addicted to a substance and need to enter a drug treatment program? If you believe you may be addicted to alcohol or drugs, you can look for specific signs. Asking yourself the question ” Am I an addict? ” can help you determine if you have a substance use disorder.
Alcohol or drug dependence isn’t something that goes away on its own. Being able to recognize the signs of addiction in yourself can help you to make a choice to enter a drug treatment program and to get the help you need. You can determine if you’re an addict by evaluating your substance use and lifestyle. For example, if alcohol or other drugs cause problems in your life, but you continue to compulsively use them anyway, you’re probably addicted.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse [1], If you can’t stop taking a drug even if you want to, or if the urge to use drugs is too strong to control, even if you know the drug is causing harm, then you might be addicted.
If you exhibit any of the following signs or symptoms, you must seek out treatment. The sooner you begin the recovery process, the sooner you can take back control of your life.
Am I An Addict?
Ask Yourself if Any of the Following Apply to You
- It requires more of the substance to get the same effects you were experiencing before.
- You start to lie and steal just to obtain the money you need to buy the drugs.
- No matter how much you try to limit yourself, you always use more. You may “let yourself” use a small amount. But the urge to use more kicks in and you struggle to stop with what you told yourself would be okay.
- You find it difficult to stop using the drug, no matter how much you want to.
- People begin to notice you are acting strange and are probably using drugs.
- Physically, you no longer look like the same person. This involves bloodshot eyes, shaking, or other noticeable changes in your body.
- Sleeping patterns are changing and you sleep more or less than you used to.
- The substance you’re using is already affecting your life. This includes trouble with the law, problems with your family, or while you are at work.
- There is no longer the love or enthusiasm you had for other things in life.
- You no longer can do things that were part of your daily routine.
- When a drug begins to wear off, you become sick or depressed. You might break into a sweat, shake, or even experience fever or seizures.
- You reach a point where you are compromising the lives of others while using the drug. Such as operating heavy machinery or driving while under the influence.
- Your focus isn’t on anything but the drugs. No matter how much you try to think about something else, you find you need to get more until you take it. This gives you with some relief until the effects begin to wear off and you become angry with yourself..
Do You Have An Addictive Personality?
You may not be aware, but you may have an addictive personality. If you are having a hard time answering the question ” Am I an addict ?”, then the following traits may just guide you. If you or a family member are struggling with addiction, you may feel frustrated over your inability to say no to substances and situations that are harmful.
Impulsive behavior or lack of impulse control
This is a standard trait of an addict. Doing something on impulse is common, but there are quite a few people who cannot control their impulses. They are far more likely to form addictive behaviors as a result.
Low tolerance to stress; lack of resilience
Another typical characteristic is difficulty managing stress. Poor internal coping skills can lead people to find extreme ways to handle stress and anxiety. People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol often started out seeking refuge from stress by using substances.
Isolation
While this is more of a situation than a characteristic, people with addictive personalities are often loners who often describe themselves as socially awkward or feeling as though they don’t fit in.
Obsessive/Compulsive Thinking
Obsessive thinking patterns are common in addicts. Anyone who must repeat a behavior over and over may be caught in a cycle that is difficult to break. Therefore, it could lead to compulsive drug or alcohol use.
Risk-Taking Behavior
Some people just seem more prone to risky behavior than others. This is also evident even in early childhood. Throwing caution to the wind, taking unnecessary chances. This can all lead to dangerous behaviors, such as the use of illicit drugs.
Trauma
While not everyone with an addictive personality has experienced trauma, it is very common. This trauma can trigger other symptoms such as excessive anxiety, obsessive thinking, and social isolation, increasing the risk of addiction.
Why can’t I Stop Using Drugs On My Own?
Repeated drug use changes the brain, including parts of the brain that enable you to exert self-control. These and other changes can be seen clearly in brain imaging studies of people with drug addictions. These brain changes explain why quitting is so difficult, even if you feel ready.
We Can Provide Primary Mental Health Treatment with Co-Occurring Addiction Diagnosis
Inpatient medical detox and residential primary addiction treatment may be available at our affiliated facility at Level Up West Palm Beach Rehab. For some primary behavioral health treatment clients, medical detox and or addiction rehab may be required first. If you have a co-occurring severe substance abuse diagnosis, please contact us prior to beginning inpatient mental health therapy. Treatment services may vary. Please call us to learn which treatment options are most suited for your individual needs.
Sources
[1] National Institute on Drug Abuse – https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/step-by-step-guides-to-finding-treatment-drug-use-disorders/if-you-have-problem-drugs-adults/how-to-recognize-substance-use-disorder