THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ADDICTION (reasons, cycle + how to cope)

In the modern society, almost everybody is an addict. Addiction is a complex disorder, that can be defined as a loss of control over a reward seeking behavior i.e when a person finds themselves unable to stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior. People can be addicted to many different things like, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, internet, TV, gaming, shopping and even thinking, which is actually a very common addiction, though people don't really realize. When a person chronically keeps using substances, other things that used to be rewarding becomes less rewarding to them. For instance, eating your favorite food, going to a certain place, will become less rewarding when you constantly start using a substance. Using substances releases dopamine, which is a chemical that is responsible for motivation. Satisfying hunger releases up to 50% of dopamine, sex releases 100% of dopamine, cocaine up to 100% and meth (methamphetamine) can release dopamine up to more than 1000%, which makes any person very easily addicted to it and which is also a reason why it is never recommended to do meth for even once. 

People with addiction(severe substance use disorder), find it extremely hard to overcome their addictions because of the intense craving. They will keep using substances even when they know it's problematic. It is not because they do not want to quit, but because people with addictions build up a tolerance over time, which will make them need larger amounts in order to feel the effects. They have distorted thinking, behavior and body functions. If you examine the brain of a person that is a drug addict that to a person with no experience with drugs, you'll see major changes and differences in the areas of the brain related to learning, memory, thinking, decision making and behavior control. Addiction can cause many health problems, problems at work and also problems in relationships with family and friends.

Psychologists say, in order to test if you're an addict or not, is to be without a certain thing for a week, and observe how you feel. If you are intensely craving for whatever that you've been without, you are addicted and if not, then you are not.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people consume drugs for a variety of reasons:

• To feel good - feeling of pleasure (high)
• To feel better - for example, stress relief
• To do better - improve performance
• Curiosity and peer pressure

THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION:

1. Craving/anticipation: This is the positive reinforcement stage, where you like the feeling of the pleasure caused by the drug. For instance, the very first time you have alcohol or a drug of choice, you will experience an intense feeling of euphoria, due to the excessive release of dopamine.

2. Binging/intoxication: This is the stage where a person gets so excited about doing drugs and the feeling of being high, that they would want it in more amounts than before. Intoxication is the intense pleasure, calm, increased senses or a high caused by the drug. In this second stage of the cycle, the person also begins to feel guilty which often leads to more stress.

3. Withdrawal/negative effect: In this stage, the person becomes drug dependent, which means the person is no longer liking the feeling of the drug or just wanting it, but the person begins to NEED the drug. The drug, for them will become a medium through which they can escape from all the pain and stress.

What makes it even harder for addicts to stop doing drugs, are the cues they get from their environment. Most people relapse after coming back from rehab, because they were occupied in the suitable environment. But when they are back at home, they get to face all the people they used to know, school/college, and their daily regular routines, which would motivate them to use the substance again in order to fit in all situations and escape from reality. 

HOW TO COPE WITH ADDICTIONS:

• Role of parents - It is very important for parents to keep talking with their children and make them feel heard as they can be dealing with a lot of stress. One of the main reasons, why teens do drugs, is because of the huge amount of things they have to cope with, for example, school, family, depression and many other challenges. 
• Role of teenagers: They must know that they aren't alone. Whatever they might be dealing with, will get better soon if they allow themselves to be open for help. Many others can be facing similar things. It is never too let to open up and ask for help.
• The Do-Nothing technique: Many people use substances because of the fear of loneliness. Try being alone in a room, with nothing to distract you by your side, and see how you feel. We often keep dreaming about different things when we're alone, but it is very important to be in the present and not look for anything else(for example, a high, mobile phone, shopping) to keep you satisfied at all times.
• Mindfulness meditation: As discussed above, it is important to be in the present. Mindfulness is the human ability to be fully present and be aware of where we are, what we are doing, and not be overly reactive or overwhelmed of what's going on around us. All you have to do is to feel the presence and focus at all things around you or or in things that you're doing. For instance, brushing your teeth, eating lunch, talking, exercising, breathing, etc.