Not all diseases are easy to recognize, especially when you're talking about yourself. Addiction is a serious disease, and it can be particularly difficult to identify and overcome in yourself. If you have found yourself wondering whether you have crossed the line to addiction or not, look for these signs that mean it's time to get help.
Do you find yourself lying to the people you love about the substances you enjoy or how often you enjoy them? That is a definite sign that it's time to get help. Lying about your substance abuse will only damage your relationships.
This can be a difficult symptom to recognize though, because often people lie to themselves. You could be telling yourself that it’s just medicinal, that it’s just a little bit, that it’s just because you had a hard day. However, you need to take a frank look at yourself and your habits and assess whether you might have a problem.
It's absolutely okay to have a glass of wine at dinner or have a drink on a Friday night. However, it becomes a problem when you drink or use other mind-altering substances every day or even most days.
The true problem with this is overindulgence. In fact, you might drink or use other substances once in a while—once a week or even less. However, if, when you use, you tend to go overboard, that's also a very serious sign of addiction. You could have a small drink of wine every night and not have a problem. But, if you get black out drunk a couple times a month, there is an issue.
Addiction comes with an insatiable desire for your substance of choice. You may start to physically crave the substance until your stomach hurts or you feel physically ill. You may not even be able to focus on anything else except for how to get your fix. These cravings can get so intense that it makes people do desperate things to obtain their drug of choice.
Some drug dealers and addicts can be dangerous. By using, you are putting yourself in a position to be around these dangerous people. You may also get so intoxicated that you can't control your actions. In some cases, you may even pass out, leaving yourself vulnerable to harm.
Drugs and alcohol are bad for the body. After time, you may start to notice these substances taking a toll. You may notice that your teeth start to have problems or that your skin is getting worse. Then there's all of the internal damage to the brain, liver, heart, and kidneys. If you’re noticing physical signs of your substance abuse, it’s gone too far.
Once you recognize your substance abuse and addictions, you can start to overcome them. Talk to your doctor about the effects of the addiction and what your options are. In addition to getting you back to a healthy state, your doctor may be able to offer you resources. Counseling, group therapy, and other options can all go a long way in helping you move past your addictions.
If you do recognize signs of addiction in yourself, act immediately and get help. You can't let a substance control you. Once you regain control of your life, you will see your quality of life and your enjoyment of it improve exponentially.
Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University and now enjoys writing about health, business, and family. A mother of two wonderful children, she loves traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can find her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.