Find Local Treatment Options
Call 888-646-0635 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.Who Answers?

Understanding the Psychology of Addiction

Addiction, regardless of what the addiction is to, is a deeply psychologically based condition. The roots of addiction’s causes, beginnings, and overall control over a person often are based within the person’s mind.

Even if the addiction requires a physical act and has a physical response, it is largely mental. Having an understanding of addiction’s psychological aspects can greatly help with understanding addiction and treating it.

The Complexity of Addiction

Due to the large psychological aspects of addiction, it can be an incredibly complex condition. Often, those with an addiction may not even be aware of their behavior as being out of control and damaging to their person and others.

The reasons a person engages in their addiction behaviors in the first place may even have been a result of something in their subconscious. Often, addiction may have arisen as a means of dealing with emotional stress. There might have been existing mental illness that predisposes the person to addiction, or make them see addictive behaviors as “normal”.

Mental State and Perception

Psychology of Addiction

Many addicts don’t perceive their substance use or behavior as a problem.

The psychological causes of addiction are often heavily debated by those in the medical field. However, having an understanding of how addiction affects the person’s mental state can have a huge impact on their treatment and recovery.

The way a person’s mind is before the addiction sets in can show how they will respond to it and to treatment. Sometimes, a person’s mental state can affect how they see their addiction. In some cases, it may be like the person is almost blind to the severity of their addiction, simply because their mental state prevents them from registering it as a concern.

Addiction and Chemistry

According to the DEA, each person is affected differently by addictive substances. This is often why some people, when exposed to drugs, do not become addicted while others do. Due to the chemistry of people’s brains and bodies, it cannot be easily determined how someone will respond.

Addiction can actually change a person’s psychology, which is often why loved ones will remark that they don’t recognize the person when they are using or don’t understand why they simply can’t stop. The NIDA further elaborates on the topic, stating that some addictive substances can mimic the natural chemical structures of the brain, overwriting normal functions.

Some can also cause what may be like a system overload in the mind as well.

As a result of the variations in the psychology of addiction, treatment often is required to be easily adjustable for a case by case basis. Usually, there is often multiple levels of evaluation done to determine what treatment options can be used.

Sometimes, what works with one person won’t work with the next, even if they were both addicted to the same thing. There also is the issue of any mental conditions that existed before the addiction took hold, which may require further psychoanalysis.

Due to the deep hold some addictions have on a person psyche, treatment can take considerable time and may require modification along the way. Addiction can have a high rate of relapse due to the extent of the psychology associated with it.

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, do not hesitate to contact us at 888-646-0635Who Answers? in order to speak with a caring specialist and to find out more information about addiction and recovery.

Why go to a Specialized Rehab?

More Rehab Centers Resources

Helping a Loved One Get Into Drug Rehab

Drug rehab can save your loved ones life!

Are you the friend or family member of a known addict? Did you know that sometimes it’s the friends and family members that actually help save the life of the addict by making the call and helping them get into drug rehab to get help for their addiction? It’s not just the addict who can….

Continue reading

Coping with Chronic Pain in After Drug Rehab

Chronic pain is a common symptom to deal with in drug rehab.

Thousands of people suffer from chronic pain disorders such as Fibromyalgia or other serious conditions that result in uncontrollable pain for the patient. But if you are a recovering addict, how can you cope with chronic pain after you have completed drug rehab? What are the dangers of managing chronic pain and how can you….

Continue reading

Tips to Ease the Transition After Alcohol Rehab

addiction recovery

When fighting alcohol dependence, many individuals need to spend at least 60 days in a rehab facility, sometimes more. Rehab is one of the most important parts of treating alcohol addiction, but it is not the final step. After leaving the facility, the individual must be able to transition well into daily life, or much….

Continue reading

5 Ways Eating Disorder Rehab Helps You Improve Your Body Image

eating disorder awareness

Eating Disorders and the Brain Eating disorders are extremely problematic to an individual and their family, especially when treatment is not received in time. Eating disorders normally stem from a person’s poor and distorted body image of their self. For example, people with anorexia typically believe they are overweight and need to lose weight, even….

Continue reading

Worried About Your Privacy? Check out Private Rehab Centers

drug rehab confidentiality

Many people who go into rehab for addiction are often concerned about their privacy. Will your information be shared with whomsoever desires it? The answer is no. Private rehab facilities are very careful when it comes to handling a person’s recovery with confidentiality. Often these facilities can be expensive, but for many people undergoing treatment, the….

Continue reading

Aetna Drug Rehab Coverage for Heroin Addiction Treatment

It is almost impossible to stop abusing heroin once you begin unless you choose to attend a professional rehab program and learn the skills you will need to end your heroin use. Call now to find rehab centers where you can safely recover from heroin addiction and to learn more about how Aetna Insurance can….

Continue reading

Binge Drinking a Public Health Concern

Binge Drinking has become a huge problem!

According to recent government surveys, 2 out of 3 high school students who drink alcohol take part in binge drinking, a form of drinking in which large amounts of alcohol are drank for a prolonged period of time resulting in inebriation. Studies further show that more than 90% of all alcohol that is consumed by….

Continue reading

Am I Lying to Myself About My Addiction?

You might have heard the expression all addicts lie. This is true, all addicts due lie. One of the people that they lie to the most is themselves. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one of the characteristics of drug abuse is lying. It is very difficult to tell whether or not you….

Continue reading

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Effects and the Need for Treatment

Traumatic experiences trigger protective responses throughout the body, causing a surge of chemicals to flood the brain. Depending on a person’s physiological make-up, these effects can have a lasting impression on his or her mental and emotional well-being. Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD develops out of these conditions. According to the University of Colorado at….

Continue reading

Still can't find the help you are looking for?Get Started Now
Accepted Insurances / View the full list
For inquiries call 888-646-0635 Who Answers?

Accepted Insurances Does My Insurance
Cover This?

Where do calls go?

Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser that includes Right Path Rehab.

By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.

I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE NOWI NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE NOW888-646-0635
Who Answers?

Pin It on Pinterest

Shares