Addiction is a disease, whether it’s a problem with alcohol or another substance. This disease alters your brain chemistry, altering the way your brain sends and receives signals. It can impact your ability to perform everyday tasks, interfere with relationships, and disrupt your work performance.
It’s a disease.
There are different levels of abuse, which can trick some people into thinking they have everything under control. There are also different effects it can have, with some people struggling with its short-term effects and others dealing with long-term consequences.
If you’re worried that you might have a drug addiction or alcoholism, we want to help you find the help you need. It has to start with your recognizing there’s a problem. Here, we detail seven signs you need help.
- You’re Falling Behind
This is usually the first noticeable sign to the people around you, especially if you’re normally a responsible person. If you’re missing deadlines, forgetting important dates, calling in sick more frequently, or struggling to pull yourself together for everyday tasks, then you may have a deeper issue with drugs or alcohol.
- You Continue Despite Obvious Consequences
A lot of people dealing with drug addiction or alcoholism continue the habit even though there are obvious consequences. Your relationship ended because of your behavior, but you continue to turn to the substance.
You lost your job, had your home foreclosed on or your tenancy ended, and you continue to turn to the substance. When faced with consequences, rather than addressing them head-on, someone with a problem will continue to use them regardless.
- You Take It Too Far
A clear sign of a problem is when someone struggles to limit their intake of alcohol or drugs. Perhaps it’s a decision to have just one or two glasses of wine with friends and finish the bottle. Or you notice that you drink significantly more than the people you socialize with.
- Lack of Interest
If you’re struggling with drug addiction or alcoholism, it’s common to lose satisfaction in the activities you normally enjoy. Whether it’s a specific social outing, gym visits, or other activities, your choices now revolve around drinking or drugs. It’s common for someone with an issue to withdraw and isolate themselves.
- Physical Symptoms
There are often physical symptoms that come as a result of drug addiction or alcoholism. Commonly, mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression can manifest in sweating, nausea, sleep issues, shaky hands, and headaches. In advanced alcoholism, some people experience confusion, hallucinations, and seizures if they suddenly stop drinking.
This is a sign that immediate intervention is necessary, treatment at a licensed center or through a doctor is a must. If someone is that heavily dependent on a substance, sudden withdrawal can result in death.
- Cravings or Fixations
If you have cravings, urges, or fixations, then this is a clear indication that you have a problem with alcohol or drugs. What does a craving or fixation look like in real time?
- You think about the substance of a lot.
- You struggle to socialize without the use of said substance.
- You plan how, when, or where to find/buy the substance.
- You turn to the substance first thing after you wake up, or as soon as you can.
- Dishonesty Over Use
Secrecy is one of the biggest signs there’s a deeper problem at play. If you’re struggling with your use of a substance, you are likely to lie about it in a bid to downplay the problem. You may keep secrets, and hide evidence of use, and it’s due to this level of secrecy that many people struggle to recognize the problem until they’re quite deep into it.
If you see one or more of these signs in yourself, or someone close to you, it’s important to take the necessary steps to get help. If you find yourself more reliant on alcohol, you can look into 12-step programs.
If you are further along in your dependence, speak to your primary care physician about the next steps or you can seek a professional treatment center. There is a point at which sudden withdrawal is dangerous and requires medical supervision.
Whatever decision you make, taking a step toward sobriety is a good place to start.