Do you think you have become addicted to drugs or alcohol? Are you searching for various symptoms of chemical dependency? You have reached the right place; we will guide you with the multiple symptoms, its consequences, and also about the treatment for it.
What is Chemical Dependency?
When a person becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, the state is defined as chemical dependency. At this stage, the person has become so dependent on chemicals that even if they want to quit, they feel helpless to do so on own.
Repetitive use of addictive substances like narcotics, nicotine, alcohol, etc. increases the tolerance power of the body. This increases their drug intake to let the body feel the desired effects. If the dosage is not increased, the addicted person may start experiencing withdrawal symptoms like depression, anxiety, hallucinations, etc.
Substances Used for Drug Abuse
● Alcohol
● Marijuana
● Cocaine
● Heroin
● Tobacco
● Methamphetamines
● Anabolic steroids
● Bath salts and spice
Symptoms of Chemical Dependency
Your body starts showing symptoms of chemical dependency once becoming addicted to drugs. However, warning signs may vary from person to person. Some of the most common of them are:
● Drinking for extended periods and in larger amounts
● Unsuccessful attempts to cut down alcohol or drug intake
● Frequent cravings for drugs or alcohol
● Giving up on your activities under the influence of these addictive substances
● Unusual body odors
● Change in eating and sleeping patterns
● Mood swings
● Lack of Motivation
Though the symptoms might be similar to some other diseases, it is advised to consult your doctor once before reaching a conclusion.
Consequences
Depending upon the addictive substance, your level of addiction consequences varies. It negatively affects every aspect of life. These include:
● Effects on Physical health
An addicted person develops higher risks of increased health problems. It includes liver damage, cancer, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, stroke, heart problems, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and other cardiovascular diseases. They even suffer weight loss and sexual dysfunction.
● Effects on Mental Health
Addiction also impacts your psychological health to an adverse level. It leads to aggravate depression, aggression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, sleep disturbances, suicidal thoughts, and concentration problems.
● Effects on Relationships
Under the influence of drugs, people start losing interest in the activities that were counted under the list of activities that they once enjoyed. It negatively affects their family relations. Their professional work and connections also hamper due to the addictive effects. People even start escaping or canceling plans of going out with friends.
Addicted peoples, socially unacceptable behaviors like stealing to complete their body desires of drugs, aggression, etc. are the causes of their conflicted relations.
Don’t worry if you are also suffering the same, as the chemical dependency is treatable.
Treatment
As the addiction is complex, so does the treatment. If you think every person is benefited with the same treatment, then you are mistaken. Depending upon the severity of addiction and details of the individual, treatment varies.
While deciding the treatment, your doctor considers various factors like:
● Your age
● Health
● Tolerance to medicines.
The treatment is also decided by analyzing the type of drug to which you get addicted and the extent of the addiction. A final decision is taken once you prove. The patient’s will power and cooperation to get detoxified help the patients to experience fruitful results early.
Treatment includes chemical dependency detoxification and counseling. You can be treated either as an inpatient or outpatient but under supervision.
A detoxification program is carried out with specific medicines to let the body get rid of withdrawal symptoms. Depending upon the severity, the program runs for several weeks. Once the body is detoxified, the recovery process starts with therapies and counseling. Counseling focuses on the problems that person faced during addiction to let them cured with the best therapies for eliminating the use and effects of addictive substances.
Counseling and detoxification programs help the person to live a healthy and prosperous life, free from drugs forever.
