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If you want to be sure that your loved one has an addiction before you do anything, then you don’t need to worry.
While addictions such as drug or alcohol addiction are deeply personal and tend to present in different people in different ways, there are still some signs that you can be on the lookout for.
5 Signs of Addiction
Physical changes
People living with an addiction tend to not take care of themselves. Keep an eye out for sudden weight loss or weight gain, a lapse in personal hygiene and the appearance of deteriorating physical health.
Sudden change in behaviour
Mood swings are a common side effect of many addictions, especially if your loved one is starting to experience cravings after being away from their drug addiction for too long. You should also be on the lookout for isolating behaviour, disinterest in friends or family members and a more secretive nature.
Loss of interest in hobbies
It is common for people living with addictions to abandon their hobbies to focus all of their time and attention on their addiction.
Repeated Lying or Excuses
People who are living with an addiction tend to be very secretive about what they are doing. They will lie and try to hide their addiction for as long as possible because at least some part of them knows that if the right person finds out, they will be made to stop.
This behaviour can include lying about stealing from others, lying about missing school or work, or lying about how well they are doing in general.
Signs of withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms are definitive proof of addiction. They can be very dangerous are in some cases, they can result in hallucinations and seizures. But early signs of withdrawal symptoms involve flue like symptoms that come on as a result of being away from what the person is addicted to for too long. In most cases, withdrawal symptoms are definite proof of addiction.
Common Addictions People Hide
Living with an addiction can be very difficult, and many people who struggle with it also feel shame.
They feel they are doing something wrong and need to hide their addiction from the world or risk being cast out from society.
In many cases, they really have no reason to feel this way. Now more than ever, we as a society understand that addiction is not a series of bad decisions but a complex medical condition requiring treatment.
It is normal, however, for people to be afraid. Especially if they think that they are alone in their struggles. They tend to isolate themselves and try to deal with their addiction independently.
If you are concerned about your loved one and the addiction that they may have, then you must understand that addiction involves more than just what the average person knows.
To begin with, addiction can technically be anything that causes your brain to produce dopamine. Dopamine is the chemical in your brain that causes you to feel pleasure. When a person relies on an outside stimulant to produce dopamine, addictions form.
While a person can be addicted to anything, there are a few common addictions that most people struggle with.
These addictions are:
- Drugs
- Prescription drugs
- Alcohol
- Gambling
- Porn
While on the surface, one type of addiction may seem more dangerous than the other, it is important to remember that the damage from addiction spreads further than the physical effects.
Dangers of Addiction
Knowing if you should step in and do something about a loved one’s addiction is a complicated balance.
You may not want to get involved and trust them to lead their own lives. However, you should know that addiction can have serious lifelong dangers. If you are not sure about wanting to help your loved one or not, then please consider the following long-term side effects of addiction.
The dangers of addiction include:
- Liver or heart failure
- Kidney failure
- Debt
- Homelessness
- Loss of job
- Isolation
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of fertility
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Psychosis
- Paranoia
- Dissasosative identity disorder
The dangers of addiction are very real, and they can be life-destroying if something isn’t done about them.
If one uncomfortable conversation can save the life of your loved one, then isn’t it worth it?
How to Help Somone With an Addiction
If at this point, you are sure that your loved one has an addiction and needs help, then you may be tempted to do that as soon as you can.
While this impulse is born out of love, it is unfortunately not that simple. Addiction recovery is a long and difficult process that requires serious dedication from the person receiving the treatment.
This is because there is no cure for addiction. The treatments instead make it manageable so that they can go the rest of their life without giving in to their addiction.
In the UK, a person can also not be forced into an alcohol rehab centre without their consent or without a court order. At this point, the best thing you can do is be there and offer your live one support.
One of the best ways you can support them is by getting in contact with us at Rehab Clinics Group by calling us at 0800 470 0382. We can get you in contact with an intervention specialist who can lead you in approaching the subject of addiction treatment for your loved one.
We are here to offer you and your loved one support during this difficult time. When the time is right, we can also help your loved one find themselves in an addiction rehab centre that can offer them tailor-made treatments to help them to overcome their addiction.
Your loved one is not hiding an addiction because they don’t care about themselves or you. They are not lying about their addiction because they don’t want or need help. And your loved one is not living with addiction because they want to be.
Addiction is isolating and often dehumanising. Your wanting to help your loved one and your willingness to be there every step of the way will help more them you can ever know.
