3 Symptoms of Addiction

3 Symptoms of Addiction

We see it in the media – the stereotypical image of what addiction looks like – addicts in derelict buildings, homeless people who look dishevelled and dirty, people who can’t hold down a job. While these may be accurate representations of what addiction could look like, symptoms of addiction are sometimes easily missed because they aren’t what people expect. We’ve listed 3 of the common signs to look out for when you suspect that someone might be abusing substances and the abuse has raged out of control and has become an addiction.

Isolation

Often, addicts and alcoholics start off enjoying drugs and alcohol within a social context. But addiction is a progressive disease, and over time, addicted individuals will often start using or drinking alone. Addicts isolate themselves for a number of reasons. The more someone cares about an addict in active addiction, the more of a hindrance they are to the addicts’ path of self-destruction. For this reason, one of the most common addiction symptoms is isolation, especially from loved ones and close associates.

Financial Instability

A common, shared experience that many recovering addicts and alcoholics attest to in retrospect, is that maintaining a relationship with substances costs money. Therefore, one of the more obvious signs of addiction is financial instability, which may result in the addict taking loans, getting into debt and borrowing or stealing money to maintain their habit. If they are employed, many addicts appear to never have money, even soon after they have been paid a salary.

Dishonesty

Addicts and alcoholics resort to telling lies in order to maintain their addictive behaviour. In the beginning, their dishonesty may pertain to their whereabouts, how they are spending their money or why they seem to be isolated from their loved ones. But as time goes on, their lies may become more elaborate. Often, they may choose to tell a lie when it is not necessary. One lie covers up another until a web of lies has formed and it becomes almost impossible to distinguish between fact and fiction. Dishonesty is therefore one of the key symptoms of addiction to look out for.

This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms of addiction and it’s important to understand that the disease of addiction manifests differently from individual to individual. The signs listed above are some of the more common ones to look out for but remember, “addiction doesn’t always look like addiction,” so if you are in doubt or need a professional opinion, contact us and we will be able to share our experience with you.

If you or a loved one needs assistance with addiction – know that help is readily available. The road to recovery is not always an easy one but getting yourself or your loved one the best possible care from the team at Crossroads Recovery Centre, provides you with a map to sober, healthy living. No matter how bad things seem, there is hope and it’s just a phone call away. If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex, gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.

www.crossroadsrecovery.co.za

074 89 51043 JHB

012 450 5033 PTA

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