Understanding the Disease of Addiction and Its Causes
Do you believe that you are suffering from the disease of addiction? Are you a loved one who is trying to learn more about what causes addiction so that you can understand the behavior of a friend or loves one? The Muse Treatment team is here to provide you with the answers to the questions you may have regarding identifying what causes addiction.
What Is Addiction?
If you live your day explicitly looking forward to when you can consume your next drug or drink of choice, there is a strong possibility that you may be combatting an addiction. Dependence comes in several forms; however, it is viewed as a disease in which a person has a physical and psychological dependency on alcohol or a specific drug.
Potential Causes of Addiction
As you work toward overcoming your addiction, you must have an understanding of what causes the habit. Here are some examples of potential causes of addiction:
Mental health issues
It’s not uncommon for a person suffering from an underlying mental health issue to also struggle with addiction. People that fall into this category tend to use drinking or drug use as a way of self-medicating, whether they know it or not. Unfortunately, there is still a negative stigma associated with mental health, so identifying these mental health issues goes unchecked until a person comes to a treatment center.
Genetics
Did you know that if your parents had an addiction, there is an increased possibility that you may develop one as well? This is one of the leading reasons why we will speak to you about your family history and background when you go to Muse for treatment.
Environmental factors
If you live in an environment where other people around you have an dependence, or you feel pressured to use a particular substance, this atmosphere may directly impact your own sobriety. Our team will take the time to get to know more about you so we can assist you in putting together a treatment program that can address these factors so that you can prevent relapse.
Risk Factors for Addiction
The list of short-term and long-term risk factors of addiction is seemingly endless. A person that is suffering from addiction may find themselves struggling with:
- Feeling sad or depressed
- An increase in anxiety or panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Irritability
- Development of anti-social tendencies
The long-term impact on your health and psychological well-being is undeniable. People with a long-standing dependence are more susceptible to:
- Serious health problems that may affect their liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain
- Financial problems
- Psychological challenges as your friends and family may begin to distance themselves from you
Treating the Underlying Causes of Addiction
For you to be able to overcome your addiction, you must work toward identify the causes of your addiction. For many people, this means working through emotions associated with experiencing a specific trauma in your life.
For example, if you were a first responder, you may have responded to a call that may have triggered a series of emotions that you simply did not know how to deal with or manage. When you decide to enroll in a treatment program such as the ones at Muse Treatment, our team of caring and experienced individuals can help you navigate these emotions.
When you come to Muse Treatment, you can count on our caring and experienced staff’s support and reassurance. Whether you come to us for detox and progress into a treatment program or are interested in enrolling in our inpatient or outpatient program, we will always provide you with the personalized attention you need during this critical transition in your life. Reach out to us today at (800) 426-1818.