Abuse and Addiction
What is abuse?
Abuse covers the harmful or excessive use of substances such as alcohol or drugs, but it can also include other activities, actions, or substances used in a way that harms the individual or those around them.
Understanding Addiction
Addiction is a condition where a person becomes dependent on a specific substance, action, or activity. This dependency can be physical, psychological, or both, and can negatively affect the individual’s physical, mental, and social well-being.
The Difference Between Addiction and Abuse
Abuse and addiction can take many forms. Although many often think of alcohol and drugs, a range of other activities can also function as intoxicants for us. A distinction is therefore made between chemical substances and process addictions:
- Chemical substances: These directly affect the brain’s chemistry and function. This category includes alcohol, illegal drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, and ecstasy, as well as prescription medications that can be abused, such as benzodiazepines and opioids. Chemical substances have the ability to change our emotions, behavior, and mental functions by directly affecting the brain’s communication system.
- Process addictions: These refer to activities that can create dependency and affect our mental and emotional well-being. Examples include gambling, social media, sex, work, shopping, and exercise. This form of abuse or addiction is also seen in cases of eating disorders. Process addictions involve behavior rather than the use of chemical substances but can still activate the brain’s reward centers and create a sense of satisfaction.
Regardless of the form the abuse takes, it is often a slowly developing disorder that starts small. Normal consumption can lead to overconsumption and harmful use, which can then develop into addiction. If one suffers from abuse, they will always be in the danger zone of developing an addiction.
Facts About Abuse and Addiction
“It is estimated that 580,000 people in Denmark drink so much that it is classified as harmful. 140,000 people have developed an actual addiction.
It is estimated that 500,000 adult Danes can be classified as gambling addicts.”
It is estimated that at least 40,000 have a dual diagnosis, i.e., both a diagnosed mental disorder (e.g., anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia) and an abuse/addiction. However, there is a large number of unreported cases, and there are therefore presumed to be far more instances.
Stop if You Recognize Any of the Signs
Even if you may not have developed an addiction, your relationship with whatever serves as your intoxicant may be problematic and heading in a negative direction.
It is often those closest to you who first notice that your consumption has become too high and that your behavior has changed. It can take several years before you become aware of it yourself. Therefore, it is important to listen if your loved ones express concern about your consumption.
There are many causes for the development of abuse or addiction. Overconsumption of either chemical substances or process addictions can often be triggered by one or more of the following factors:
- You have what is popularly called an “addiction gene,” meaning there is addiction in your family, and you therefore have a genetic vulnerability to developing addiction more easily.
- You have replaced one intoxicant with another, such as stopping the use of amphetamines and instead starting to exercise excessively.
- You have learned behavior from the social circles and environments you are in. For example, you may have learned in your childhood home, school, or workplace that alcohol is part of every pleasant occasion and functions as social glue.
- You have used substances like cannabis, gambling, shopping, or exercise as a way to relax, soothe difficult emotions, and forget everyday problems—essentially a form of “self-medication.”
Often, it is psychological mechanisms that ultimately lead to physical addiction. It is therefore not only about how much you consume or do, but also about why and how you do it.
Regain Control from Your Abuse or Addiction
Addiction is never something one develops on purpose, and it is not simply a matter of pulling oneself together. The earlier you become aware of and acknowledge that you are heading in a negative direction, the better.
Whether you are struggling with chemical substances or process addictions, it is important to seek professional help. In Denmark, support to stop the use of chemical substances is free, and several places are also beginning to focus on the treatment of process addictions. However, stopping is not always sufficient. Especially if the substance has functioned as a form of self-medication, it is crucial not only to get help to stop the intake or behavior but also to process the emotions that emerge when there is no longer anything to blur or dampen them. You need strategies to handle the challenges that you previously managed with your substance of choice.
It can be difficult to admit that you have lost control over your intake or behavior. You may feel ashamed or guilty that you have ended up in this situation.
At Psykologhuset Enigma, no problem is wrong. We understand that all people do what makes sense for them at a given time. At one point, the substance may have seemed like a good and helpful way to handle difficult situations, but now it has become a problem in itself. We want to help you with this. Together, we can examine what function it has served for you and how we can find new strategies that better fit the life you want to live.
