Addiction is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world. And yes, it is a disease, as it alters the way the brain and the body function – potentially even years after a person has stopped using drugs or alcohol. That’s why it’s important to notice the behavioral signs of addiction as early as possible.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), more than 23 million adults in the United States have struggled with problematic drug use. For this reason alone, it’s important to understand the underlying causes of addiction, its relationship to other psychiatric conditions and how to treat it most effectively. Repeated and regular substance abuse drastically alters your brain activity and tricks it into prioritizing drugs or alcohol over everything else. Because drugs or alcohol then consumes the brain, a person’s personality can change dramatically and may even cause mental health problems.
What Is Addiction?
Addiction is a strong compulsion to use substances despite the consequences of doing so. In most cases, it leads to behavioral changes as well as changes in personality. Speaking of which, let’s take a look at some personality changes you can expect to see in a person that is an addict.
Addiction Based Personality Changes
Common addiction-based personality changes include:
- Abusiveness
- Aggressiveness
- Dishonesty
- Fatigue
- Forgetfulness
- Impulsiveness
- Laziness
- Manipulation
- Mood swings
- Paranoia
- Restlessness
- Secrecy
- Selfishness
Erratic or impulsive behaviors and negative changes in your personality as a result of addition often have the following devastating effects:
- Social
Frequent mood swings; erratic behavior and poor anger management can cause relationships to deteriorate.
- Professional
Loss of interest, apathy and an inability to focus can lead to termination from work or expulsion from school.
- Legal
Aggression, impulsiveness and poor decision-making can lead to erratic behavior, unnecessary risks and unlawful behavior.
At Oak Forest Recovery, we understand treating a substance addiction isn’t just about eliminating access to drugs or alcohol. It’s also about diagnosing and treating the underlying psychological disorders or diseases. When a person is struggling with depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder they are more likely to misuse, or become dependent on, alcohol, medications or illicit drugs.
To learn more about how addiction changes your personality, contact Oak Forest Recovery at 1-888-597-6257 or submit the form below to begin your journey. We are dedicated to helping you find your path to recovery, and helping you each step of the way through individualized emotional, spiritual and physical healing.
Reference:
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain
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