Recent events have made life extremely stressful for many citizens. Escape and relaxation may have been hard to find as you face the uncertainty of modern life. However, some people can use alcohol and drugs to relax without facing the risk of addiction. Why do so many people become addicted to drugs? For some, drugs are a way to manage pain, including
- physical discomfort
- mental anguish
- emotional suffering
Over time, many drugs lose their impact as we develop a tolerance for the product. When this happens, it takes more drug to get the same relief. This need for more, or craving, pushes the user into an addictive mindset.
Chasing the High
If you’ve ever had a sore tooth and gotten a Novocain shot, you know just how wonderful the cessation of pain can be. The more severe the pain, the more you yearn for the release. This yearning can cause the sufferer to striver harder and harder to enjoy this release. Your desire for release doesn’t have to be related to physical pain, such as nerve damage. Often, mental pain from traumatic events can create an even stronger yearning for some form of release. When you find something that allows you to function effectively away from those traumatic thoughts, you will reach for it again and again.
Environmental Impacts
Many who struggle with addiction in Florida do so because they saw addictive behaviors in their childhood. If your parents argued when sober and laughed when drinking together, you learned that alcohol was fun and could be a way to make peace. You may have became comforted by the scent of alcohol on their breath. Environment can also work against you. If your parents used illegal drugs and were not able to care for you, or if you had a sibling who created problems for your family by using drugs, you may hate the idea of them. Unfortunately, you may also have a negative opinion of those facing addiction. This means that when you need help you can’t ask for it because of shame and other destructive feelings.
Genetics
Having a parent or grandparent who struggled with addiction doesn’t mean that you are destined for it. However, it does mean that you are at greater risk. Like other genetic factors that can limit your quality of life, addictive behaviors are something you will need to watch and be extremely honest about. Current research on genetics and addiction centers around alcohol. If you have a family history of other drug abuse, it’s a good idea to maintain the same honesty about your risk. It’s also critical that you are extremely kind to yourself should you find any behavior or product getting out of control.
Stress
We live in a nervous world, and everyone manages this stress in their own way. Because none of us can know exactly what others are suffering, it’s critically important that you are generous with yourself and others in today’s world. We have a cultural “lean” toward getting through stressful situations with a little chemical help. People are depicted relaxing at the end of a long day with a beer, a glass of wine or a cocktail. Smoking tobacco used to be a rite of passage to being an adult. Getting together with friends often means using something mood-altering, a meal and laughter. It can be hard to see the life that you want to live away from the addictive substances that are so prevalent in our society. This fear can get in the way of starting an addiction treatment program that can ultimately save your life.
A great percentage of an effective treatment program will focus on getting back into the world in safety and health. No matter what your historical relationship is with addiction, your future matters more. Building a healthy life may mean giving up some of your old, self-protective concepts. Moving forward in health may mean healing old relationships, learning to manage stress in new ways, and building a much healthier social group. There are relationships that will wither and others will grow with gusto. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to help you see your new future more clearly. Call 844-639-8371.