Addiction is the compulsive, chronic use of a substance despite harmful consequences. Because of addiction, the brain may change, impairing a person’s ability to make healthy decisions and manage their behavior. Addiction can disturb your life, and if left untreated, it can threaten your health, relationships and overall well-being. However, with effective care, people can heal from the symptoms of addiction and build a strong foundation for ongoing recovery.
Those with addiction symptoms can find excellent inpatient services at Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Northeast, located in Moosic, Pennsylvania.
Signs and symptoms of addiction
Addiction can cause changes in your brain’s chemical makeup and in its circuitry. As a result, addiction alters how a person thinks, feels and acts. The signs and symptoms can range from mild to extreme and can vary depending on the person and the substance or substances they abuse.
Common signs and symptoms of addictions may include:
- Using a substance for a longer period or in larger amounts than you intended
- Spending increasing amounts of time finding, using and then recovering from the use of a substance
- Impaired judgment
- Intense cravings for a substance that may sometimes lead to taking extreme or illegal action to get the substance
- Using a substance alone or in secret
- Needing to use a substance every day, or even multiple times throughout the day
- Lying to friends or loved ones about how much or how often you’re using a substance
- Developing a need to use more of the substance to achieve the same effects you once experienced taking less of the substance
- Neglecting regular activities and responsibilities
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Changes in weight and energy levels
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you’re not using a substance as much or as often as you usually do
- Continuing use of a substance even when it’s negatively impacting your life
- Poor personal hygiene
- Using a substance when it is dangerous or inappropriate to do so
- Using a substance to manage stress or to feel pleasure
- Trying and failing to end or reduce the use of a substance
If you or a loved one has addiction symptoms, reach out for support as soon as possible. Your recovery journey can begin now and lead you to a happier, more fulfilling life.
Common causes and risk factors for addiction
There’s no single cause for addiction. But addictions may be influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental and social factors, which may include:
- Having family members who also had or have addictions
- Lack of coping skills
- Abuse or neglect experienced as a child
- Trauma, such as being assaulted or attacked
- Taking prescription painkillers for an injury or illness
- Easy access to addictive substances
- Having low self-esteem
- Cultural attitudes that support substance use
- Emotional, sexual or physical abuse experienced as an adult
- Peer influence
- High stress levels
- Personality traits such as impulsiveness
- Co-occurring mental health disorders
While these risk factors may contribute to the development of an addiction, anyone can be at risk. Whatever the cause, it’s important to understand that addiction is a treatable disorder and does not develop out of moral failing.
Potential effects of addiction
Untreated addiction can impact different people in various ways depending on risk factors as well as personal details like age, type of substance use disorder and length of time the person has been using that substance. Even though everyone will experience the effects of addiction in a unique way, there are common outcomes that can negatively affect mental health and well-being. Common potential effects of untreated addiction include:
- Poor performance at work or in school
- Accidents and injuries
- Decline in physical and mental health
- Job loss
- Hopelessness
- Overdose
- Suicidal ideation
- Death by suicide
- Strained or ruined relationships with loved ones, which can include separation and divorce
- Academic failure
- Homelessness
- Malnutrition
- Medical problems
- Failing to meet responsibilities at work, home or school
- Legal problems such as custody conflicts, arrests and DUI offenses
- Development of another mental health condition, or a co-occurring disorder
- Changes in weight or energy levels
- Heart attack or stroke
- Financial problems
- Problems with thinking, memory or judgment
- Drug cravings that make it difficult to focus on other tasks
The effects of addiction are devastating and even life-threatening. By seeking professional support at Geisinger Behavioral Health, you can begin rebuilding your life.
Withdrawal symptoms
When a person uses a substance over and over, their body can adjust to the drug and even begin to rely on that substance to function. The brain quits producing the necessary hormones to produce good feelings that the drug has been providing. As a result, when a person attempts to stop using the drug, painful withdrawal symptoms can make it very difficult for them to remain in recovery.
Common symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Racing heart rate
- Trouble breathing
- Hot flashes or chills
- Paranoia
- Psychosis
- Powerful cravings for a substance
- Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Muscle pain
- Trouble sleeping
- Fever
- Tics and tremors
- Seizures
- Excessive sweating
- Feeling depressed
- Suicidal thoughts
Getting help with withdrawal symptoms so discomfort can be minimized can empower a person to continue forward on their recovery path.
Overdose symptoms
Some symptoms of overdose include:
- Slowed or shallow breathing
- Faint pulse
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizure
- Bluish lips or fingertips
- Dilation of the pupils
- Disorientation
- Inability to wake up
If you or a loved one shows any of these symptoms, seek prompt medical attention. You could save your loved one’s life by responding as quickly as possible. Once these acute overdose symptoms are
addressed, you or your loved one may consider inpatient treatment as the best next step in the recovery process.
Common underlying or co-occurring disorders
If you’re living with an addiction, you may also have a co-occurring behavioral health disorder. This overlap of disorders can cause you to have complex combinations of symptoms that may be treated together rather than on their own.
Patients at Geisinger Behavioral Health can find care for addictions, mental health concerns and dual diagnoses. Based on the results of an initial assessment, we can address your individual needs and determine how to best treat your symptoms. Examples of co-occurring mental health concerns that commonly accompany addiction include:
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Anxiety disorders
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Borderline personality disorder
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Geisinger Behavioral Health Center Northeast.