Am I an Addict?
Asking yourself “Am I an Addict?” is often the most important step in recovery. This is because addiction takes over your brain. The disease tells you that you need to use substances. It tells you that life without using substances is painful. It does this to protect itself. The only way for someone to learn if they are an addict is to ask themselves. By asking this question, it shows willingness to break through the lies addiction is telling you. If you’ve reached this point, you’re ready to begin healing. Here’s some ways to know if you are an addict.
Do You Have Addiction
Addiction is the name that was given to Substance Use Disorder (SUD). SUD is a disorder of the brain. It is an illness. This makes it no different from cancer or diabetes. These are the symptoms:
- An inability to stop using a drug.
- Physical and mental dependence on a drug.
- Intense cravings for the drug whenever use is stopped.
- Withdrawal symptoms when you cannot get enough of the drug.
- Spending large amounts of time using the drug.
- Continuing to use the drug even when it creates problems.
- Thinking about the drug often.
- Having urges to use the drug so intense they block out other thoughts.
- Doing things against your own morals – such as lying and stealing – in order to obtain the drug.
- Being unable to meet responsibilities because you are using the drug.
Any one of these could mean you have SUD. Odds are good that if you are asking yourself “Am I an addict?” the answer is almost certainly “yes.” People who do not have SUD don’t worry about addiction. But, if you still aren’t sure, there’s a few steps you can take to find out.
Am I an Addict? Here’s How to Tell
It’s possible you aren’t sure if you have SUD. Maybe the symptoms listed above describe you. Maybe they don’t. Many people with SUD don’t really have a lot of the signs. Sometimes they don’t recognize when they do. Since addiction centers in the brain, it can use the brain against itself so that it’s impossible to know if you have it. The mind is very powerful. When it’s been taken over by a disease, that power is then used by the disease. If you aren’t sure if you have SUD, there’s a simple experiment you can perform to find out. It’s a good chance to learn more about yourself. This experiment uses 7 steps. These are:
- Consult with a doctor about stopping your substance use.
- Develop a plan for quitting.
- Quit using the drug.
- See if you experience withdrawal symptoms.
- Write down your thoughts and feelings. Include how often you think about using the drug.
- Continue this process for a minimum of 30 days.
- Discuss with the people closest to you if they’ve noticed a change in you.
Though this seems easy, it usually isn’t. There’s a right way and a wrong way to quit using a drug. Here’s how to perform each step safely:
Consult with a Doctor
The first step is very important. Quitting a drug is dangerous. It can make you sick. You may also experience extreme pain. Quitting a drug can even be fatal. Before you stop you need to ensure you do it safely. This m