9 Signs That Your Addiction Is Out Of Control
If you are between the ages of 16 and 25, this one’s for you. Most people that become addicts and alcoholics didn’t just wake up one morning like that. Chemical dependency occurs over time, though for some people it happens faster than other.
Because your bodies haven’t fully finished growing yet, alcohol and drugs do more long-term damage down the road.
Increased risks from excessive drinking include…
*Throat and mouth cancer
*Mental health problems, including depression and suicide
*Liver cirrhosis and heart disease
The stages of abuse
If you think that you or a friend might be getting carried away with too much partying, look for these behavior patterns. If you or someone you know acts like this, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate what is important to you, before things get worse.
The first stage of addiction is the Experimental or Social Level. There generally isn’t a problem yet. At the Abuse Stage, however, red flags may start to pop up. Have you noticed any?
1) SCHOOL OR WORK PERFORMANCE BEGINS TO SUFFER
You used to be such a good student, what happened?
2) MOOD SWINGS
If you are high more than you are sober, you really don’t know which way to act.
3) CHANGES IN PERSONALITY
It feels like you just aren’t yourself anymore, you might say or do things that you wouldn't have before you started using.
4) LYING
You know that you shouldn’t lie, but you find it happens more frequently. You’re getting better at it.
6) DECREASE IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
All of the things that you used to care about, don’t matter anymore. The only thing that matters now is the next fix/drink.
7) BEGIN TO ADOPT ADDICTED APPEARANCE
Showers don’t seem as important as they used to be either. Being clean and looking nice are the furthest things from your mind.
8) CONFLICT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS ESCALATES
The family sees that something is going on and becomes worried. The user feels threatened and defensive, and arguments are more and more frequent.
9) ALL YOU CAN FOCUS ON IS USING
You start looking at the clock and thinking about how long it will be until you can drink or drug again. Events have to be adjusted so they can include using. You can’t stop thinking about that next buzz.
This is the tipping point.
If you have noticed any of these behaviors personally, then a serious problem could be waiting to develop. The next stage after this is Full-blown Addiction. When you use just because you have to, so you don’t get sick. You will eventually lose everything that you used to care about, and life will end as you know it.
Get help while you still can.
Nobody thinks it will happen to them. This guy didn’t decide one day, “Hey, I think I’ll grow up and be an alcoholic someday.”
It might not happen right away, but these behaviors are well documented to indicate future problems with substance abuse. Get help if you need it, stop your addiction early, before it stops you.
