Addictive Behaviors: Signs, Symptoms, and Causes

• April 20, 2022
• Addiction
• Madison
• 3 Comments

Alcohol, though being a source of temporary happiness, can drastically affect one’s overall physique. When you step into the path of alcoholism, you gradually develop an unknown addiction, resulting in various addictive behaviors that can affect both your mental health and physical health.

When these irresistible habits become the talk of each day, it is often referred to as addictive behaviors. Various researches have shown that increased addiction is considered a mental health disorder wherein the dissolved drug exceedingly impacts the brain’s functioning. 

Since addictive behaviors contribute to the darker sides of individuals, it’s necessary to know all about it, including the signs, symptoms, and causes. Let’s dive in and explore more!

Signs of Addictive Behaviors

Signs of alcohol addiction provide people with early warnings to correct all the wrongs. When detected, you can easily jump back to the path of recovery and lead a normal life once again. Some of the most general signs of alcohol addiction include:

• Irresistible control over alcohol 
• Increased hangover experiences even at the time of withdrawal 
• Experiencing risky behaviors, including frequent falling
• Prominent weight changes
• Constant high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems
• Weak metabolism 
• Wanting to drink at inappropriate times
• Extreme dependence on alcohol consumption for everyday activities
• Slurred speech
• Memory and concentration problems 
• Delusional thinking along with hallucinations
• Increased Isolation
• High deceitfulness

Many people tend to continue this amplified alcohol drinking habit while knowing all the possible consequences. If you encounter a person going through this stage, try to derail them from this harmful path. 

Symptoms of Addictive Behaviors

While signs help in identifying some problems inside an individual’s inner physique, symptoms lead to the recognition of the specific disease itself. Some of them include:

• Increased heart rate
• Nausea 
• Unnecessary vomiting
• High irritability
• Inability to sleep
• Increased stress
• Shot up Sweat

Addictive behavior often results in a gradual impact on an individual’s inner state of mind. It also includes changes occurring in people’s social sphere. One day, they tend to often seem happy and joyful, while the next day, they choose the path of loneliness and anger. 

This subsequent change in social behavior is also a strong indicator of increased alcohol addiction. At the same time, all these depend on the amount of intake of alcohol which accordingly radiates related symptoms. 

Causes of Addictive Behaviors

Various people tend to ponder the causes of these increased alcoholic addictions and their harmful impacts. These can include a hell lot of things some of them are:

• The Brain – Alcoholic addiction adversely damages the brain’s inner nerves leading to ultimate damage to the entire nervous system of an individual.

• Family History – If your family history consists of an alcoholic background and related addictions, it may even influence your mind to choose the path of alcoholism. 

• Genetics – Various researchers have suggested that genetics play a major role in developing addictions. If your DNA consists of alcoholism, you tend to enter the road of increased alcoholism. 

• Frequent use of a substance – The more frequently a person uses a substance, the more likely they get addicted to it and develop a certain type of addictive behavior. 

• Environment – Apart from all the other causes, the environment plays a major role in developing alcohol addictions in one’s behavior. If your social sphere tends to lack people and increased social pressure, you may seem to choose the path of alcoholism in order to relieve your loneliness. 

Treatments of Addictive Behaviors

Since this harmful path tends to affect almost all individuals – it’s necessary to know different addiction treatment options. Some of them include:

• Medications – Various medications have been introduced with science which helps in recreating all the cravings along with highly reducing them. Additionally, these medicines also assist in curing diseases that have been developed due to increased alcohol addictions. These include nicotine, replacement therapies, and methadone. 

• Psychotherapy – A new way to treat alcoholic addictions, this paves the way to reaching the true cause and treating from within. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an appropriate solution for coming back to the path of recovery. Some more include contingency management and group therapy.

• Support Groups – Nowadays, new groups have been induced to help people cope and bring them back to the path of recovery. These are online as well as offline, which constantly motivate addicts and create a positive environment. 

Wrapping Up

While addictive behavior can be difficult to deal with, it can gradually become easy with proper guidance and professional care. Treating the causes medically helps in providing long-term relief to the issue. Additionally, timely support from your friends and family can also assist in making this journey smooth. 

Our dedicated professionals at Drug Rehab Centers offer full-fledged services to overcome addictive behavior and walk on your path of alcohol withdrawal. While this can be a daunting task for some, we enable you to lead an addiction-free life in no time!

Contact us today and explore our rehab centers!