How Alcoholism and Addiction Affect the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Any person who has suffered from addiction or alcoholism understands first-hand how powerful these diseases can be. Unlike other conditions, addiction and alcoholism affect more than just a physical or mental aspect of a person. Instead, people who suffer from these diseases are attacked at all levels- body, mind and spirit. This means they are not equipped to combat this illness without help, which is exactly why professional drug addiction treatment centers and alcohol rehabs have been created- to help those who cannot help themselves. One of the most critical parts of getting help is to understand just how powerful the grasp of addiction really is.

How Addiction Affects the Body

Addiction and alcoholism always start as physiological symptoms of a growing disease. These symptoms begin when a person uses drugs or alcohol for an extended period, developing a physical tolerance as a result. This tolerance is a natural defense the body employs to combat the effects of substances in the blood, but it only serves to complicate matters as increased tolerance means that a larger amount of the substance must be used to achieve similar effects.

Once tolerance develops, physical dependence is inevitable with continued use. At this stage, the body’s central nervous system has become chemically dependent on the substance in order to maintain normal functions. However, continued use of the drug or alcohol is likely to lead to severe complications of the lungs, heart, and kidneys -some of which can be fatal. Other physical manifestations of addiction and alcoholism include lack of coordination, exhaustion, insomnia, wasting, yellowing of the skin, tooth loss, and many other harmful side effects.

How Addiction Affects the Mind

Addiction and alcoholism initially attack the mind of the user with a false sense of well being. Even people who are normally very intelligent will deny blatant signs of addiction or alcoholism if they are actively using. This is because addiction is truly a disease that tells the user they do not have a disease. Furthermore, people who are suffering from addiction will often exhibit extremely poor decision-making and judgment. This inability to make good decisions often leads addicts and alcoholics to make poor choices despite severe consequences. Even disastrous consequences such as trouble with the law, financial difficulties, family problems, or the loss of a career do not take precedence over feeding the addiction. In this sense, the psychological facets of addiction and alcoholism may very well be the most dangerous.

How Addiction Affects Spirituality

When both the mind and body are under the crippling effects of addiction or alcoholism the human spirit always suffers the most. This can be in the form of severe depression, chronic lethargy, mania and suicidal tendencies. People who have been affected by addiction on physical, psychological, and spiritual levels are often unable to see any hope in their situation and may make poor or even dangerous decisions as a result.

If this sounds like you or someone you care about, the time to get help is now. When a disease affects someone on this many levels, reaching out for the assistance of others is a critical part of triumphing over addiction and alcoholism. All it takes to get started is a single phone call.

If you need help for drug addiction or alcoholism, click here now for a confidential consultation:

http://recoveryfirst.org/

Want to know more about addiction and alocholism? Click here:

http://recoveryfirst.org/category/most-read/page/2/