Why It’s Okay to Ask “What Is Addiction?”
When we say “addiction,” most people would presume to know what that means. After all, they have probably learned about the term in school, they have probably seen commercials about it, or they have probably known someone who suffered from it. But that person could never be you, could it?
With centers for drug addiction help all over the United States, we know just how deceptive addiction can be. It can slip into the lives of individuals who think they are perfectly healthy without making a sound. When we ask ourselves, “What is addiction?” we often think of drugs: marijuana, LSD, cocaine, alcohol, heroin, meth, and more.
But addiction takes many forms. Here we discuss why it is really okay to ask “what is addiction?”
It Takes Many Forms
As we stated above, addiction is not just about drugs. People can become addicted to sex, self-harm, eating disorders, gambling, cycles of abuse, and more. While most people acknowledge that drugs and substances can be addictive, many forget that addiction is a behavioral pattern, and behaviors themselves can become the addiction. When you ask “what is addiction?” you may feel as if you’re stepping out on a limb. In reality, this question is perfectly reasonable because addiction is not always what we think it is.
It is Hard to Recognize
Addiction does not always show itself. It may be something an addict does by themselves only. They may be hiding its effects on their lives. And because we know that addiction is not only about drugs, it can manifest at first as what you might call “habits.” A person may think they have simply picked up a routine of having a drink after work to wind down. But then sometimes one drink becomes two, and then it regularly becomes two. The seeds of addiction are planted. So when a person asks, “what is addiction?” the answer is that it is often hidden.
It is Hard to Admit
Denial is also a powerful tool. When someone asks “what is addiction?”, the truth is that they may be hiding their own. Once a person realizes they have a problem it can take a very long time for them to build the strength to admit that they are struggling. The process is different for everyone, but we at Adult & Teen Challenge USA make the process easier, and we work toward a recovery that will last a lifetime.
