How to detect an addiction in a person around us

Addictions are, by their very nature, diseases that progressively reduce the control that the person who suffers from them has over their lives. That is why acting as soon as possible is essential to overcome this type of pathology; the more time passes since its appearance, the more complicated it is to get out of that vicious circle of dependency and relapses. And that is also why it is key to be able to identify the presence of this alteration in people with which we interact on a day-to-day basis, so that, to the extent of our possibilities, we can help.

So let's take a look at those warning signs that help detect addictions in those of us who usually meet on a day-to-day basis (or with whom we live).

• Related article: "How does the family influence the support of the addicted person?"

The keys to detect that someone in our environment is an addict

Although the diagnosis can only be made by health professionals, it is good that we are alert to the possibility of have a friend, family member, or colleague express the typical warning signs associated with addictions, so that we can support them and

Facilitate the process of going to therapy and/or continuing with the treatment objectives if you have already started it.

Therefore, here you will find a brief summary of the factors that help detect disorders addictive and that serve as approximate references when it comes to understanding how these pathologies. However, they must be taken into account as a whole, and the fact that one or two occur does not imply that there are many possibilities that we are facing an addiction.

1. Tendency to social isolation

Because addictive disorders cause the person to prioritize engaging in the addictive experience (for example, drinking alcohol or gambling), the person he is losing contact with his friends or even with his relatives, and he is spending more time with people from the social circle linked to drugs and addictions in general.

In the same way, relations are also deteriorating qualitatively, given that in some cases addicted people come to lie or steal money in order to continue with their lifestyle. This means that in a relatively short time they find themselves alone in life, something that from their point of view gives more reasons not to try to overcome the addiction, noticing that nobody supports them.

• You may be interested in: "Unwanted loneliness: what it is and how we can fight it"

2. Mood swings and irritability

Withdrawal generates a greater predisposition to be irritable due to general malaise and high levels of stress; thus, the person “jumps to the minimum” before any unforeseen or possible misunderstanding or interference in her activities, and this is something that did not happen before.

In the same way, everything that can be interpreted as an obstacle to continue reproducing the addictive disorder (for example, the family plan to go on vacation to a place where alcohol or other drugs are not readily available) becomes considered a nuisance, something that produces frustration and facilitates the appearance of discussions.

• Related article: "Mood swings: what they are, and 9 tips to control them"

3. Tendency to have a disorganized sleep schedule

Addictions often interfere a lot with the ability to sleep well, causing cases of insomnia and/or going to sleep too late (for example, by being left alone using drugs while the rest of the family sleeps). In addition, sleep is of poorer quality and the addicted person wakes up tired or feeling that they need to stay in bed longer than normal.

4. trouble concentrating

Addictions cause the person to suffer discomfort and stress very frequently, and psychological exhaustion that this generates makes it difficult to concentrate at work, in carrying out household chores, etc

5. Greater predisposition to suffer skin problems

The skin is one of the organs in which the effects of addiction are previously reflected. It is common for skin rashes, acne pimples, or irritations to appear in greasy areas or where sweat usually accumulates. In addition, when the addiction is consolidated, people tend to maintain fewer personal hygiene measures, so dead skin accumulates more and generates itching and redness of the skin.

• You may be interested in: "What are the effects of stress on the skin?"

6. abandonment of hobbies

The lifestyle of the person who has developed an addiction becomes increasingly impoverished to give absolute priority to drug use or to carrying out the behavior towards which it is directed dependent. Therefore, another of the warning signs associated with this disease is the abandonment of all hobbies that require more or less time and effort: go for a run, play basketball, learn languages...

Looking for addiction treatment?

If you are seeking detoxification and treatment services for people who have developed a disorder addictive (with or without substance use), we invite you to contact our team of professionals.

In Seville Addiction Center we specialize in helping this type of patient, either through outpatient care or through treatment through admission to our residential module, and we also offer distance therapy through video calls. You will find us in Mairena del Aljarafe.