When someone knowingly continues behavior that is negative and has unhealthy consequences it is known as an addiction, your brain then creates a craving for that behavior, and you find yourself in a cycle of seeking that reward. There are many forms of addiction it is a disease and has been linked to genetics and environmental factors.

Three types of addictions can be categorized as behavior, impulse, and substance.

Behavior addiction includes gambling, shopping, eating, and sex, although nothing in ingested the same rush or high is similar.

Impulse behavior is where it is tough to control emotions and actions, causing theft, emotional outbursts and destructive behavior. These behaviors can become addictive and also causes mental health issues. Substance addiction is when a specific chemical creates a physical dependence.
 
Drug addictions – are the first thing most people think about when it comes to addictions, it is a the vicious cycle that is hard to break and most who struggle with it develop drug-seeking and struggle with them for the rest of their lives. The problems a drug addiction can cause are things like difficulty in school, relationships with friends and family deteriorating, your health taking a toll, and you have financial issues.
 
Shopping addictions – when you feel down why not do some “retail therapy” seems harmless to start but once you have fed the negative feelings may turn into compulsive behavior having negative consequences, especially financial ones. People who need to shop tend to overstretch themselves by opening new credit cards and breaking their budgets. Even buying unwanted items to feel the void. This hurts your relationships, especially if you share finances with a spouse or partner.
 
Food Addictions have both physical and physiological effects, and it is usually a coping mechanism when having to deal with difficult emotions. People with food addictions tend to be riddled with chronic pain, obesity, anxiety, and depression. Eating foods high in sugar triggers the brain’s reward system, and you may even find yourself eating when not hungry.
 
Video game addiction is a common behavior addiction and although starting to destress or have fun can turn into something that takes over your life, you may start to choose the game over relationships and other activities. This can interfere with your work and education as well as financial issues. Some people with upgrading their systems even though they have no money
to do so.

Some people are susceptible to addiction, and many factors play a part in it. Addictions are biophysical disorders that can last your whole life. They are a combination of genetics and neurobiology and how they interact with social and psychological factors. Left untreated, they can last your whole life. When you continue with addictive behavior your brain adapts, dopamine levels decrease, and you will need to continue the behavior to increase your dopamine levels. Eventually doing the drug becomes more important than the pleasure it gives.

There are five reasons a person may become addicted to drugs; family history is the first one if you have a history of addiction in your family you are at a greater risk. Having a mental health disorder such as depression, ADHD, or post-traumatic stress you may be at great risk as drugs may be a way to cope with your feelings. Peer pressure is a strong factor when it comes to trying drugs.

Growing up in a home where there wasn’t much family involvement can be a factor in addiction because you may have lacked parental involvement. If you try a drug at an early age when your brain hasn’t fully developed, it could lead to a progressive addiction. Some drugs, like cocaine and opioids, have a faster addiction rate, leading you to addiction sooner.

When looking for warning signs of substance abuse some of the symptoms are risk-taking while driving or having sex, missing, or neglecting work, school, or home, and having legal troubles like being arrested or fighting. Some physical symptoms include bloodshot eyes, changes in appearance, sleeping habits, and unusual smell on clothes or breath. Noticing behavioral changes can be dropping in attendance at work or family functions, changes in friends or hobbies, and mood swings. Other changes may include a change in attitude, fear, anxiety, or paranoid and even angry outbursts. We are located at 6801 Park Terrace Suite 530B, Los Angeles, CA 90045. For more information, call us or book your appointment online. We serve patients from Los Angeles CA, Beverly Hills CA, Santa Monica CA, Encino CA, and Pacific Palisades CA.