Addiction
Alcoholism, Substance Abuse

Symptoms of Addiction

The cardinal symptom of addiction is the inability to limit use of a substance or activity beyond need leading to clinically significant impairment.

There is a craving or compulsion to use the substance or activity.

Recurrent use of the drug or activity escalates to achieve the desired effect, indicating tolerance.

Attempts to stop usage produce symptoms of withdrawal—irritability, anxiety, shakes, nausea.

Recurrent use of the substance or activity impairs work, social, and family responsibilities, creates psychological impairments and interpersonal problems, has negative effects on health, mood, self-respect, exacerbated by the effects of the specific substance itself.

There are many symptoms created by the specific substance/activity that is used.

All addictions have the capacity to induce feelings of shame and guilt, a sense of hopelessness, and feelings of failure. In addition, anxiety and depression are common conditions among those with substance and behavioral addictions.

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Addiction Blogs

A Remarkable Recovery
The battle of addiction.
By Brenda Iliff
Addicted Brains
A neuroscientist examines life on drugs.
By Marc Lewis, Ph.D.
Addiction in Society
Addiction—the thematic malady for our society—entails every type of psychological and societal problem.
By Stanton Peele, Ph.D., J.D.
All About Addiction
Helping addicts get their lives back.
By Adi Jaffe, Ph.D.
Emotional Sobriety
Recovering from substance addiction—without becoming addicted to spirituality.
By Ingrid Mathieu, Ph.D.
Seeking Equilibrium
Social dysregulation, psychopathology and self-medication.
By McWelling Todman, Ph.D.
The Almost Effect
Helping the nearly alcoholic.
By Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D.
The Heart of Addiction
How psychology drives addictive behavior.
By Lance Dodes, M.D.