What is your inner demon? We all have something we are fighting off. You are not alone, struggling against your inner demons. Find out how to free yourself from them and how to stop being addicted.
Where does addiction start? How do I know I am addicted? What triggers those addictions? How does someone overcome them? We will help you find answers to these questions. But first, let me take you back to my past:
Since small, at the age of 5, I got spoiled with video games by my parents. Little did I know what kind of impact it would have on my life as an adolescent and even adulthood. Do not get me wrong, I have a lot of fun playing games. Too much fun. So much that my grades had to suffer because of it. Sometimes gaming was purely out of fun. Sometimes it was to escape reality.
I would lose track of time and my surroundings. The only thing that matters was the rush of dopamine, living out the moment without thinking of the consequences. Gaming was in the past self-destructive for me. As a matter of fact, I still have to be careful not to give in to my inner demons
So what do you think? Is that called being addicted? I will let you answer that question by yourself as you read through the definition of addiction.
Addiction is a complex and chronic condition characterized by compulsive engagement in a substance, behavior, or activity, despite negative consequences. It involves a persistent and overwhelming craving or desire for the addictive substance or behavior, leading to a loss of control and an inability to stop or reduce the engagement despite efforts to do so.
Addiction is often marked by physical and psychological dependence on the addictive substance or behavior. It can result in a range of detrimental effects on an individual’s health, relationships, work or school performance, and overall well-being.
Let me ask you again, do you think you could be addicted to something? Even if not, you might not have realized your addiction to something yet. Spending hours on social media and procrastinating? Gaming for too many hours? Gambling? Smoking? Drinking? Porn? What demons do you have?
DISCLAIMER: Addiction is a vast topic, we will not be able to provide you in this blog alone information to every single type of addiction. This blog is a more generalized introduction to different types of addiction and possible solutions.
If you seek additional information on a certain type of addiction, please look out for further blogs and do not hesitate to contact us with a request.
Social media, masturbating, sex, gaming, or other “feel-good” activities have something in common. They release dopamine. Also mostly known as the “feel-good” or reward hormone. Now, the release of dopamine itself is not the problem. The Issue starts when you constantly seek and crave those high-level dopamine activities. Thus your dopamine threshold gets to a point where it can not be easily satisfied anymore. You start losing interest and joy in the little things in life.
Even though drugs like alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, or even heavier substances like cocaine, etc. might feel good during moments of consumption, they will not do you any good in the long run. They also mess with your dopamine threshold.
It is not very easy to distinguish between bad habits and addiction. I would not consider myself addicted to social media as I can also spend days without checking in and not feel any withdrawal effects. BUT it is certainly a bad habit that may or may not consume a lot of my precious time.
The outtake, you ask? As long as you are in control of your “habits”, good or bad, you can consider them habits. However, if they take control of you and your life, if your mood depends on them, your behavior, your mental and physical functions, then you most likely have an addiction. Of course only if they impact your life in a bad way.
In general, you can also look out for the following signs of addiction below.
Psychological symptoms of addictions:
Behavioral signs of addiction:
Physical symptoms of addictions:
Of course, there are many other symptoms that I did not mention. Keep in mind that symptoms can differ from person to person.
We are not psychologists or healthcare professionals. While we strive to provide helpful information, it is essential to understand that if you are experiencing signs of depression or any mental health concerns, it is crucial to reach out to the appropriate healthcare provider or a licensed professional. They can offer proper assessment, diagnosis, and guidance tailored to your specific needs. Your mental well-being is important, and seeking professional help is an important step in getting the support you deserve.
Do not get me wrong, being addicted to something does not mean you will end up homeless. Depending on what you are addicted you might sacrifice certain aspects of your life.
Let me give you an example of my own life. Gaming for many hours and being addicted to it led to bad grades, awkward social interactions, fewer bonds (in real life), procrastination, disobedience towards my parents, aggressive behavior, being easily irritated, not looking out for my health in terms of eating enough and exercising and many other things.
I will be honest with you, yes I had a very “chill” childhood, carefree and without many worries in that sense. But not caring enough was also the result of gaming too much. So, in the long run, being addicted to games has had a huge impact on many aspects and stages of my life. If I could go back in time, I would slap myself and ask “What the fuck are you doing? You are wasting your potential, and time and throwing away so many opportunities!”
There are many things you can be addicted to. Some are more destructive than others. Drug addiction could lead you to an early death, gambling to lose your wealth or what is left of wealth, social media, internet and gaming to loss of control and time, and many others.
As you can see, the impacts of being addicted in life can be devastating and are not comparable to just a bad habit
You are hungry, and you look at the picture above. What does it trigger? Even more hunger, yes. You start releasing dopamine at the thought of something you want to eat so fucking bad. The dopamine level peaks before you get your food and during consumption. After eating, it gradually decreases. You are now full, satisfied and can not eat anymore.
What am I trying to illustrate? This is how a person reacts to cravings: once they get what they desire, their craving ends. However, in the mind of an addict, the problem becomes more complex. The individual relentlessly seeks the same “high” or pleasure repeatedly. As a result, the dopamine baseline drops, making it increasingly difficult to experience joy from the same stimulus.
Addictions can have different or even multiple triggers. It varies from person to person. For example porn, you see something appealing to your eyes and that triggers the need to watch porn to satisfy that craving. Just think about it for a moment, what makes you consult social media 24/7? Or start playing one game after another and procrastinate?
More triggers to behavioral addictions such as gambling, gaming, watching porn, browsing the internet mindlessly, and a few others could be the following:
These are just a few of the many triggers that exist.
Drug addictions are a bit more complex and out of the scope of this blog. If you are struggling with any addiction and can not get it under control by yourself, consider seeking professional help.
Every addiction has a different procedure on how to overcome it. Other blogs will cover those addictions in the future. As of now, we want to share with you a more generalized approach to how to stop being addicted.
People addicted to something have a hard time acknowledging the problem. You would hate to admit to being addicted to social media, your phone, gaming, porn, etc. Would you not? I would for sure. I hated to admit my addiction to gaming. My parents always used to tell me how it is ruining my life in some aspects of it and what would I do? I would simply deny it.
It is not easy to acknowledge the problem. But it is the crucial first step in the right direction.
Surround yourself with people who understand you and motivate you to strive better. Who help you and support you to break free from your shackles. The people that you surround yourself with matter a lot.
I am sure you noticed. The people you surround yourself with will have an impact on your motivation and behavior. Whenever I am out with my high-value friends, I feel motivated to work on myself, to accomplish something as well. The opposite is true as well, keep that in mind.
Seek professional help if needed. Addiction is a complex issue that often requires professional intervention. There is no need to be ashamed of seeking professional help to get your life on the right track.
Identify triggers. By doing so, you will be able to avoid those triggers. It is easier said than done I know. So start by practicing mindfulness.
Mindfulness is the practice of focusing one’s awareness on the present moment while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.
While practicing mindfulness, you will be more aware of your triggers and cravings. By recognizing them, you can choose how to respond instead of reacting on impulse to them.
Furthermore, mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep breathing, can help reduce stress and relaxation. It will help you step by step to break free from the cycle of addiction.
You thought the benefits of practicing mindfulness were over, did you not? Wrong! It also improves your mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, which can contribute to addiction.
All this leads to self-compassion. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding rather than being critical and harsh to yourself. It is alright to fail and fall. The important part is to get up stronger and push yourself. Believe in yourself, and do not give up.
"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."
Overcoming an addiction is not an easy task and is bound to have many hardships. Perseverance is the key to success. Do not give up or be distressed by failing. Get up, try again, treat yourself with kindness, respect, and understanding.
Surround yourself with people that believe in you and support you. If needed, seek professional help. Keep in mind that acknowledging the problem and the need for help is not a shameful act.
Recovery is a journey, not a destination. You will face challenges and setbacks, but with the right support and resources, overcoming addiction is possible. You are not alone. We all have our demons to face, our hardships to overcome.
Help is always available. Reach out to your friends, family, professional help, or even to us. We are glad to help you.
Daniel William Sinclair
Daniel William Sinclair
Michael Joseph Kingsley
Michael Joseph Kingsley
Michael Joseph Kingsley
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the use of cookies. We utilize cookies to analyze website traffic and personalize content. You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or by reviewing our Privacy Policy.
