Addiction comes in many forms. Yet in nearly every case, surrendering control to an addiction can seriously damage your health and wellbeing. With that in mind, you can find 4 different types of addiction described below along with suggestions on how to free yourself from them.
Gambling
It's pretty easy to see why people can develop a gambling addiction. After all, every bet that they make comes with the potential for a win and the hit of dopamine that comes with it. There are a vast number of games and sports that can be bet on as well, from casino games like Roulette to the Saturday football match. People who gamble don’t even need to set foot inside a bookie office to make their bets anymore, as most can be placed online via an app on their phone without ever leaving the comfort of their home.
Gambling can be a very serious addiction, and because of the vast sums of money involved, it can be hugely harmful to both the person who is gambling and their loved ones. Indeed, many gamblers find that they go bankrupt sooner or later because the odds are so stacked against them but they just cannot give up that high.
The solution to gambling addiction is to seek help from a professional that is trained in this area. Such a professional will be able to identify what is keeping the compulsive gambler in the loop and help them create a strategy that will work for them.
Alcohol
Alcohol can be a very addictive substance and this along with the fact that it's widely available, means it is one of the most common addictions on the planet! For those most addicted alcohol can be something they rely on daily just to get through the day. Also for those who have been addicted for a long time, the process of alcohol detoxing can be a particularly dangerous one, as the body comes to get used to the alcohol present in their system, and withdrawing this without medical supervision can be fatal.
Indeed, that is why so many people choose to attend a residential alcohol addiction treatment center, as they can be sure they will be carefully monitored and watched during their detox process. Additionally, a residential recovery center allows an individual to get away from the stresses of their everyday lives, and focus solely on their recovery, along with people that are going through the same thing.
Exercise
You may not think of exercise as a bad thing, but just like anything else if it's not done in a balanced way it can be harmful. Indeed, over-exercising or exercising through injuries can be very damaging to the body, and result in long-term wear and tear much faster than for those people who are exercising in a measured way.
Also just like any other addiction, there can be psychological issues at play, and underlying over-exercising. Sometimes people use it as a way to control their moods, and can’t cope without it. Other times, over-exercise or exercise addiction, is linked to eating disorders and can be part of a purge after a binge, or used as a way to maintain a very strict diet.
Sugar
Cakes, cookies, chocolate, and soda all contain sugar and can be quite delicious. Unfortunately, sugar is a substance that can form addiction-like problems in many people. This is because sugar is released quickly into the bloodstream producing a high effect of increased energy and focus. However sugar also quickly depletes in the bloodstream over time resulting in sugar crashes which can feel awful and flu-like and encourage the person experiencing them to eat more sugar to feel better.
Of course, this dangerous cycle will keep repeating over and over and can lead to all sorts of issues from weight gain to mood swings to insulin resistance. Indeed, as too much sugar in the bloodstream is damaging to the body, it will work double hard to remove it by pumping out more insulin. Over time the cells in a person's body can get used to having an excess of insulin around and so become less receptive towards it causing resistance and interfering with the body’s ability to regulate sugar levels. Ultimately if left unchecked this can turn into diabetes type 2, and is associated with a range of other dangerous health conditions which proves sugar ‘addiction’ is no joke.
The solution for sugar addiction is for many to cut processed sugar from their site altogether. Although going cold turkey can be tough, many people say that after a month or so with no sugar their relationship with it resists and they can tolerate a little without craving more.
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