We humans love various things, ranging from material possessions to spiritual and emotional experiences. Sometimes what we start as an experiment becomes part of our life unnoticed. For example, alcohol, drugs, video games, gambling, etc.
When we engage in these activities we feel good and sometimes crave more of it to a level where it starts hampering our daily life and responsibility, impacting us physically and mentally, but we hardly recognize it. This is when we become addicted to certain harmful habits or activities.
So, how you can overcome addiction, and who can help you with it?
Scroll down to find out!
What is Addiction?
Before we start the main theme of our topic, it is important to understand what is addiction.
In simple terms, addiction is a powerful psychological and physical urge to do or use something that makes you feel good or helps you ease up temporarily from traumas, stress, etc, but with severe negative implications. Addiction can disrupt your personal and professional life and extremely impact your physical and mental well-being.
Types of Addiction
There are different types of addictions, some, you may have heard about and some may not. Here are some of the most common types of addiction.
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Alcohol |
Drugs |
Prescribed Medicines |
Video Games |
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Gambling |
Shopping |
Food Addiction |
Work |
Factors Contributing Addiction
There are numerous reasons including biological, psychological, and environmental factors why people get addicted to certain habits or things. Some of the most known factors contributing to addiction are:-
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Genetics |
Mental Health Condition |
Peer Pressure |
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Culture |
Early Life Experience |
Low Esteem |
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Stress |
Socio-economic Status |
Coping Mechanism |
What is an Addiction Psychiatrist?
As you now understand addiction, let’s shift our focus to the main subject of the topic, Addiction psychiatrists. Addiction psychiatrists are medical experts who are trained in understanding the connection between mental health and addiction.
They help individuals understand how their mental health influences their dependence on substances and how they can manage their urges with coping strategies.
Role of Psychiatrists for Addiction
Addiction psychiatrists are medical doctors, who specialize in diagnosing, evaluating, and treatment of mental illness caused by substance abuse disorder and addictions.
Evaluation and Diagnosis
These highly trained medical professionals conduct detailed examinations to understand the type of addiction you are experiencing and if there are any co-occurring mental health conditions.
These experts use various diagnostic tools, such as interviews, questionnaires, and physical examinations to get detailed info on family background, medical history, and how the pattern of substance abuse impacts your life.
Personal Treatment Plans
Another role of psychiatrist for addiction is to prepare personalized treatment plans. Once the evaluation and diagnosis are done, they design a customized treatment plan, including medication management to assist in withdrawal symptoms, recovery, and control of dopamine levels.
Counseling and Therapy
Another part of their job is to provide clients with tools to understand their problems and encourage them throughout their recovery journey. A few common therapies include talk therapy, dialectic behavior therapy, family therapy, etc.
Collaborating with Other Mental Health Professionals
Addiction is often a tricky condition that co-exists with other mental health conditions like depression, stress, anxiety, etc, due to which co-ordinating or collaborating with other mental health professionals becomes quite important to ensure a comprehensive treatment plan.
Long-Term Support and Monitoring
Recovery from mental illness is usually a long-term process and addiction is no exception and requires consistent support and monitoring. Psychiatrists for addiction provide regular check-ins, and medicinal adjustments according to the needs and requirements, and offer extra resources whenever it is needed.
Challenges of Addiction Psychiatry
Without any doubt, we can ascertain that addiction psychiatry is an important field in mental health, especially for people who are trying to overcome addiction. However, there are many challenges that these medical experts face. Here are some common challenges of addiction psychiatry.
Stigma and Lack of Awareness
The misconception and the portrayal of addiction as a shortcoming rather than an illness prevent many people from taking appropriate treatment on time.
Limited Treatment Option
It may sound surprising to you, however, according to numerous studies and reports, there is a deficiency of quality treatment options for addiction. Long wait times are often a major problem in accessing appropriate treatment.
Burnout and Secondary Trauma
Psychiatrists for addiction, regularly work and interact with families and individuals affected by addiction. Sometimes these regular interactions can take an emotional toll on an addiction psychiatrist.
Conclusion
Addiction is a global struggle, impacting millions of individuals, families, and communities worldwide. These numbers are growing at a faster rate which makes the role of addiction psychiatrists far more important in the present and in the future.
Promoting public awareness and reducing the stigma around addiction can encourage many more people to come forward and seek professional help without feeling ashamed or being subjected to judgment.
