About addiction
If you are addicted, you may no longer be able to stop. The addiction has become one of the most important things in your life. Sometimes it becomes so important that other parts of your life, such as family, friends or work, are pushed aside.
With an addiction, you are dependent on a substance such as alcohol, drugs, medication or food, or on behavior such as sex, gaming or gambling. You are often emotionally dependent on your addiction and sometimes also physically dependent.
An addiction can cause a lot of damage. You may get into debt because you can no longer pay for your addiction. You may also lose family, friends or your job because of it.
Am I addicted?
Do you think you use too much alcohol or drugs? Do you gamble too often or feel a strong urge for gaming, internet, sex or food? Addiction does not happen immediately. This differs per person and per substance. Your environment also plays an important role. If you spend a lot of time with people who drink or gamble heavily, it is often more difficult to use these things in moderation.
Signals of an addiction are:
- You use more or continue longer than you intended.
- You use more often than you intended.
- You think about it a lot.
- You have withdrawal symptoms when you are not using.
- You lose more and more people around you, but this does not stop you from continuing.
- You spend a lot of money on your addiction and if you run out of money, you borrow money.
Would you like to quit?
Often you are not sure whether you are addicted. It is important that you want to stop certain use or behavior because it is not good for you and your environment. If you feel guilty after using or after certain behavior, or if you notice that your environment such as family or friends is affected by it, it is good to do something about your addiction.
Treatment of your addiction
Only a small number of people with an addiction seek professional help. Usually this only happens after they have been addicted for a long time and the addiction has already caused a lot of damage, or after a long period of denial. That is unfortunate, because there are effective treatment methods for addiction and the chance of recovery is better when you seek help in time.
Do not hesitate any longer and ask for help. You rarely overcome addiction alone.
During treatment, you learn to regain control over your life, break through ingrained addiction patterns and build a life that no longer revolves around the addiction. Because of our work experience in outpatient addiction care, we can also help you find a solution to this problem.
Please read our Addiction treatment page if you would like to know how we can help you with your addiction.
Contact Psychologen Amsterdam
Do you recognize your symptoms and do you need help or do you just have a question about your addiction? Then call for an appointment or send a message to Psychologen Amsterdam.
