Addiction

If you are addicted, you may not be able to stop it. The addiction has become one of the most important things in your life. It is sometimes so important that you forget other things in your life, such as your family, friends or work.

With an addiction you are dependent on the substance (alcohol, drugs, medication or food) or on the behavior (sex, gaming or gambling). You are often emotionally, but sometimes also physically dependent on your addiction.

An addiction can cause a lot of damage. You can get high debts because you can no longer pay for your addiction. You can also lose family, friends or your job due to your addiction.

Am I addicted?

Do you think you use too much alcohol or drugs? Gamble too often or have a longing for gaming, internet, sex or food? You do not become addicted immediately. That differs per person and per substance. The environment is also important. If you hang around with people who drink or gamble a lot, it is often more difficult to drink or gamble moderately.

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 if you are addicted. It is important that you want to stop certain use or behavior, because it is not good for yourself and your environment. Also if you feel guilty after use or behavior, or if you notice that your environment (family, friends) is affected by it, then it is good to do something about your addiction.

Treatment of your addiction

Only a few people who are addicted seek professional help. And usually only if they have been addicted for a long time and the addiction has already destroyed a lot. Or after a long period of denial of the addiction. That is a pity, because there are good treatment methods for addiction and the chance of recovery is better if you seek help in time. Do not hesitate any longer and ask for help. You rarely overcome addiction alone.

During the treatment you learn to regain control of your own life, to break through ingrained addiction habits and to build a life that is no longer about your addiction. Also due to our work experience in outpatient (at home clients) addiction care we can help you to 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.