Addiction
FAQs
An addiction is when you lack control over a substance or a behaviour and this is having a negative, damaging impact on you and your relationships.
Internet addiction is when people spend excessively long periods of time on the internet (phone, social media, gambling, gaming) whilst neglecting other aspects of their lives. In addition, when away from the internet, they may have symptoms of withdrawal and show this in negative behaviours such as irritability, anger.
There are many warning signs including:
- spending a lot of time alone on screens on a regular basis
- not accepting other people’s consistent concerns
- withdrawing from activities they used to do and enjoy
- not engaging in face to face social interactions, with increased time on their own and on the internet
- becoming socially alone
- changes in mood especially irritability, anger, behaviour that might be similar to the games they are playing
- constant focus on what they are doing with repeated checking
- signs of everyday work, relationships and activity suffering
- dishonest behaviour
- legal problems/potential legal problems as a result of the behaviour
Some of the physical signs include negative changes in their physical health, bloodshot or dilated eyes, neglecting their physical hygiene, unusual body smells, eating and weight changes, sleep changes.
Behaviour changes include increased aggression, changes to their personality, dishonesty, tiredness, mood changes, recklessness, self-harm.
Thought-based changes include difficulty concentrating and remembering, seeking excitement and thrill all the time, sensitivity to boredom.
The effects of addictions are far-reaching. They affect physical health significantly and seriously, cause craving and dependency, they impact on money, increase dealings with the law and damage relationships.
There are many causes including an underlying mental illness such as anxiety or depression, wanting more and more pleasurable experiences, genes and biochemistry, negative and adverse experiences. In addition, the earlier young people start using substances, the more at risk they are for things building up.
Recognising risks, picking up on mental health problems early and dealing with these, managing change, having good role models, learning how to be assertive especially with friends, dealing with negative experiences by seeking support.
Drug misuse is a disease and can have negative short and long term effects. The consequences will depend on the type of drug, how it is used, how much is taken, the person’s mental and physical health amongst other factors. In the short term, there are a range of physical effects such as sleep problems, impact on heart rate and pressure, and in the long term serious physical effects, even death.
- Learn about what they are doing
- Keep lines of communication open – this means being prepared to listen rather than lay down rules
- Establish clear boundaries on what is and isn’t acceptable
- Draw up a contract of agreed behaviour between you
- Monitor your own behaviour
- Deal with family conflict and discord
- Help manage mental illness in the young person or in yourself
- Get a diagnosis and the correct treatment – this may mean rehab
- Draw up an agreement on the amount of internet use with positive consequences for staying within the agreement and agreed negatives for not
- Help with routine
- Minimise temptation
- Establish alternative ways to have pleasure and provide support to deal with negative emotions
- Help establish positive self-belief and engaging in real friendships
- Seek help
