Types of dependence: signs of dependent behavior

Dependence - it just sounds scary. In fact, most dependencies do not require special treatment. We found out how dependencies are formed, who is at risk and what to do if dependence begins to spoil life - to you or others. The common point of view is this: dependence is a condition that reduces the functional capabilities of a person, from which he and his relatives suffer. But not every dependency requires medical and, in general, whatever, whatever interference.

For example, in countries with a traditional culture of drinking - in France, Italy, Spain - many people drink a glass of wine every day for dinner. The dependence is formed. If a person does not pour a nightly glass, he will experience discomfort, he will have something to miss, and he will try to compensate for this defect, for example in a bar. In this case, neither cirrhosis of the liver, nor, as we say, "antisocial behavior." The main thing is not dependence, as such, but problems caused by it. Between the dependence and the negative consequences - the connection is indirect. Therefore, modern medicine adopts such a point of view: addiction is not a cause for concern. Help is required if there is a negative impact on health and quality of life. " Types of dependence, signs of dependent behavior - the topic of the article.

The principle of reality

Pleasure is the key word that unites people who are prone to different kinds of addiction. Some are able to resist their craving for pleasure, others do not. "Weak character" is explained by psychological and physiological reasons. Freud introduced the concepts of "pleasure principle" and "principle of reality" into psychology. According to the principle of pleasure, the life of the baby is built: he wants to get everything at once - food, toys, mother's attention - and if they do not, he yells in an offended way. Growing up, a person socializes, assimilates the rules of behavior, forms an internal system of deterrents. Before we do or take what we want, we think about the consequences. People who are addicted to dependence are dominated by the infantile approach: they can not deny themselves the pleasure, even knowing about the unpleasant consequences. A woman spends all her salary on expensive clothes, and then the family sits for a month on pasta. A man after work goes to the Internet club and plays "shooters" for hours, although his wife is waiting for him at home, and there will most likely be a scandal. Why do they do this? Obviously, a complex set of factors plays a role: genes, upbringing, brain biochemistry. Some people are less resistant to discomfort, pain, suffering than others. Someone is afraid of the dentist to the point that he loses half his teeth. The other is able to say to himself: "If I do not stand a little now, then I will have to endure much more pain." One can not stand without cigarettes and the day, the other decides to quit, puts the pack on the table and never again smokes a single cigarette. One hates to wait, the other endures waiting quietly. Infantilism, immaturity of mental mechanisms of control is largely due to congenital imbalance of hormones and neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline, endorphins. "

Alcoholics and Nobel

The number of people suffering from basic chemical dependencies (from alcohol and drugs) is stable in any part of the world, approximately 10-15%. The dependent is easily reoriented from one substance to another - strung out drug addicts often become alcoholics, and vice versa. Quitting smoking, many start chewing candy, chewing gum or some other "food rubbish". This effect was explained by Freud, introducing the concept of oral autoerotism: the child gets food through the mouth and communication with the mother, and if there is a fixation at this stage of sexuality, a person will always enjoy everything that is connected with the mouth: food, cigarettes, endless chatter. These joys and the most affordable are inexpensive and always at hand. By the way, one of the most common chemical dependencies in the world is from sugar. In laboratory experiments it has been shown that rats gradually increase the share of sugar in the diet, sit down on it and lose interest in any other activity, in particular, sex. Refined sugar appeared only 500 - 600 years ago, and since then its use has been steadily growing: the average German eats about 34 kg of sugar a year, the USA - 78 kg. And this is not counting sweets and buns! All chemical dependencies have consequences in the form of various diseases, from lung cancer to complete destruction of the nervous system, plus side effects in the form of HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis. All the "beginners" know this very well, but they are sure that nothing will happen to them that happened with a neighbor or acquaintance. There is a good anecdote: "Which social group is the most risky with regard to alcoholism? Answer: American writers are Nobel laureates. " And this is really so - a high intellectual level does not save you from dependence. "

Risky proximity

The concept of "dependence" appeared in medicine relatively recently, even alcoholism was described only in the middle of the XIX century. Close attention to addictions emerged when the society began to appreciate the independence and autonomy of the individual. For a long time, alcoholism was considered a bad habit, weak-willed, "antisocial behavior." Now it is proved that this is a brain disease. In civilized countries, alcoholics and drug addicts are treated in the same way as with other patients whose illness is caused by an incorrect way of life (for example, with diabetics who are constantly striving to look into McDonald's). They have the same rights as other members of society, and the same responsibility: they are tried for hooliganism or for domestic violence, but not for a diagnosis. In the USSR, alcoholics were forcibly sent to LTP at the request of wives and treated with occupational therapy. Wives can be understood. At any of us there is at least one familiar family in which the alcoholic husband has poisoned life for all relatives. But the behavior of the family is not adequate. For spouses, partners, children and friends who year after year try to fight someone's illness, there is the term "codependence", they need psychological help. The best way out for the co-dependent is to stop scandal and make a condition: "Either you are treated, or we get divorced." And then, of course, my decision to fulfill. Curing alcoholism and drug addiction is hardly possible, but it can be restrained and controlled. For example, with the help of pharmaceuticals: naltrexone and antabuse. Naltrexone blocks receptors sensitive to opiates. The same drug reduces the craving for alcohol, however, its effectiveness is not 100%. The most common antabuse - this substance is either taken in the form of tablets, or "sewed up" in the form of a capsule under the skin, then the effect will be long. Antabus blocks the exchange of alcohol at the level when alcohol turns into acetic aldehyde, a fairly toxic substance that causes a lot of unpleasant effects: increased pressure, tachycardia, lacrimation. If an alcoholic who takes an antabuse drinks vodka, he will be very ill. However, not all of this stops, in addition, most of the addicts do not want to take drugs, so control is required from the relatives.

Tablet instead of a prick

To treat and reduce harm from taking opiates in many countries (including in Ukraine), substitution therapy is used. In the medical institutions, drug addicts (methadone or buprenorphine) are given a drug syrup or tablet once a day under the supervision of a doctor. Some manage to gradually stop the use of drugs by gradually reducing the dose. In any case, studies conducted around the world, including those organized by WHO, show that in countries where substitution therapy is used, the criminal and social environment around drugs is improving markedly, and even their price on the black market is falling due to a decrease in demand . The main thing is that drug addicts become normal members of society: they work, are treated for HIV and hepatitis, get married and get married, raise children. In addition to drug treatment, psychotherapy is very popular - they are usually used together. The task of psychotherapy is to reorient the dependent to other values, help him to master the "reality principle", teach himself to say: "Yes, I want it, I can now drink (prick, sniff, etc.), but I will not do it, because ... "The experience of others is very helpful: 25% of the members of the society of anonymous alcoholics refuse to drink alcohol. The method of psychotherapy is quite successfully treated and other non-chemical dependencies (from food, the Internet, gambling). Those who indulge in chocolate or smoke one cigarette a week, psychotherapy is usually not needed. Experience shows that the need for chocolate is rapidly declining when life is improving. I'll sell the article and I will lose weight.