4 Ways Addiction Can Cost You Your Happiness  

by | Feb 13, 2018 | Health & Fitness | 1 comment

Addiction

Drug and alcohol addiction can provide temporary feelings of pleasure, but their long-term consequences are quite the opposite. Aside the cost of acquiring drugs and potential legal consequences, addiction can overtake your aspirations, relationships, and overall sense of well-being. If you struggle with addiction, knowing the lifelong consequences can encourage you to seek treatment and retake control of your future.

Family & Friends

When you focus your time and energy on acquiring or using drugs, you alienate those who care about you the most. You may miss out on important life events such as a sibling’s wedding, a family trip, or a night out with your friends. When questioned, you may act defensive and hide the truth. As the addiction deepens, you see less and less of the people who matter. Before you know it, you feel alone and isolated; seeking comfort only in toxic substances. Don’t let addiction damage your ties to others. Individualized addiction treatment programs can teach you valuable communication and coping skills to reconnect with friends and family and overcome your dependence on drugs or alcohol.

Independence

For many, independence contributes to success and ultimately happiness. Even if you can support yourself financially, addiction traps you in a vicious cycle of acquisition and use, stripping you of your free will. Each time you use drugs such as cocaine, your brain releases less dopamine, the pleasure-inducing chemical. Thus, you must take more and more of the drug to experience the same high. Feeding the addiction makes its way to the top of your to-do list, jeopardizing your career, relationships, hobbies, and finances. The longer the cycle continues, the harder it is to quit. However, you’re not alone. Inpatient treatment including detoxification, group counseling, and holistic treatments have helped countless people recover and live fulfilling lives free from addiction.

Education

For some teens and young adults, drug use is a one-time experience. For others, it turns into a serious addiction that causes them to drop out of school. Peer pressure and a desire to fit in lead many young people to use addictive drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines. Some use stimulants to help them study or excel at sports. For example, Adderall, a stimulant used to treat ADHD, is widely abused by college students as a study aid. Over time, however, the drug actually reduces mental performance. If addiction is getting in the way of your education, enrolling in a treatment program can pay off in the long run and get you back on track to success and happiness.

Overall Health

It’s no secret that happiness is linked to health and well-being. Addiction takes a heavy toll on the body and mind. Heavy drinking can cause permanent damage to the brain and interfere with your emotions and hormones. Many drugs cause harm to eating and sleeping habits, muscle and organ function, and sensory perception. The consequences can be severe and plentiful: malnourishment, chronic anxiety, paranoia, fatigue, heart failure, seizures, and even death. When occurring alongside another physical or mental illness, addiction can be complicated to treat. A holistic treatment program coupled with counseling and education can give you the tools you need to make a step-by-step recovery.

Don’t let addiction stand in the way of your happiness. It’s crucial to recognize the problem and seek treatment immediately. Remember that you’re not alone; friends, family, and support groups can give you the motivation to complete treatment. Contact your local addiction recovery center for more information.


References:

  1. National Institute on Drug Abuse, Drug Facts: Brain and Addiction, Drugabuse.gov,
  2. Bettinardi-Angres, Kathy, Angres, Daniel H., Understanding the Disease of Addiction, Ncsbn.org,