It is easy to identify signs of addiction and lose control of your addiction – and for good reason. A drug addiction is a brain disease that impacts how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. If you abuse drugs for an extended period of time, the urge to use illicit substances may become overwhelming. The result: it may become virtually impossible to control your addiction. Worst of all, your addictive behaviors may lead to a fatal drug overdose.

Recognizing Drug Addiction: Understanding Loss of Control

Although you might believe you are in full control of your addiction, there are various symptoms of addiction that may indicate otherwise. Now, let’s look at seven signs that show you have lost control of your addiction.

1. You lose interest in everyday activities.

Prolonged drug use may lead to an addiction that interferes with your everyday life. In this scenario, you may lose interest in spending time with family members, friends, and others who were previously major contributors to your overall happiness and wellbeing. You may also stop going to work or school – and focus exclusively on getting or using drugs.

2. You lie to everyone – even yourself.

Lying is commonly associated with hiding an addiction. As you search for ways to continue your addiction without letting others in the loop, you may do everything possible to keep your secret – including lying to loved ones and yourself. Meanwhile, the longer you go without accepting the truth about your addiction, the more likely it becomes that severe consequences may occur.  

3. You are constantly trying to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms occur if an addict goes without his or her drug of choice for a set period of time. Once you consume large quantities of drugs frequently, withdrawal symptoms may occur shortly after your last use. These symptoms may become more severe over time, too. Thus, once you have lost control of your addiction, you may constantly be on the lookout for your next drug fix. Because if you have quick, easy access to your drug of choice, you could avoid painful withdrawal symptoms.

4. Your life seems meaningless.

Feelings of depression, anxiety, and hopelessness sometimes occur in conjunction with an addiction. Yet extended drug use may alter the brain’s chemistry, and as such, increase your susceptibility to these feelings. If you lose control of your addiction, your life may seem meaningless – and this may lead you to further drug use to keep your feelings in check.

5. You have no control of your finances.

Frequent drug use is expensive, and few addicts have the financial resources available to keep abusing drugs over many weeks, months, or years. As your finances dwindle, you may resort to drastic measures like selling personal items to feed your addiction. You may even be tempted to steal or commit other crimes in the hopes of getting the finances you need for drugs.

6. Your health suffers the consequences of your actions.

Drug abuse takes its toll on a person’s body and mind. If you continuously abuse a drug, you may suffer a wide range of side effects – everything from nausea to stress to fatigue to a rapid heartbeat. Despite these dangerous side effects, you may continue to search for ways to obtain and abuse your drug of choice.

7. All that matters is your addiction.

Losing yourself to your addiction means your sole focus is using drugs – regardless of everything that happens around you. Every time you use your drug of choice, you immediately focus on finding a way to get your next fix. Also, no matter what anyone else says or does, you are willing to do whatever it takes to use your drug of choice.

Steps to Take After You Realize You Identify Addiction Symptoms and Signs

After you identify the characteristics of addiction, it may feel like it is too late to overcome your addictive behaviors. But it is important to realize that there are things you can do to treat your addiction symptoms and signs and prevent a relapse.

Here are four steps you can take to manage your addictive behaviors after you realize you have lost control of your addiction:

  1. Acknowledge your addiction. Once you admit you are dealing with an addiction, you can move closer to getting the help you need to treat your addictive behaviors.
  2. Meet with a doctor. Consult with a doctor to receive a full medical evaluation. You and your doctor can then work together to determine the best course of action to address your addiction.
  3. Follow the doctor’s recommendations. Try not to stray from a doctor’s treatment plan. If you need help along the way, reach out to your doctor for additional support.
  4. Stay the course. Overcoming an addiction is a long-term process that requires hard work and dedication. If you envision an addiction-free life, you may be better equipped than ever before to prioritize your addiction treatment plan. Then, you can make your vision of an addiction-free life a reality.

Lastly, if you or someone you know is struggling with loss of control of an addiction, Clear Sky Recovery is available. We offer a comprehensive ibogaine therapy program designed to help individuals identify the root cause of addictive behaviors and treat them accordingly. Plus, our ibogaine therapy program is backed by expert medical professionals who work closely with patients to help them achieve long-lasting addiction relief. To find out more about our ibogaine therapy program, please contact us today at 305.901.5371.