Addiction Treatment: 5 Major Effects of Drug Addiction on Your Mind

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We often see how drug abuse or drug addiction can affect one livelihood. Whether it would be displayed through the media such as TV shows, movies, or know someone who is an addict. Most notably, we can easily spot the physical changes in individuals, such as a decrease in weight, loss of appetite, respiratory problems, weakened immune system, etc.

As such, drug addiction also influences mental health issues which are regularly disregarded by those outside residential rehabs, as they can appear to be physical problems. Here, we will discuss the different effects drug addiction could have on an individual’s emotions. And where to look for addiction treatment in Thailand for your loved ones or yourself.

5 Major Mental Effects of Drug Addiction
Substance addiction and mental health are linked due to the fact that the psychological impacts of drug addiction are able to cause both physical and mental changes. A delicate balance of chemicals keeps your body's cogs turning, and even the smallest shift might result in negative symptoms. In addition, excessive drug or alcohol use can destabilise the neurological system and ‘rewires’ your brain.
According to reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, around 50 percent of those with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse.
Below are some of the major emotional illnesses that most people would experience during addiction:

1. Anxiety
It is best defined as a dysfunction of the fight or flight response in which a person incorrectly senses threats that are not present. Anxiety encompasses various physical and mental symptoms, including excessive worrying, mood swings, agitation, insomnia, excessive sweating, and rapid heart rate.
Anxiety and the effects of stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine may share many similarities. In contrast, the use of central nervous system depressants can also raise an individual’s likelihood of developing anxiety. Furthermore, certain addicts may also experience anxiety when attempting to hide their habit from others.

2. Shame and Guilt
As we all are aware, there is a ‘stigma’ attached to addiction in our society, as well as a great deal of guilt and humiliation for those who struggle with it. This adds fuel to the fire when it is already burning strong. Those with substance addictions may develop the tendency to evaluate themselves negatively on a frequent basis, which could stem from childhood trauma, PTSD, or other mental issues. Without effective addiction treatment, these feelings could evolve into even more severe emotions and self-harming behaviours.

3. Negative Feedback Loop
From an outside view, someone with an addiction may appear to make poor decisions without regard for any reason consistently. However, the reality is significantly more complex and subtle, to the point that it can be extremely difficult for individuals to recover from a substance use problem without attending outpatient or inpatient treatment centres. This is caused in part by a negative feedback loop in the mind.
To explain, when a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they can feel a sense of comfort that they have been unable to obtain otherwise. But as they sober up and face the consequences of their behaviour, this emotion is inevitably replaced by remorse and humiliation. Thus, the weight of these feelings forces them to go back and seek comfort in drug or alcohol use.

4. Depression
Depression is another mental problem that is firmly associated with addiction. Similar to anxiety, it is unclear which comes first: depression or substance addiction. However, there are clear correlations between the two. The main symptoms related to depression may include hopelessness, loss of interest, irritability, dysregulated emotion, weight gain or loss, and suicidal intentions.
It is also crucial to note that certain withdrawal symptoms overlap with depression symptoms, which makes it more difficult to diagnose coexisting addiction before the substance use disorder (SUD) is treated.

5. Loss of Interest
The loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities is a key indicator of both addiction and depression. In many cases, recovering from addiction can make it much easier to manage depression. Still, everyone has passions and hobbies, but it is challenging for those with these conditions to rediscover them.
A drug rehab, alcohol rehab in Thailand or the right addiction treatment program can help you and your loved ones discover the root cause behind unhealthy substance use.
All the above mentioned are some of the major effects of addiction, yet there is still more about this severe condition to discover. For those seeking an addiction treatment program, choosing a treatment centre with experience and a clear therapy process is a must for you and your loved ones’ well-being. Here we recommend The Cabin, a residential rehab centre in Thailand that is an expert in a variety of addiction treatments.

Addiction Treatment at The Cabin, Chiang Mai
At The Cabin, patients will be offered a comprehensive, world-class addiction treatment program for substance addictions that may effectively treat any of the aforementioned conditions.
The Cabin’s residential treatment programme offers a haven for patients to explore and evaluate their addictions, from internal motivations to external triggers, while being under the supervision of highly qualified and experienced staff.
There is no need to wait, get help now and contact us. We can answer your questions during the admissions process and work with you or your loved one to determine the best path to recovery.

Call for immediate assistance: +66 20 385 469
Email: [email protected] Let Us Know How We Can Help: thecabin.com/contact/