Steph Walsh

‭The Effects of Addiction on the Body and Mind‬ ‭ ddition comes in many forms and can affect anyone directly or indirectly. Everyone struggling‬ A ‭with addiction suffers physically, mentally, and emotionally - and so do those close to them. It’s a‬ ‭pervasive disease, and everyone is vulnerable, so education and vigilance are essential.‬ ‭ hether it’s yourself or someone else you’re worried about, addiction affects all parts of the‬ W ‭body‬‭and‬‭mind. This is why it’s crucial to catch it early and get help, as many can’t recover‬ ‭completely on their own. Read on to learn more about the physical and mental effects of‬ ‭addiction.‬ ‭Health Effects of Addiction‬ ‭ he mental and physical effects of addiction are unavoidable once the disease hits - regardless‬ T ‭of the specific addiction you’re suffering from. Many become addicted to various substances,‬ ‭some more serious than others. Some grow addicted to particular behaviours that offer a similar‬ ‭effect or emotional release as substances, such as gambling or shopping.‬ ‭ he symptoms, side effects, and health concerns vary from one addiction to another, but none‬ T ‭are safe or free from consequences. For example, the physical health effects of addiction may‬ ‭be more prevalent with a substance abuse problem, while a behaviour addiction may produce‬ ‭more severe mental strain. Many things are dependent on the individual as well.‬ ‭Physical Effects of Addiction‬ ‭ ll of that being said, there are many ways an addiction affects the body, both in the short term‬ A ‭and long. For example, any drug, regardless of legality or strength, can impact your immune‬ ‭system. This alone leaves you more vulnerable to illness, infection, and disease.‬ ‭Short-term physical effects of addiction can include:‬ ‭‬ ● ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭ ausea‬ N ‭Abdominal pain‬ ‭Changes in appetite‬ ‭Weight loss or gain‬ ‭Increased strain on the liver‬ ‭Sleep problems‬ ‭And more‬ ‭ hile many of these things are unpleasant and can have ripple effects, they are often fixable.‬ W ‭Once you come off the substance, these things usually dissipate and stop causing problems.‬ ‭Some things, however, are permanent even once recovered.‬ ‭Longer-term physical effects of addiction can include:‬ ‭‬ ● ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭ rain damage‬ B ‭Liver failure‬ ‭Seizures‬ ‭Stroke‬ ‭Cardiovascular issues such as tuberculosis and pneumonia‬ ‭Gastrointestinal issues such as pancreatitis and malabsorption‬ ‭Kidney damage‬ ‭Neurological issues‬ ‭Heart problems such as heart disease, heart attacks, vascular disease‬ ‭Increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDs‬ ‭Chronic pain‬ ‭Coma‬ ‭Cancer - especially from alcohol. Cancer in the mouth, throat, liver, colon, larynx,‬ ‭esophagus, and breasts have all‬‭been linked‬‭to excessive‬‭alcohol consumption.‬ ‭ ‬ ‭Compromised brain health‬ ● ‭ hese long-term health conditions can be devastating and life-changing, even once the‬ T ‭addiction is overcome. Many can be managed with medication and other interventions, but your‬ ‭life will never be the same. Additionally, compromised brain health can lead to various mental‬ ‭and emotional struggles as well - which can also be both short and long-term.‬ ‭Mental Effects of Addiction:‬ ‭ ven if you don’t suffer from severe health conditions as a result of drug or alcohol abuse, it can‬ E ‭still damage your mental state. Similar to the physical effects of addiction, some are temporary‬ ‭and will go away.‬ ‭For example, short-term mental effects of addiction can include:‬ ‭●‬ E ‭ xcessive drug use alters the “reward” center of the brain, further contributing to the‬ ‭addictive cycle and increasing tolerance to the substance‬ ‭●‬ ‭Mood swings‬ ‭●‬ ‭Disruptive or irregular behavior‬ ‭●‬ ‭Poor decision-making‬ ‭●‬ ‭Memory problems‬ ‭●‬ ‭Paranoia‬ ‭ hese things tend to go away once you stop taking the drugs and/or quit the behavior(s).‬ T ‭However, they can still leave lasting effects on your life - for example, making bad decisions or‬ ‭distancing friends/family while not in the right mindset.‬ ‭Longer-term mental effects of addiction can include:‬ ‭●‬ P ‭ ermanently impaired cognitive function. This can affect your capacity to learn, retain‬ ‭information, and make decisions. Depending on your level of substance abuse, these‬ ‭effects can linger beyond recovery or even become permanent.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Mental illness. Substance abuse, especially, is heavily linked to mental illness. Excessive‬ ‭drug or alcohol consumption can trigger and/or worsen mental health conditions, most‬ ‭commonly depression and anxiety.‬ ‭ any people struggle with addictions and mental illnesses simultaneously, therefore needing‬ M ‭even more intense and comprehensive treatment. In these cases, it’s best to attend therapy with‬ ‭a professional trained in co-occurring conditions who knows how to treat both things‬ ‭simultaneously.‬ ‭External Addiction Effects‬ ‭ astly, an addiction can affect your life beyond the physical and mental implications. Addiction‬ L ‭can cause all kinds of irrational behavior and other disruptions in your life. Unfortunately, this‬ ‭often trickles into the lives of those around you. Even once you’re fully recovered, these things‬ ‭can take time to repair, if they’re even possible to fix at all.‬ ‭Examples of how an addiction can affect your life and overall well-being include:‬ ‭●‬ T ‭ rouble meeting work deadlines and other obligations. Too many issues here can result‬ ‭in disciplinary action, including job loss.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Strained social relationships. It’s common to become distanced from close, cherished‬ ‭friends. Depending on the length and severity of the issues, these relationships may or‬ ‭may not be repairable.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Family problems. Like friends, addiction can create strained family relationships. You can‬ ‭push your partner away and/or neglect and traumatize your kids. These things can be‬ ‭repaired, but trust takes a long time to rebuild and often requires therapy if others are‬ ‭willing to do so.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Loss of motivation for hobbies and activities. You may find yourself uninterested in‬ ‭activities and hobbies you once loved. This can be due to mood changes and energy‬ ‭loss or because you’re spending too much time using substances and being around‬ ‭others who use them.‬ ‭ ike anything else, these issues can either be repaired or become permanent. It all depends on‬ L ‭the severity and the individuals involved. Regardless, there’s no denying that addiction causes‬ ‭strain and friction for others beyond yourself.‬ ‭Heal Your Mind and Body with Lily Recovery‬ ‭ ddiction can hit anyone at any time. Most people don’t see it coming, and it can have‬ A ‭devastating effects on the lives of many. But - there’s always hope! Regardless of your age,‬ ‭your circumstances, or the stage of your addiction, there is help and hope here at Lily Recovery.‬ ‭ ur quiet, women-only facility is perfect for recovery in peace and privacy. We employ‬ O ‭numerous professionals who are well-versed in multiple forms of therapy to help you in every‬ ‭way you need. Don’t hesitate to get in touch today with any questions or concerns or to discuss‬ ‭setting up a stay with us.‬