Question About Addictions?

Question by brenna: Question about addictions?
Is it true that the more you STOP doing your addiction, the LESS you want it? Or is it the opposite, where the more you STOP doing your addiction, the MORE you want it?

Best answer:

Answer by John
This depends on what you mean by “addiction”. Addiction to a substance of any kind, including alcohol and especially tobacco, will create withdrawal symptoms. These are usually very strong cravings that can take differing lengths of time to get over depending on the substance. These strong cravings will increase until the detoxification process is completed in your body. Drug withdrawal programs usually last about 28 days to guarantee being clean. At the point a person can deal with the underlying cause of the addiction – what emotions are being avoided, what causes them anxiety.

There are many compulsive activities that feel like addictions since they are often used to help deal with anxiety in general: eating, shopping, watching sports, chocolate(mmm), sex, jogging, almost anything that a person does in response to anxiety over and over again.

These compulsions need to be managed, but they can also be stopped if the person does something healthier to deal with the anxiety. Anxiety is not an uncommon feeling, but most people can handle it with a variety of normal activities. A person is truly addicted to these things when they associate their anxiety with not doing the activity. Then they confuse anxiety with a craving for something.

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