Legal Addictions and the Addiction Withdrawal
Legal addictions are becoming a rather common occurrence in our society. Legal addictions include pretty much anything that isn't a controlled or illegal substance. This can be anything from cigarettes to nasal spray to caffeine. While some legal addictions include things like adult pornography and adult sex, this particular article deals with those addictions which we somehow ingest or inhale in order to alter out personal state.
Coming to terms with the idea that you're an addict when your addiction of choice isn't really even all that recognized is difficult. A serious caffeine addiction might be noticed and even joked about by your colleagues but the potential health effects are pretty harsh. An addiction to something like nasal spray or legal inhalants isn't something that you can easily find a support group for. Yet the physical, emotional, and personal effects can be just as devastating as someone who is popping prescription pills every hour.
Once any addiction is recognized there are some obvious stages that one has to go through. Obviously, admitting that there is a problem isn't pleasant, but it goes a long way in getting through it. Denial is not healthy and can't get you from where you are now to where you really want to be.
Getting support can be simple or complicated depending on where you live. Some major cities are opening up NA meetings to anyone with an addiction, regardless of whether it's legal or illegal. Other smaller towns and cities have not yet caught up.
The withdrawal process is simply going to be uncomfortable. Some things you should actually taper off rather than quit cold turkey. Caffeine addicts can actually run the risk of a stroke or heart attack by going cold turkey, and they usually end up replacing their caffeine addiction with migraine medicine.
Any medication that you have taken for a long time, any repetitive behavior that has changed your emotional state for a long time, or any behavior that you have relied on to wake up in the morning for a long time will create a hole when it is gone. You will not feel well for awhile. You may even experience sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors from not having whatever your choice addiction might be. Give it time and if possible, plan to take a week's vacation from work in order to get through the worst of it without having the additional responsibility of being productive at work.
Coming to terms with the idea that you're an addict when your addiction of choice isn't really even all that recognized is difficult. A serious caffeine addiction might be noticed and even joked about by your colleagues but the potential health effects are pretty harsh. An addiction to something like nasal spray or legal inhalants isn't something that you can easily find a support group for. Yet the physical, emotional, and personal effects can be just as devastating as someone who is popping prescription pills every hour.
Once any addiction is recognized there are some obvious stages that one has to go through. Obviously, admitting that there is a problem isn't pleasant, but it goes a long way in getting through it. Denial is not healthy and can't get you from where you are now to where you really want to be.
Getting support can be simple or complicated depending on where you live. Some major cities are opening up NA meetings to anyone with an addiction, regardless of whether it's legal or illegal. Other smaller towns and cities have not yet caught up.
The withdrawal process is simply going to be uncomfortable. Some things you should actually taper off rather than quit cold turkey. Caffeine addicts can actually run the risk of a stroke or heart attack by going cold turkey, and they usually end up replacing their caffeine addiction with migraine medicine.
Any medication that you have taken for a long time, any repetitive behavior that has changed your emotional state for a long time, or any behavior that you have relied on to wake up in the morning for a long time will create a hole when it is gone. You will not feel well for awhile. You may even experience sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors from not having whatever your choice addiction might be. Give it time and if possible, plan to take a week's vacation from work in order to get through the worst of it without having the additional responsibility of being productive at work.
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