Dependence occurs not only from drugs and alcohol, but also from certain medications - in particular, from those that affect metabolic processes and the central nervous system. Even people who are not prone to addiction, who were not sufficiently aware of the properties of the drug or took it without a doctor’s prescription, can become victims of such a situation. In any case, there is hope to get rid of addiction.
Chemical dependence is a condition in which the body gets used to receiving some substance important for life from the outside and stops producing it on its own. This happens with opiates, the same thing happens with some drugs, even very harmless ones. Otolaryngologists often mention “addict nose,” a dependence on vasoconstrictor nasal drops, which the vast majority of the population uses for a runny nose.
If you use the drops for too long, the body gets used to the fact that the blood vessels will narrow under the influence of the drug from the outside, and will stop producing the substances necessary for this. As a result, when you try to “get off” the drops, an analogue of withdrawal syndrome occurs - severe swelling of the nose, the inability to breathe freely and sleep at night. This may take several days until the body finally begins to produce the necessary substances.
Often, drug dependence occurs due to painkillers, in particular narcotics, prescribed for serious injuries, fractures and painful conditions that cannot be treated with ibuprofen. Patients continue to take them after they are no longer needed. Addiction appears, accompanied by withdrawal syndrome.
This is one of the reasons why doctors’ orders should be followed, even for the most innocent medications. Like drops in the nose.
Drug dependence can be roughly divided into three stages. Psychological and chemical in this case are consistent.
Stage I - psychological dependence. It arises from the fear that the negative symptoms that the drug relieved will return. That is, there is no chemical craving yet, but there is apprehension, fear of feeling pain again. It usually occurs in a situation where the sought-after medicine acts symptomatically, removing unpleasant sensations, but without affecting the cause of the disease.
Stage II - physical dependence. Over time, the patient develops an addiction to the drug. At this stage, a person usually begins to increase the dosage because the dose prescribed by the doctor does not bring the desired effect. Many patients continue to take the medication even after the unpleasant symptoms have gone away.
Stage III - withdrawal syndrome. The medicine accumulates in the body, the active substance replaces the natural functions of the body. Abrupt withdrawal of the drug leads not only to psychological discomfort, but also to physical suffering: the body “fails” and stops working as it should.
Unfortunately this is a fact of life. When I started having an anxiety disorder, I started taking a benzodiazepine. And after a while I realized that I had an addiction. Luckily, I was able to find a solution in the form of benzo rehab and turned to the experts for help. I did not stay in the rehabilitation center for so long, because the specialists selected the most effective treatment for me and now I am completely free from addiction.
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