Psychological Addiction: Meaning, Symptoms, Treatment

The differences between the two can be hard to distinguish, but one does not mean the other. Talking and expressing oneself is a great way to help ease pain both physically and psychologically. Taking either a cold or warm bath is another way to ease the pain of withdrawal symptoms by soothing the discomforts of sweating or chills. Insomnia or lack of sleep is another physical addictive dependency attribute versus the psychological dependency attribute. Therefore, psychological and physiological dependence should probably not be perceived as entirely separate entities, but rather two sides of the same coin. In fact, most modern evidence-based treatments are based on the understanding that there some crucial distinctions. Moreover, all psychological processes have physical underpinnings, and all complex behaviors have significant psychological elements. Psychological addiction implies that substance use has become a coping strategy for dealing with mental issues. People may use drugs to self-medicate, cope with stress, or try to enhance positive emotions or social aptitude. The implication was that dependence was the more severe problem, and the physical aspects of addiction were prioritized over the psychological effects.

Physical addiction implies that the consequences of substance use apply mostly to physiological factors. This could include the development of tolerance, experiencing withdrawal symptoms, physical cravings, or the development of medical disease due to substance use. That said, sometimes you can have symptoms of addiction that are mostly psychological. For example, if you are addicted to gambling, you’ll solely suffer from an intense psychological urge to gamble. If, on the other hand, you’re addicted to a substance like a specific drug or type of spirit, you’ll usually first develop a psychological addiction and then a physical one. You can become physically addicted to anything from prescribed drugs to alcohol and heroin.

What Drugs Can Cause Physical and Psychological Dependence?

There are many different symptoms between physical vs psychological dependence. Physical dependence affects the body while psychological dependence affects a person’s behavior. Both can be extremely problematic and will only worsen through addiction. If you or a loved one is struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction, it’s time to get help. When looking at physical vs psychological dependence it’s important to know the different signs and symptoms of each. Together, they can create major problems for you and your loved ones. Becoming dependent on a drug usually means that addiction is right around the corner. Being dependent means that you’ll begin to experience withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not being used. People who have a physical dependence on a substance, such as drugs or alcohol, will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the substance or reduce the amount of substance used.

This can mean being deceptive or making excuses to loved ones or friends. This only makes the situation worse and justifies further use of the drug. This is a clear psychological symptom in terms of physical vs psychological dependence. Insomnia and lack of sleeping are another set of typical physical dependency signs. Getting the right amount of sleep psychological dependence vs physiological dependence is important in a person’s day-to-day life. Insomnia and other sleeping problems can end up causing other adverse effects on a person’s life. Addiction is said to affect a person’s sleeping patterns as well as other parts of their day-to-day life. Lack of sleep is a physical trait when it comes to comparing physical vs psychological addiction.

Medical

Sunshine Behavioral Health strives to help people who are facing substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, or a combination of these conditions. It does this by providing compassionate care and evidence-based content that addresses health, treatment, and recovery. Building and maintaining a strong social support system can also be useful in combatting symptoms of psychological dependence. While it isn’t possible to develop an addiction to a substance without repeated use, addictions can form more quickly and easily in certain people. Genetic, neurological, or psychological factors can all increase a person’s likelihood of developing a drug or alcohol dependence. In addition, stress, trauma, and hardship are also known ‘risk factors’ that make addiction more likely.

For example, drugs like alcohol, benzodiazepines, methamphetamine, and opioids may result in physical dependence faster than drugs like marijuana or ecstasy. Still, repeated use of any addictive substance can lead to both physical and psychological dependence. The term refers to all substances that affect the Sober Home user’s mental functioning or cognitive processing. It also includes many legal drugs, like prescription painkillers, ADHD medications, and even some cough suppressants. Substance dependence, on the other hand, refers to the user’s physical or psychological reliance on the substance involving habitual use.