Addictions, Gambling and
Substance Use Disorder

● Denial and Defensiveness : Often times, a person/ individual whom is experiencing addiction deny they have a problem. They will not seek help and will in turn become defensive of their behavior and deflect the problem by blaming others, especially the family or friend whom approached them to do something about the problem.

● Keeping Secrets : A person/ individual experiencing addiction will go to all lengths to keep the addiction a secret from their family or friends. This perpetuates the excitement that comes with the addiction. It is not uncommon to find hidden bottles and cans in kitchen cabinets, under the bed, in the garden, and any other secret place they can hide the substance. There can be secret compartments in bags, shoes, items of clothing where the drug is  being stored in plain sight. Needle marks will be hidden with cosmetics, apparel with long sleeves, bandages, sportive accessories. Drawers will be locked and there will be unexplained disappearances, including absenteeism from school and work. Once you intrude into their privacy, you will be faced with extreme wrath and rage. High functioning individuals experiencing an addiction are extremely resourceful in hiding their addictions and can appear as normal functioning adults in a work environment. However, the ability to function ‘normally’ often means that that the threshold or tolerance towards the substance has increased through time. Some high functioning individuals working in stressful environments may find themselves overdosing on certain prescriptive drugs as their tolerance increases and their need for larger amounts to get the same effect.

● Uncontrollable : The substance dependence starts off gradual and quickly escalates to uncontrolled use to satiate the internal hunger. Individuals experiencing addiction are unable to stop the substance use and have no regard to the consequences, which has an impact to their health and life. The substance will come first before anything and anyone else, and even takes precedence over themselves. The individual experiencing addiction places the substance as a number one priority in his/her life, and everything remains secondary and has to work around the substance. In summary, the substance becomes their God. Even when the substance use has stopped (temporarily), the thought of that substance remains – which is why relying on will power alone to stop addiction is in itself not sufficient as any trigger event (emotionally based) can set off another addictive episode and spiral down quickly. Individuals also struggle with withdrawal symptoms and are twice as likely to rebound to the addiction if there is no intervention.

● Other Psychiatric Disorders : The addiction may be experienced with another psychiatric disorder – oftentimes, another psychiatric disorder precedes substance use disorder or the use of substance may trigger or worsen another psychiatric disorder. For example, a gambling disorder may be co-existing with existing depression and anxiety. The inability to cope with daily life pressures can lead to suicide ideation, where the gambling addiction becomes overwhelming and the individual experiences a ‘gridlock situation’ where they feel like that are already in too deep to get out, and hence they perceive their only way ‘out’ is through the addiction, which gives them a false sense of control as their addiction deepens.

● Withdrawal : The ability to function in day-to-day life becomes impaired as addiction worsens. As there is intense focus on using a certain substance such as alcohol, drugs, chemicals, everything else in life takes a back seat. This includes failure to complete major tasks at work, school or home. Attending social events may become a chore as the individual experiencing addiction will need to formulate excuses to disappear or find pockets of in between time in order to nurse their addiction. This is often an embarrassment to the family or friend accompanying them to such social events. Family or friends will find themselves mysteriously ditched with no proper explanation as to the whereabouts of the individual. Should the individual experiencing addiction be forced to stop the substance use (even for a short period of time), the attention span is not present as the mind and thoughts wander to the nearest time and spot to get their next ‘fix’. The determining factor here is the withdrawal and constant evolvement of the substance in their thoughts 24/7 and which the individual has no control over.

● Quest for Happiness : Individuals experiencing addiction are constantly looking for means and ways to constantly feel intense pleasure and euphoria as an escape from their own internal emotional turmoil and pain. The substance or chemical use provides the temporary relief or high, which is a state of intoxication. Once this feeling wears off, the individual will do anything to revert to this intoxicated state in order to numb the pain and forget the emotional turmoil within them. The substance use becomes a means of escape from the pains of reality. Individuals experiencing intoxication may also feel an increase in perception and senses, as their neural and sensory networks are heightened. Not only are they at a temporary elevated state of intoxication, but the pleasure network or zones are activated. This can feel extremely self-empowering and their self-esteem and confidence increases. A normally quiet and shy person may exhibit signs of bravado and be more vocal or expressive when in a state of intoxication. Others may use recreational drugs to experience a world outside of themselves and to discover an inner, hidden self. What may start of as recreational can become addictive and quickly escalate to uncontrollable if the proper interventions are not introduced.