Frequently asked questions about addictions – Online Psychologists

We compile a list of the most frequently asked questions when we talk about addictions…

If you cannot find the question or answer you are looking for and need guidance, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to help you.

We published a post in which we explained the steps prior to addiction and how it is achieved. You can read this post by clicking here.

The answer to this question varies depending on the country we focus on and the different ages of the population we analyze. If we focus on Spain we can say that cannabis It is the most widely consumed illegal drug, followed by cocaine which in recent years has experienced a considerable increase in the percentage of consumers.

If we talk about minors and adolescents, the most frequent is the consumption of legal drugs such as alcohol and the tobaccoalthough it is true that they are closely followed by another illegal drug: cannabis. At we help you with our treatments for marijuana addiction.

It has been observed in many cases that those minors who have begun experimenting with drug use at an early age They are more likely to fall into the consumption of other more «potent» ones. when they grow up and their financial resources increase.

We can easily find cases in which the consumption of alcohol and/or cannabis gives way to other illegal substances such as cocaine or ecstasy.

The concept of motivation is a complex one. We all relate it to those “positive” reasons that make us start or stop doing an activity. And really this type of motivation is the ideal and most beneficial when it comes to working with any problem and also with addictions. But this concept has a downside that we can call “negative” motivation or, more technically, extrinsic.

This type of motivation is mainly caused by external pressures such as: family problems, legal and/or work difficulties, lack of financial resources, etc.

Although as we said, the ideal is to work from the first type of motivation described, It is not impossible obtain positive results when the motivation is negative but it will require very good collaboration between the therapist and the family.

This is perhaps one of the most controversial questions. The fact that the initiation, maintenance and termination of the addiction is partly the responsibility of the addicted person, leads us to question to what extent it can be considered an illness.

The term «illness» is in no way related to the level of intentionality or responsibility of the individual. An illness is a more or less serious alteration of health and, in this case, in which in addition to physical health we see how psychological and social levels are altered, we are not wrong in defining the illness. drug addiction as a disease.

It is easy to imagine that when we begin to suspect that our relative or friend has addiction problems, the first and most natural reaction we have is to panic. But the best way we can help them is to try to calm down and face the problem without letting it go or downplaying it.

It is advisable to intervene calmly and not give rise to a conflict scene. The most practical and safest thing to do is to ask for guidance and help from a professional. It may seem difficult, but dialoguing from a position of understanding and firmness can help us reach an agreement on how to get out of this situation.

He Withdrawal Syndrome (AS) It is the symptomatic picture that appears in an addicted person when for some reason he or she has suddenly stopped consuming. They are physical and psychological symptoms that really cause intense discomfort but which, except in cases of alcohol and barbiturates, do not entail any danger for the subject.

The symptoms common to any drug are: irritability, sleep disturbances, anxiety and, above all, «craving» which is defined as a psychological symptom characterized by the uncontrollable desire to consume.

In addition to these symptoms, which, as we said, are common to any substance, other symptoms specific to each substance may develop. As we mentioned above, special care must be taken with alcohol SA, which can lead to delirium tremens, and with barbiturate SA, which can cause delirium and convulsions.

Typically, a therapeutic approach is followed that includes the following stages:

The first step is a complete assessment of the addiction and the patient's personal situation. This helps the therapist to understand the severity of the addiction and design a personalized treatment plan.

In cases of addiction to substances, such as drugs or alcohol, a supervised medical detoxification process may be necessary. physically remove substances from the body.

Individual therapy is central to the treatment of addictions. Therapists work with patients to identify the underlying causes of addiction and develop strategies to address them. This may include: cognitive behavioral therapies, motivational therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy, among others.

Group therapy sessions provide a space where patients can share their experiences, learn from others and receive mutual support. This helps reduce isolation and strengthen motivation for recovery.

Addiction affects the entire family system. Family and couple therapy addresses dysfunctional family dynamics and helps build a strong support system.

Therapists teach patients strategies to prevent relapse. Identify risk factors and develop effective coping skills.

In some cases, medications may be prescribed to help. control withdrawal symptoms or reduce cravings. This is more common in addictions such as tobacco or heroin.

Addiction recovery is a long-term process, and ongoing support is essential. Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, are valuable for maintaining sobriety.

Throughout the treatment, a continuous evaluation is carried out to adjust the treatment plan to the patient's changing needs.

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