Addiction is a situation whereby an individual becomes physically and psychologically dependent on a psychoactive item or a substance, despite the negative consequences the substances might have on him or her. People normally get addicted to various types of substances. In many occurrences, addiction is normally associated with the usage of alcohol or illegal drug substances (Dealing With Addiction). However, people also become addicted to medication drugs, pornography, cigarettes etc. Some of these substances are more addictive than others.

At a point in time, each person undergoes a talk related to harmful effects of drugs and substance abuse. Most of drugs-related talks occur in learning institution where drugs abuse is rampant among young people. The effects of drugs and substances abuse are not only felt by the users but also by the surrounding people in that environment. Most people who use drugs do not realize their effects until they are totally addicted. Addiction in drugs and hard substances affects the thinking process of an individual.

Addiction manipulates the thoughts or cognitions process of an individual. It creates the defensiveness to the substance abused in a person. This is the reason that many addict who is not ready to acknowledge his or her addiction problem will tend to defend their usage of the drugs. In order to make this phenomenon possible, the addict tries to convince himself or herself that addiction in itself is not a problem. An addict’s thinking process tries to rationalize or create explanation of the continued use of a substance. This is despite their knowledge on the negative effects or consequences. In the attempt to calm down the cravings to the substances abused, the addict’s thoughts become obsessive.

A person’s psychological process encompasses his or her thoughts, behaviors, as well as feelings. Addiction in many cases affects these components in the psychology situation of a person.  This is because it disturbs and disrupts perceptions as well as attitudes of a person. They also disrupt an individual’s personality. However, the effect or level of psychology disruption differs greatly in reference to the substance under abuse by an individual.

For example, an addiction from smoking does not have the same level harmful social effects as compared to an addiction from heroin.  On the other hand, the psychological effects of drugs depend on the mental health and ongoing situations in the abuser’s life. If the person abusing the drugs is homeless or unemployed, his or her psychological position is poorer as compared to a person who is well housed and employed.

Denial is one of the common psychological effects that a person may experience after using drugs or hard substances. For example, a student in a college may try to convince himself that the usage of drugs is a part of school’s life. He or she might try to just this perception in reasoning that he or she will eventually drop the habit after graduation and go on with life. Eventually, in the process of abusing the drug or hard substance he or she could become fully addicted.

The addict tends to deny that the drugs have a strong hold in their lives. This situation will then be manifested by poor performances in school work. Denial is a tool used by an addict in trying to give himself a sense of security while in turn placing a conviction that everything is under control. To the relatives or close family members to an addict, denial is extremely frustrating. An attempt to confront an addict sense of denial normally generates a lot of anger in them.

Psychological effects of addiction are normally divided into two. There are those that affect feelings and those that relate to thoughts (Marsden). Both thoughts and feelings are normally tied so close to addictive behaviors of individuals. They eventually conflict creating a vicious circle among them. For example, an addict may feel a sense of shame because of their inability to cope with their addiction. They may result to a continued behavior of using drugs in an attempt to escape from this feeling in their lives.

The addicts may also try to avoid others consequently creating a feeling of isolation in them. Their relation with drugs creates a sense of exclusion from those people that avoid them or characterizes them as worthless. Continued usage of drug substances by the addicts increases the feeling of isolation in them. This is contributed by the fact that drug and substance abuse does not affect the addicts alone but also those people that are closely related to them. The close people to the addicts could be their friends, family members, work colleagues etc.

Some of the psychological feelings associated with addiction are shame and guilt. They arise because an addict is unable to control himself or control his desire for the drugs. Drugs usage causes a rapid alternation of moods by an addict. An addict normally changes his or her feelings in short term periods. Addicts normally exhibit feelings of depression, low esteem, anxiety, low self esteem, anger, and boredom. This process of addiction eventually becomes a boring, relentless, and tedious.

When it comes to the thought patterns in addiction, thoughts generated are defensive towards the drugs. They are normally designed with intent to protect the addiction. An addict thinks and believes are responsible for their current predicament. They tend to believe others can fix them. They generate thoughts that tend to deny the reality of the situation they are in. They tend to convince themselves that it is not as bad as it seems.

They have obsessive thoughts. All their thought could be channeled on how they would access drugs and get enough of it. They tend to portray grandiosity. They think that their concerns are supreme to others and should come before anything else. They may also generate thoughts of self harm. This is in an attempt to relieve themselves off the guilt they feel and also their suffering. This is a critical situation since they may develop suicidal thoughts. The addict’s mental ability in generating constructive thoughts is hampered. This is because they lose concentration and memory in the short term.

The psychological behaviors depicted by addicts are related to the type of drug they have consumed. In many cases, the addicts tend to post pone positive thinking and change. They also avoid facing up to the reality. In many cases, they opt to choose self defeating situations in an attempt to escape from accepting the magnitude of their problem. The addict’s behavior is normally instigated by the desire to avoid the discomfort caused by withdrawal.

Among the addict’s behavior includes betrayal. They can sacrifice anyone or anything since they prioritize drugs to come first in their rank of wants. They tend to be deceiving. They deceive themselves as well as other people in an attempt to keep ahead of the consequences. They exhibit self harming behavior. Their low esteem makes them deliberately harm themselves. This is in an attempt of seeking relief from punishing themselves. They also tend to be controlling. They depict various kinds of manipulation. In some extreme cases, manipulation effects may instigate violence.

Another psychological effect of addiction is obsessive thinking. An addict focuses entirely on a particular object, an addictive substance or a certain behavior (Simmons). An addict will direct all his or her resources towards acquiring the object he or she is in obsession in. In many cases, the obsession focus is the item of addiction. Obsessive thinking tends to shut out all other thoughts that an addict might have. It eventually becomes overwhelming and may result to physical violence because of frustration.

In order to curb the psychological effects of drugs and substance addiction, addicts normally visit drug rehabilitation centers. The centers have trained experts who assist the addicts to cope up with both the physical as well as emotional pressures of overcoming addiction (Brindisi). The withdrawal effects during the transition period are challenging and an addict can fall back to his or her addiction problem. This is the main reason why they should be monitored for a complete healing process from the addiction problem.

In conclusion, addiction causes various psychological effects in the body of an addict. The effects are dependent on the item of usage or consumption. People normally experiments with substances for various reasons. They may try out at first because of curiosity. They may also be influenced by peer pressure, improving athletic performance, anxiety or stress reduction (HelpGuide.org). The excessive usage of these stimulating substances may lead to addiction. The psychological effects associated from substance abuse are critical and might even channel an addict to his or her death.

Works Cited

Brindisi, Matt. The Physical and Emotional Affects of Drug and Alcohol Addiction. 29 November 2011 <http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Physical-and-Emotional-Affects-of-Drug-and-Alcohol-Addiction&id=1906419>.

Dealing With Addiction. 29 November 2011 <http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/addictions.html>.

HelpGuide.org. Drug Abuse and Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, and Help for Drug Problems and Substance Abuse. 29 November 2011 <http://helpguide.org/mental/drug_substance_abuse_addiction_signs_effects_treatment.htm>.

Marsden, John. Psychological effects of addiction. 29 November 2011 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/emotional_health/addictions/treatmentaddiction_psychological.shtml>.

Simmons, Linda L. Psy.D. Psychological Effects of Addiction. 29 November 2011 <http://www.netplaces.com/addiction-recovery/the-nature-of-addiction/psychological-effects-of-addiction.htm>.